Everyone knows that to lose weight you have to combine a diet plan with an exercise program if you want to achieve results. But not everyone realizes that exercising does not mean long hours spent in the gym until you reach exhaustion. This, on the contrary would be counter effective and put you off exercising for life.  Simple walking is an effective way to lose weight without having to deal with the aftermath of hard workouts.

If you walk at an energetic pace, you will be doing your body and heart a great deal of good. For your muscles and joints do not have to undergo any drastic strain, as in jogging, and both activities are equally beneficial for the heart. Try walking for at least thirty to sixty minutes per day, for major benefits, without straining your body too much.

When dieting you will have to decide on the amount of weight you plan to lose. One pound per week is a good average, this means you should decrease you total calorie intake by 500 calories per day, or else increase your exercising to burn up more calories. The average person will burn up 100 calories for each mile they walk, and will take about fifteen minutes to walk it. Therefore, if you want to lose that one pound per week, you will need to walk for five miles or for over one hour per day.

Walking is great, for it is cost effective. You do not to be sophistically equipped to walk, the only really important item being your walking shoes. You will have to dress according to the weather conditions and use natural fibre clothing for your sweat to evaporate and not stick to the body. Always take a hat and wear a sunscreen, whether it is sunny or cloudy. Never forget to bring along water, for you will be losing moisture, which should be replenished.

Choose which time of the day works better for you, keeping in mind that brisk morning walks will give you a good energy boost. Evening walks will help you relax and get rid of the days tension, allowing for better sleeping conditions.

When you start, do it gradually. You can start walking for just fifteen minutes per day for the first few days, and then add on five minutes each day. You should be walking for nearly sixty minutes by the end of two weeks. It is important to allow for your muscles and joints to get used to this walking routine gradually, for you do not want to suffer muscle or tendon strains.

Once you have reached your walking routine peak, you will be burning about 300 calories per day, with no changes in your diet. This means that after a six-month period you should be down nearly 20 pounds. If this seems too long to wait, try picking up your walking speed this will burn more calories.

Walking is a healthy activity that will stimulate your cardiovascular system and help with weight loss. Before you start, just make sure your doctor says you are fit for it.