Walking the Dog to Drop the Pounds

Want an easy way to drop 15 pounds? A new study done by the University of Missouri-Columbia says by walking the dog for just 20 minutes a day, 5 days a week you can lose an average of 14 pounds. This is the ideal win/ win situation for both you and your beloved dog. A 140 pound woman, will burn about 70 calories for just 20 minutes of dog walking.

Not only can dog walking help you shed the pounds, but it also can lower blood pressure, increase mental sharpness and lower the risk of heart disease. Walking would be a way to help shed some harmful belly fat, which is a cause of serious health issues including stroke, Type 2 diabetes, and even breast cancer. Here is how to tell if you are toting too much belly fat. Take a tape measure around your stomach above your hipbone and make sure it doesn’t push into your skin. Don’t suck in and relax. If your measurements are 35 inches or more that may mean suggest that you have an unhealthy concentration of belly fat and putting you at great risk. Do you want to cut down on the belly fat? Eating healthy, watching portion sizes and exercising will defiantly work. Here are 3 easy things to do on your walk to increase the calorie burn.

1.  When you stop at the park to play fetch, throw the ball or Frisbee then jog over to your next location to throw from. Each time try running to a further location. This is a classic version of interval training.

2.  Play some tug-o-war! This might not work so well with a toy poodle, but if you have a larger breed dog this is a great way to do some quick strength training in as you pull and tug the rope from Rover.

3.  Work in 10 sit-ups, jumping jacks or push-ups when you are held up at a light rather than just standing around waiting for the ‘walk’ signal. These quick exercises will get your blood pumping and raise your heart rate, increasing your calorie burn.

That’s not all you can do to shape up and drop the pounds, here are some more great quick mini-workouts to firm up on your dog walk. Want another quick tip? Do your dog walk before dinner and take one of these tasty energy bars with you. Not only will you get a tasty snack and energy boost for your walk, you will not be starving and over eat at dinner. Do you have any more fitness tips to do with your four-legged friend? Share below in the comments?

Thanks for reading - Chipper Nicodemus