While counseling a patient recently, we needed to find a way for him to drop a significant amount of weight. There were several circumstances that kept him from doing any weight training or high-intensity exercise (brain aneurysm, dislocated shoulder, extreme obesity).

I told him that the best thing he could be doing was walking. He complained that he had osteoporosis. I told him that the best thing he could do to fight osteoporosis: WALK!

He said that his hips hurt him when he stood for a long time. I told him the best thing he could do to alleviate that: WALK!

He complained that walking wasn't fun because he had to stop and sit often, because he was too tired. I told him the best way to overcome that: WALK!

Fortunately, his cholesterol wasn't an issue, but if it had been, and I wanted him to find something that would increase his HDL (good cholesterol), any guesses what I would have told him to do? It's so simple, yet has so many health benefits.

Beyond the results that I mentioned, a walking program can help you burn calories, tone the legs, increase endurance, release endorphins which can decrease stress and improve mood, increase flexibility, increase ability to utilize oxygen-making breathing easier.

Not too bad for something you can do pretty much anywhere and for no cost!

Make it a point to walk everyday, even if for 30 minutes. Go at lunch. Go when you get home. Take your kids with you and walk to a park or school. With fewer families sitting down at the dinner table and eating together, let the walk be your time to catch-up on what went on that day!