WALKING TO STAY FIT

Taking walks is a great way to get some fresh air and stay in shape. Some people make walking a work out routine-taking the dog for a quick stroll around the block before work each morning to get heart their heart pumping creates a great start for their day. Others prefer to use taking a walk to unwind, maybe after a long day, on a warm evening, or with a friend or significant other. To make walking enjoyable, it's important to have a walking trail that interests and pleases you.

Loops are a good place to start. Instead of walking to the stoplight and back, try walking in loop or a big figure eight. Because loops don't pass the same sights twice, it's easier to stay interested in the surroundings.

Remembering which streets have the smoothest sidewalks and most interesting sights is helpful, too. Make a mental note of which street has the barking dogs and which has the beautiful flower gardens. Even if a new route is chosen during each walk, remembering which streets are less interesting or more dangerous will help create an enjoyable walk.

While it's important to find terrain that is easy and safe to walk on, don't be overly afraid of hills. They can be a challenge to climb, but once mounted, often provide incredible views. Be willing to put in that extra effort to get to the top, and then enjoy the long, easy downhill on the way home. This is an especially rewarding trick when walks are scheduled for the evenings and the sun is setting. Early risers can plan their walks around when the sun rises-there is nothing like peaking a hill to see the morning sun breaking across the horizon.

Since walking is often used as exercise to lose weight or stay healthy, it can become tiresome because it feels like something that has to be done instead of something done because it's enjoyable. To spice up the actual act of walking, try some of the many different methods: walk in quick spurts with rest periods in between; walk at a medium speed for a long distance; pick a spot down the road and power walk to it.

Once a walking trail has been chosen, it's much easier to stick to a goal of walking every day or several times a week. Whether it's for health or relaxation purposes, walkers tend to enjoy their jaunts more when they know where they are headed and feel safe and interested in their surroundings.