San Fernando Valley Sun

Walking Works Wonders, but Can It Kick Off a Movement?

KP's interactive website is www.everybodywalk.org. It's packed with useful news, resources and leads on walking trails and walking clubs. Check it out; let your fingers do the walking ... just this once.

Source: The San Fernando Valley Sun -- ENERGY EXPRESS
Written by MARILYNN PRESTON
Thursday, 17 February 2011 04:08

In his recent State of the Union speech, President Obama talked about a Sputnik moment, a revolutionary shift in national priorities that takes our country to new levels of innovation and cooperation.

The original Sputnik moment took us to the moon. Remember "one giant step for mankind"? Well, Kaiser Permanente — a nonprofit community health advocate — is going several steps further. Its Sputnik moment, launched in January, is a public awareness project called Every Body Walk! The plan is to start a national conversation about the amazing — can we say Sputnikian? — health benefits of walking, and I can't help but step up to do my part.

Why? Because 70 percent of all adult Americans lead sedentary lifestyles in which the only walking they do is to and from the car, the refrigerator and the drawer where they hide the M&Ms.

Why? Because we spend about $2.5 trillion annually on medical care, and an estimated 80 percent of that figure goes to treating chronic conditions that can be prevented or treated by regular walking. Irregular walking is also good, as long as you wear the right shoes.

Walking, walking, walking. Could anything be simpler? Walking solo, in groups, indoor and outdoor, with or without your kids. Walking to work. Walking to school. Walking the dog. Walking to lower blood pressure and reduce heart disease. Walking to boost energy, enhance memory and fight depression.

Did you know that people who don't own dogs are three times as likely to have diabetes as people who walk their dogs? I didn't either. Will this make you buy or adopt a dog and start walking everyday for exercise? Probably not. But what will? Obviously the threat of an early death isn't working. Wait! How about the video testimonials on the site, ordinary people saying extraordinary things about walking. Listen up. One of these comments might get you going:

"It's great for my legs ... it's invigorating ... it's easy, it's cheap ... my grandmother lived to 105, and she walked every day ... it gets me out everyday with my wife and my dog, and I get 45 minutes of quality time a day with both of them." (Some guy actually said that.)

So what's holding you back from adding a walk to your everyday routine? This isn't rocket science, you know. This is just 30 or — even better! — 60 relaxing, rejuvenating minutes a day. All you have to do is put on a pair of comfortable walking shoes and head out the door, down the street or through the park. Step by step by step, until it becomes a habit.

National movements are hard to start, and let's face it, Every Body Walk! may go the way of National Banana Month. But remember, if you space out on this invitation to get involved, you'll have missed your Sputnik moment to lead a happier, healthier lifestyle.