According to a 2008 study in the journal Preventive Medicine, people who live within walking distance of a city bus stop are less likely to be obese. The National Board of Realtors reports that people are ranking access to neighborhood shops and schools within walking distance as one of their top home-buying priorities. First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! initiative underscores the benefits of walking in its guidance for children, communities, faith organizations and local governments. It seems like the evidence is clear: get out there and get walking!
I had my own personal moment of walking realization come rather late in life. I can remember the day specifically. At the time, I was working for a company on the Heights, just off Regional Drive. It was winter. And I knew I needed to add some physical activity to my daily routine, for health reasons and to give me a much-needed break from an intense workplace atmosphere. So here’s what I did: I invested in some basic winter outerwear, a good parka, hat and mittens, and pants to slide on over my work attire. Most importantly, I committed to going out into the weather every day no matter what! A little rain, some snow, windy one day, balmy the next, I was out there through it all, and enjoying it! Just through making the pledge to my own well-being, I discovered that it is actually beautiful outside. As long as you dress appropriately, you can enjoy our magnificent climate 365 days a year.
Now here’s the true secret of my success: my walking buddy. Thinking back over my years of succeeding and falling away from commitment to physical activity, the key factor for me has been the buddy system. Making a commitment to meeting up with a friend to support each other upgrades the activity from a duty to a social opportunity. Behavioral science supports this idea. A recent study in the Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation recommends “developing a social support network to promote exercise maintenance” as a key factor in adherence to a physical activity plan.
As a committed Champion of the Capital Area Wellness Coalition, I’ve now gone public in my commitment to physical activity. You can take that pledge, too, by signing up to be a Champion on our website at capwellness.org. Consider buddying up with a workplace colleague, or a friend down the street, and commit yourself to getting out there. You’ll be glad you discovered the pleasures of NH’s weather, of taking a break from your hard work, and most importantly, the delights of walking.
Margaret Fletcher is Health Outreach Coordinator for the Center for Health Promotion at Concord Hospital. She is the lead contact for the Capital Area Wellness Coalition, and also teaches mindfulness meditation at the Center and in the community. She can be reached at mwfletch@crhc.org.
