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Step into a Healthier, Green Lifestyle
by Eco Rock
April 4th was National Walk to Work Day. We might have missed it, but there’s no reason we can’t extend it to today and to places other than work. As someone walks, he or she is saving money put into their vehicles (including costly repairs and gasoline) and spending a lot of their own energy instead - with each mile a person burns approximatly 100 calories.
According to the The Walking Site, burning 3500 calories is equal to one pound. Further, think of the amount of money and gasoline I’m saving! I live about 1 mile driving distance from my school and lets say I go to school about 200 days of the year and that I live in a dorm.
200 days x 1 mile x 60 students in my school = 12,000 miles driven less this year! That also means that collectively all the students have lost about 343 pounds!!!
Do you want to start walking? Do it in steps! If your school or place of work is less than five miles, you might consider walking. Be sure to dress for the occasion and invest in some quality walking shoes. You may also want to bring along an MP3 player to motivate yourself and keep you entertained. Probably the best way to enhance your walking experience is to bring a buddy! Not only will you be building a relationship, but you could be saving your friend’s life! According to Harvard University’s Women’s Hospital, if eveyone in the United States walk 30 minutes a day at a brisk pace, they would decrease the risk of chronic disease by 30% to 40%.
P.S. And don’t forget about biking - you go further and faster without using a drop of gasoline!
April 17th, 2008 at 7:48 am
I clicked through to the Harvard University’s Women’s Hospital fact sheet link and I feel good about the fact that it takes small changes — walk a bit more, lose just 10 lb– over time that can really make significant health changes. Very informative in a succinct presentation. Thanks!