There are many ways in which one can be successful with a weight loss program. Walking is only one such way. However it is perhaps the most effective.

Can one really lose a whole lot of weight by just walking? Most people will not believe the answer but it is YES! You may come across fitness magazines that have stories on how people shed all those extra pounds by just walking. You read their story and you get inspired. Then you got on to see how they managed to achieve this only to find that the regime does not suit you at all. There is no reason to fret. You can still lose weight by walking. All you have to do is creating your own weight loss program with walking. It is simple.

What does walking actually do?

Any weight loss program that you come across will suggest walking. Walking is the most basic form of exercise. Regular walking will not only help you get in shape but it is excellent for the cardiovascular system and the immune system. It also helps in improving posture and lifting moods. A good walking program will decrease the chances of cancers, strokes, diabetes, hypertension and various old age related problems. So as you can see walking is an all rounder as far as a healthy body is concerned.

How do you start?

The way to start your weight loss program by walking is to just start. It is the easiest and the most basic thing to do. You do not need any form of training. Just put on your shoes and start walking. All you need to make sure of is that you are wearing the right kind of shoes. If you do not have a good pair of walkers, investing in one before you begin your program is advisable. Using the wrong shoes can land you in further complications with your feet, back etc.

Tailor making you program

As mentioned earlier, you do not have to follow a set walking regime that someone else has set down as part of your weight loss program. You can tailor make your schedule based on your comfort level. The number one rule of any exercise program is to start slow. This would mean that you operate within your levels of comfort when you start out. Attempting anything otherwise will only cause stress and burn out and you will land up giving up on the program even before you have had a chance to see the results. You should try walking about 45 minutes a day, thrice to five times a week.

Get creative with your regime

Walking for 45 minutes might be difficult for some people at the beginning of their weight loss program. If you are one of them, do not worry. You can build up slowly to reach that point. However you must not in order for walking to help with weight loss, you need to put in 45 minutes per session. To begin with, you can split up the 45 minutes into 2 or 3 parts during the day. Once you are comfortable with this, you can start increasing you time and maybe your speed.