We all know at this day and age that walking has a host of health benefits including cardiovascular as well as all-over toning. The good news is that when you either pick up your pace to speed walk, or you add a few minutes of jogging at a time, the health benefits improve even more.
Just adding a few minutes of running can help you burn more calories, build stronger bones and boost your fitness level. In fact, wogging is similar to interval training in that you speed up, slow down, and speed up again, to challenge your respiratory system. Another benefit to any fitness routine is that one good behavior leads to another. For instance, the fact that you have started wogging may lead you to drink more water. Drinking more water may lead you to feel more full during the day and have the desire to eat as much.
It takes a high level of fitness for most people to jog for 30 minutes straight. Jogging can also be difficult for people who are over weight as it can put to much pressure on knees and ankles. Wogging is a great way to either build up to jogging for 30 minutes straight or simply improve stamina from only walking.
A wogging program is best for someone who has already been walking at least 30 minutes consistently a few times per week and wants to increase their cardiovascular health. The way to begin is to set up intervals of walking for five minutes, jogging for two, walking for five minutes, jogging for two, ect. Repeat this pattern until over time, you are able to either extend your wog to 45 minutes, or lengthen the time you jog rather than walk.
The key is not to increase your calorie intake even though you will be burning more calories. Some people fall into the trap that because they burned more calories, they increase their caloric intake so much, they actually end up gaining weight! So allow the “one good deed leads to another” affect to kick in and watch your calories by fueling up on plenty of fluids and at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day.