Should You Start Walking or Start Running?

Start Running.

For many people who have been living the life of a couch potato for some time, getting back in the habit of exercising on a daily basis isn’t an easy task. In fact, it’s a pretty tall order when your muscles have weakened, your waistline has expanded, and your lung capacity isn’t what it once was. Like it or not, getting back on the wagon will be difficult at first. But is it better to start off slowly – by walking every day – or to start strong out of the gate and get running right away? Here are some important points to consider.

First, go on a “text exercise day.” If you’re confused about how much you can expect from yourself, then simply make the first day of exercise a “test” day. See how well you do while running – how long can you make it before you feel wheezy and too tired to continue? Does walking feel like it gives you like a much bigger benefit? Can you simply not handle a long run right out of the gate? This test day will help you understand your level of fitness and help you sculpt a training program that is better for you.

Fight the temptation to do everything at once – in order for your exercise program to be sustainable, you should be motivated to do it every day. If your runs are so hard that you don’t even want to get up from the couch, then you’ll want to switch to walking.

Second, examine your goals. If you’re just a little out of shape and want to train for a 5k race, then you’re probably going to want to start running early. But if you’re exercising for general health in your life, a daily walk is a great way to form the habit of getting out of the house on a regular basis. Knowing your goals is vital to understanding whether walking or running will be right for you.

Most important point: Consult a doctor about a training program. Many people feel like their doctors won’t give them a lot of leeway to exercise as hard as they can, so tell your doctor that you’d really like to exercise as intensely as possible in order to whip yourself into shape, and ask them to help construct an exercise regimen that will meet your needs. Many doctors will realize that you do appear to be motivated and can follow through with this training regimen.

Remember: it’s not what you want to do, it’s what you end up doing. So make sure that, walk or run, you’re out there all the time!

Photo Credits: Fe Ilya

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Originally posted 2009-12-22 03:38:05.

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