Walking 20 minutes a day with trundl will make a difference this autumn
As we head towards winter, outdoor exercise undoubtedly becomes less appealing. And research from Sport England shows that in the UK, this is particularly the case for women. According to their study, women’s outdoor activity drops off by an average of 27% in winter months.
But amongst the 55+ age groups, this decline in outdoor activity rises to as much as 47%. With indoor exercise also dropping more amongst women, this is where a 20-minute walk with the trundl app can come in.
Being a PT instructor for 7 years, I’ve seen so many new approaches to fitness roll in. Promoted in social-media, showing amazing ‘before and afters’, we often worry we’ll miss out if we don’t have a go. To be fair, many trends are rooted in good science and can work if people get coaching and apply themselves. But often, those that are new to exercise, or can’t make time for it, feel defeated if they don’t see quick results. And as winter rolls in, it’s easier to say, ‘I’ll try again in the New Year’.
It still needs saying: walking is good for you
This is why I always recommend walking as a key part of anyone’s exercise plan. Not only is walking great for you, but it can also fit into most days once you’ve built the habit. And by walking for charity with the trundl app, you’ll gain the extra benefit of doing good for others too. As I’ll explain.
The benefits of adding a 20-minute walk are surprising to those who think it requires sweat to be really exercising.
- Firstly, they help you reach the 150 minute a week NHS exercise target.
- Secondly, they can protect your heart. Harvard studies found that walking 20-minutes a day can reduce heart-disease risk by 30%.
- They also help keep your brain sharp. Being outdoors in nature and using your senses supports the hippocampus and particularly boosts your memory.
- Regular walks additionally assist long-term weight loss. Walking is great introduction to regular exercise and a daily brisk 20-minute walk burns calories and boosts metabolism.
- Correspondingly, walking after a meal helps control blood sugar levels and even reduce fat settling around the tummy.
- Walking also strengthens joints and muscles. Our leg muscles, hips and lower torso certainly benefit a lot from walking. This in turn helps us keep our balance and stability as we grow older.
- Last but not least, regular walking supports good mental health. ‘Walk it off’ is an age-old bit of advice that is still surprisingly true. Within 5 minutes of walking outside, our moods will lift and after 10 minutes our creative thinking also improves.
And this is where the trundl walking for charity app comes in too. By helping others simply through taking a walk, trundl members get an extra boost of satisfaction. In fact, trundl’s own member research shows that walking with the trundl app brings pride to even the shortest walk.
So, as we head into the winter months, I urge everyone to add a 20-minute walk to their day. Even if you are a gym bunny, taking a short outdoor walk during the day will boost your wellbeing. And by turning your walk into a trundl for charity, you’ll certainly feel chuffed with yourself too.
