If you’re looking for a simple and accessible way to improve your overall well-being, the answer may be as straightforward as taking a walk. In fact, there are many symptoms you might have experienced that can be alleviated with commitment to a regular walking practice. In this article, you’ll learn how nine common symptoms can be made better with walking.
I woke up my sophomore year of college to discover two seemingly unrelated issues. First, I had gained not just the freshman fifteen, but more like the freshman thirty, and I’m barely 5’3”. I blame dorm food and a steady stream of 11:00 p.m. pizza runs. Second, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life or even who I really was. I felt like I was constantly in reaction mode, and between classes, homework, and living with dozens of people on the 8th floor of Denton 8 (my dorm), well, the picture wasn’t pretty.
A long staple of military training, in its most basic form, rucking is simply walking with a loaded pack. The term comes from “rucksack,” the durable pack the military uses to carry equipment. Recent research has confirmed what our military has long known: rucking is a powerful form of fitness, whatever your mission.
Highly versatile, the weight you carry can vary based on your fitness level and training goals, and the right pack makes it easy to increase the weight as you get stronger. And get stronger you will, along with a host of other benefits that make rucking something we should all add to our walking practice.
If rising temperatures have you sweating about how to keep up with your walking practice, find relief with nine tips to keep you cool and crush your miles.
It is said that variety is the spice of life, a lesson you should consider applying to your walking style. Varying your routine helps to keep you from getting bored and presents the opportunity to challenge your body in new ways that can lead to stronger muscles and a healthier you. Here are nine ways you can switch things up and add a little spice to your walking workout.
Our lives are like tapestries woven from all of the moments that combine to create the rich and intricate pattern that is our own unique life. In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, it's easy to get caught up in the rush, always chasing the next goal or milestone. However, amid the chaos, it's crucial to pause and reflect on the profound truth that "moments matter."
I was tired. I had been traveling. Perhaps I was dehydrated or congested, or maybe the altitude was getting to me. But as I walked down the hallway of the Park City hotel, the floor tilted and threw me against the wall. I stood there for a few minutes, hoping the floor would return to its usual flat and stable position. It was a bout of vertigo, brought on by who knows what. My balance returned as the morning went on and that disconcerting feeling hasn’t returned since, but I vividly remember the disorienting walk down that hotel hallway.
Ever considered ditching the fancy dinner dates with your beloved and taking a stroll instead? Well, hold on to your hats (or hand-holding gloves) because walking together might just be the secret to a happier, healthier relationship. Lace up those sneakers, and let's dive into nine reasons why walking with your significant other can do wonders for your relationship.
In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, we often overlook the simplest and most accessible form of exercise – walking. Beyond simply being a means of transportation, walking holds the key to a healthier heart and a happier life.
Happy February, Pack Members! Today, let's dive into this month's theme: "It takes what it takes." It is a reminder that whatever we want, our goals, dreams, or ambitions, life can – and will - throw roadblocks our way.
In a world that encourages us to play it safe and stick to the status quo, there's something magical about dreaming bigger. Those seemingly audacious dreams are not just fantasies – they're the driving force behind growth, innovation, and a life that resonates with purpose. Today, let's delve into the nine reasons why dreaming bigger is not just a luxury but a necessity.
Around here, we never hesitate to lean on the brilliance and inspiration of others. And there are a rare few who gifted us as much wisdom as Martin Luther King, Jr., who left so much of the world’s work undone. It is on us to continue that work.
Remember when you were a kid with huge dreams fueled by unfettered imagination? Perhaps you wanted to be an astronaut, or a superhero, or an artist, pirate, or adventurer. Nothing seemed impossible, and limitations were just words that silly grown-ups used. And then, somewhere along the lines, you got caught up in the gravitational pull of routine, responsibilities, and so-called “realistic expectations.” You learned to temper your dreams so people didn’t look at you like you were crazy or to avoid the risk of the inevitable failures that line the path to making big dreams come true. This month, we are going to work to put all of that aside and to reconnect with our biggest, boldest dreams.
We all know that walking burns calories and, at its simplest, losing weight is a function of consuming fewer calories than you expend. But we all also know that losing weight is far, far more complex than simply calories in and calories out. It implicates our habits and how we’ve been socialized. Our biochemistry and our moods. Our sense of self and sense of self-worth. The weight loss journey is very, very individual and very, very personal. Now, here's the cool part about walking—it can help your weight loss journey in more ways than just calories in and out. Here are three legit ways that a regular walking practice can have your back on your weight loss adventure.
