With the rise of commentaries in the news and on documentaries about the high levels of obesity in North America it is no wonder people are getting out more, eating less, and taking conscious steps to control their weight.

Walking is an excellent first step on your way to better health. How can I be sure? Because conscious walking (with a pedometer tracking my every step) I lost the pregnancy weight and put myself into the best shape I’d ever been in at 30 years of age. I also walked off two years of depression (and the associated eating that comes with that illness) induced weight gain (to the tune of 45 pounds) in my mid-40s.

At neither time in my life did I feel like exercising – heck I didn’t even want to walk to the store if I could help it – but I forced myself for the first 2 weeks and after that I had a new healthy habit that I didn’t want to ever give up.

Honestly, it helps to have a pedometer to get and stay motivated. Not only will it chart your progress and push you onto new personal ‘bests’ but it feels like a treat. Somewhat like a gym membership except not as expensive, you can even ‘guilt’ yourself into making good use of your new purchase. Some days that guilt worked for me and some days it didn’t but I still love and use my pedometers today – one is very basic and over 12 years old, the other is an MP3 model purchased just 6 months ago.

So what happens while you are walking your way to health and how can an exercise so simple accomplish so much?

Well, when we walk, we are working muscles and joints. As muscles tone they burn more of the calories we put into our bodies and therefore less fat is stored. Less fat on your body is healthier all round.

Your joints on the other hand require flexibility. If they don’t have this flexibility, pain and inflammation are the result. Exercise that uses and strenthens your joints helps to prevent arthritis, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, gout and more.

More health benefits? Walking also reduces the risks of heart attack, strokes and diabetes.