How many times have the experts told us to or further or improve our health? Now a new study wants you to take a break – actually, lots of breaks – during every walk. , including a longer life expectancy and reduced chances of some illnesses and diseases. .
For many years, the mantra for gaining more from a walk has been to or to . But new research, which was recently published in , found that the type of walking that burns the most energy includes regular pauses, rather than sticking to a consistent non-stop pace. The study measured the oxygen consumption of participants as they did of between 10 and 240 seconds of walking on a treadmill.
They found that our bodies burn between 20% and 60% more energy while we are accelerating – or in other words, when we start walking again after a break. So, the theory follows, that each time walkers stop, perhaps to look at a view, or to chat with someone, they need to start up again and it’s this accelerated movement, from stop to starting, that uses up more energy and leads to better fitness. If this research is correct, it suggests that you can get more out of your walks and hikes by doing less.
Instead of trying to reach the summit in as little time as possible, make time to stop and enjoy your surroundings. If you find it difficult to take breaks, try bringing along a pair of to give you something to do on your breaks and use them to get a closer look at the local wildlife and scenery. Make a point of inviting a friend and ho.