The year is almost over, and the holiday chaos is upon us. We all need a little inspiration to go with the perspiration as we gear up for a fantastic 2024. Here are 9 quotes from 9 of our favorite women to inspire you to live your very best year!
This month, we are all about memories, reflecting on old ones and making new ones. So, for the official 99 Walk December playlist, we thought it would be fun to ask the HQ team to share one or two songs that spark a memory. And wow, what a playlist we created together! You can listen to the entire playlist on Spotify HERE and learn the choices submitted by each HQ team member and the memory the song evokes below. Oh, and if you don’t know, every month, we curate a new fun playlist for you to enjoy while you walk!
I know, I know … it’s walk time! Your chance to clear your mind and move your body. Ou the door you go, putting one foot in front of the other. Not so fast. Like the overture to a symphony, a proper warm-up sets the tone for your walk. Taking just a few minutes to warm up will help you get the most out of that walk, give you the chance to build strength and flexibility, and set you up for success. In this blog post, we’ll explore the benefits of taking just a few minutes for a warm-up for your body and your mind.
At a conference over a decade ago, I had the chance to hear Lisa Quinn, author of Life is Too Short to Fold Fitted Sheets, share her journey from perfectionist to, well, not a perfectionist. And she said something that has stayed with me for almost 14 years: "Making memories is messy."
I've come back to that thought time and again, as my kids trash the kitchen making brownies, my dog tracks mud into the living room, and the floor of my car becomes covered with sand. Making memories is messy.
I've always been fascinated by memories. Why is it that some things get encoded into our brains while other things don't? How is it that two people can experience the same thing yet remember it so differently? Why do we remember the highs and the lows but not the beautiful everyday experiences that make up the vast, vast majority of our lives? And, perhaps the most existential of them all … without our memories, are we really us?
When I feel overwhelmed by responsibilities, work, or the news, I walk. I walk with friends. I listen to music that matches my mood. I chat with friends who live too far away to walk with in person.
A friend who knows I walk regularly and passionately told me about a recent TikTok trend: silent walking. Despite all the fantastic studies about walking in nature without distraction, I was not initially sure. Going for a walk and leaving my phone behind?? I couldn’t imagine it. But then I had a particularly tough day. And I couldn’t imagine talking while walking, pretending I was okay. I put on my shoes and headed out with just a key in my pocket.
Now listen, there are few things better than walking outside in nature. But, there are many unique benefits to taking your hike to the tread. Here are six of our favorite benefits of a treadmill hike.
Want to be happier? Learn to see the cup half full rather than half empty. Count your blessings. Appreciate the positive. Retrain your brain to focus on the good. And for heaven’s sake, stop worrying.
Sounds easy, right?
In a sense, it is. Oodles of research has established that being thankful unlocks an almost magical path to happiness. In a well-documented research study titled Counting Blessings Versus Burdens: An Experimental Investigation of Gratitude and Subjective Well-Being in Daily Life, professors Robert A. Emmons and Michael E. McCullough found that those who focused on the things for which they were grateful were happier, exercised more, and made greater progress toward their goals than those who did not. So why don’t we just… do that?
Midnight buffets, chocolate buffets, creamy cocktails with little umbrellas. Most cruises offer so, so many ways to indulge. But we are people who walk, even when we cruise. Here are five ways to maintain your walking practice while sailing the seven seas.
As a pedestrian walking in dim, dark, or even daylight, it’s increasingly important to make sure you are visible to oncoming traffic with drivers’ attention being challenged by any number of distractions. In fact, statistics in the past few years have reported a dramatic increase in the number of pedestrians killed and injured by motor vehicles—a May 2022 release by the Governors Highway Safety Association estimated 7,485 people on foot in 2021.
What precautions can you take to keep safe while out for a walk day or night? Here are nine tips that you’ll want to take with you on your next outing.
Let’s face it, we all need a little motivation from time-to-time. There will come the days—maybe more often than not—that you have no desire to get up and head out the door to take a walk. But those are the days where you need to dig deep, reach into your motivation toolbox, and walk anyway. Is your toolbox looking a bit empty? Luckily, we’re going to share six tried and true hacks to get you the motivation you need to maintain your walking practice and achieve the mind, mood and body you desire.
1 in 8. We’ve all heard the statistics.
1 in 8 of us are likely to get that terrifying call: the biopsy is malignant. And for sure, we are all very, very likely to know someone—probably someone close to us—who has battled breast cancer.
Yup, the numbers are scary, but there is some good news. A regular walking practice can help reduce your risk of breast cancer, aid in your recovery and lower the chances of recurrence.
