Walking vs. Jogging

Walking vs. jogging: examining the pros and cons of both and deciding which is best for you.

Going outside in the fresh air and taking a walk, or jogging along your local park, both of which offer a variety of health benefits. Along with toning up your muscles, you're also contributing to good cardiovascular health. Working up a little sweat also benefits your body by flushing toxins from it. If you perform this kind of exercise on a regular basis, you will soon discover that you feel more energetic and display a rosier complexion, no matter how old you are. If you are looking to lose some weight, then this is definitely another added bonus from these simple activities. Simply look at that rosy cheeked kid running in from the playground and you'll see what I mean.

So which one will be more beneficial to you? How do you decide between walking vs. jogging? A lot depends on you as an individual, that include many factors such as your age, overall health and your personal preferences. There are a lot of people who feel that, if they're going to put our the effort, jogging offers more benefits for the amount of time spent exercising. If you're young, in overall good health, have no knee or ankle conditions, then jogging might be better for you. Avid joggers have often reported a feeling of exhilaration and a sense of well being at the finish of their run. This is known to become almost addictive and they just do not feel quite right unless they go for their daily run.

When you are looking to decide between walking vs. jogging, you should make an objective analysis of what you are capable of doing on a regular basis. If you have experienced knee injuries, jogging may aggravate your current injury or degenerate your condition. You should discuss this with your doctor prior to exercising. Jogging puts much more impact stress on your joints than walking. Walking is a lot easier on your joints. Are you double or triple jointed? Walking is usually a better option, because jogging will increase your risk of sprained ankles or even dislocations! If you have arthritis or osteoporosis, the question of walking vs. jogging is not a hard choice. Exercise should never be painful to your body.

Another factor that you need to think about is your heart health. If you have a heart condition, high blood pressure or are significantly overweight, you will definitely need to talk to your doctor about walking vs. jogging. When you are beginning an exercise program it is best to start off slowly and gradually increase.

Remember, a child learns to walk before he runs! When making a choice of walking vs. jogging, you should realize that walking only 30 minutes a day, 4-5 times per week, will deliver excellent health benefits to your body. You need to know your limitations. If you have a health condition that prevents you from walking at a brisk pace, walk slowly in the beginning. You are not trying out for the Olympics, enjoy the scenery a little bit and go at a pace that is comfortable for you. Over time while you are exercising, your muscles will become stronger, your energy level will increase and you will automatically begin going faster and further. As your health permits, there is no reason why eventually you can't begin slowly jogging and work your way up from there.

However, if jogging begins causing aching knees, it may be more beneficial to consider returning to those brisk walks that you've grown to love. Make an objective assessment of your abilities and contact your doctor about any health concerns that you may have. Then you will be able to easily resolve the question of walking vs. jogging by deciding which is best for you!