As a health writer, I am acutely aware of the effects of a sedentary lifestyle. Every month, I write stories in which cardiologists, personal trainers and primary care doctors emphasize the importance of movement beyond planned exercise. More than a decade ago, the American Heart Association pointed out the dangers of a sedentary lifestyle, including increased risk of heart attacks and death from cardiovascular disease.
I am keenly and personally aware of how devastating heart disease can be. My paternal grandfather died of a heart attack, and my father needed two heart transplants during his lifetime. My gene pool isn't the best, and my day job, while it pays the bills (and covers my yearly cholesterol tests), doesn't meet my movement needs. I work from home, so I don't even have to dash to the train station or the parking lot to the door to clock in on time. My desk is less than a football field from my bedroom.
About two years ago, I started seeing videos of influencers on walking pads—AKA slower-moving treadmills. They were working from home, watching a show or reading. I was intrigued, but turned off by the $500 sticker prices. Instead, I watched with FOMO. When my Parade editor offered me the chance to try the trend and increase my time moving, I jumped at it.
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How Using a Walking Pad Started
Beth Ann Mayer
Shop It on AmazonWhen the pad arrived on my doorstep, I was pumped and eager to unbox it. Despite all of my strength training, I have to be honest, it was heavy. My husband lugged it in. From there, it was actually pretty easy to move around because of the wheels. It fit nicely under our bed, and I was able to wheel it into the kitchen, which I figured would double as a walking desk.
I originally planned to spend two hours per day (one hour at a time) working while walking on the pad. I had to abandon that immediately. After one hour on the pad, I felt so motion sick. It was also pretty awkward to try to type and walk at the same time. I'm just not that coordinated. I would've given it more of a college try, but the motion sickness was a dealbreaker.
That sounded great to me. I had a new plan: Walk for at least five minutes on the pad once every hour. I would not work while doing it.
Related: If Weight Loss Is Your Goal, the Treadmill Is Your Best Friend—Here Are 10 Fat-Burning Workouts To Try
What Happened When I Used a Walking Pad for 30 Days
Beth Ann Mayer
My step count soared. I averaged nearly 800 more steps per day in May than in April, inching my count closer to 9K. There are a lot of different ranges for the "ideal" step count goal, from 2,337 steps to lower cardiovascular death risk to 7,000 steps for your overall health. Either way, I'll take it as a win.My mood and energy improved. Sitting all day makes me tired and blah. Ironic, right? Moving for just five minutes every hour made me happier during the day and even when I shut down for the evening. I felt more accomplished because I took breaks.I was more creative and focused. Speaking of productivity, I recently wrote a story on the importance of taking a lunch break for your creativity. As I wrote about how breaks help the brain reset attention and consolidate information, I ate my lunch. Ironic, right? I am humbled—yet happy—to announce that I experienced less writer's block and was far less tempted to scroll through social media instead of working on stories. It helped me finish up to an hour earlier on some days. My posture and stiffness got better. Taking breaks every hour forced me to reposition my head and back, so I experienced far less neck and lower-back pain.I missed walking outside. Doing the walking pad daily meant I walked less outside. I'm an outdoorsy woman and enjoy looking at nature as I move, especially in mild weather (and the weather was mostly mild in May). I did less of that when I walked on the pad.
Related: Here's Exactly What Happens to Your Body if You Run a Mile Every Day
Do what works for you. There are many ideas for what an "optimal" routine on a walking pad looks like. In my case, I could not mimic influencers and work on a walking pad. That's OK. I found what worked for me and enjoyed the physical and mental changes that came with it.Drink water. Walking may not look like a lot, but it's a physical activity, especially if you're moving at a brisk pace. Be sure to hydrate—I drank about 12 ounces of water more per day because of my added movement. There's no set amount of water everyone needs to drink per day, but people who are physically active often need more.Stretch. Changing positions by walking is great, but again, it's still movement. Some gentle hamstring, quad and glute stretches before and after a workout can make sure that you don't get "benched" by tweaking something on a walking pad.
Related: I’ve Been Walking With a Weighted Vest for Months—Here’s How It’s Worked for Me
Is a Walking Pad Worth It?
A walking pad is worth it if:
You have a desk job and work from homeHave space (see the size before purchasing, and ensure you know where to put it)Want to increase your movement (and experience the health benefits that come with it)Feel sore after sitting all dayYou have an underlying condition (check with your doctor first)Get motion sickness (you may be able to use it if you aren't reading or typing, though)You don't have roomYou have an active jobYou never work from home and spend most of your time out and about
Now, don't mind me as I take five.
Related: ‘I Took a Shot of Olive Oil Every Day for 2 Weeks—Here’s My Verdict on if It’s Worth It’
Sources:
American Heart Association Recommendations for Physical Activity in Adults and Kids. American Heart Association.Sedentary Behavior and Cardiovascular Morbidity and Mortality: A Science Advisory From the American Heart Association. Circulation.Sedentary Lifestyle: Overview of Updated Evidence of Potential Health Risks. KJFM.Breaking Up Prolonged Sitting to Improve Cardiometabolic Risk: Dose-Response Analysis of a Randomized Cross-Over Trial. ACSM.Daily steps and health outcomes in adults: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis. The Lancet.The association between daily step count and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality: a meta-analysis. European Journal of Preventive Cardiology.Water and healthier drinks. CDC.Hence then, the article about i tried using a walking pad for 30 days here are my honest thoughts was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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