Walking in Place: Same as Walking Outdoors?

Physical activity is fundamental to living a healthy life, so it is essential to include it in your daily routine in one way or another. However, many of us struggle to do this due to strict working schedules and other outside factors. 

In this article, we will look into how you can incorporate good exercise into your daily routine, specifically focusing on how walking in place can make a massive difference to your overall physical fitness. 

Is Walking in Place the Same as Walking Outdoors?

Walking in place isn’t the same as walking in an outdoor space. When you walk outdoors, more factors are included than walking in the same spot for a prolonged period.

Outdoor walking can see you endure steep inclines and will have a more prominent effect on psychological health as you would physically leave your house and experience fresh air and the possible company of others. 

Health-wise, both forms of walking can help you with losing weight, but outdoor walking can burn more calories due to inclines and gaining more momentum. 

Although outdoor walking may have a few more health benefits, many people struggle to plan a walking workout accurately, meaning that leaving the house for a walk can be less likely than walking in place.

To overcome this struggle, we suggest using a walking program to help you stay on track, stay active, and plan when your next walk is. Implementing a regular walking plan will help you with your fitness journey, which can substantially affect your physical and mental health. 

How to Walk in Place?

If you’re reading this article and wondering how it is possible to walk in place, you’re probably not alone. The concept sounds confusing without an explanation, but there are ways you can get yourself ready for walking in place. 

#1 Use comfortable shoes 

Even when you’re only planning on walking in the same place for a short time, ensuring your feet have sufficient support is essential. So, whether you complete short walks or lengthy walks, make sure you wear supportive footwear.

#2 Start with natural walking

Think about how you first started walking when you were a child; you eventually took the leap! With walking in place, you take everything you know about the walking movement and apply it to one spot.

Walking in place is as easy as the name suggests, and over time it will become more natural. You can implement this activity when watching TV, ironing clothes, or working on your computer. 

Also, it is important to mention that walking in place can be done with other cross-exercises, such as raising hands, touching the heels, etc.

#3 Track your progress

Whether your goal is weight loss or simply becoming more active, tracking your walking sessions will be highly beneficial and motivate you to keep going. 

You can do this by using an Apple Watch, Fitbit, or even an exercise journal to keep track of the total calorie burn throughout the week. Digital means such as Fitbit can be excellent for giving you real-time updates throughout your workout, helping you reach step goals. 

#4 Get your whole body moving

When we walk outside, we will usually include our entire body in this movement. For example, arm movements are a huge part of walking. So, don’t forget these elements when walking in place to leverage your moderate-intensity exercise into a total body workout. 

#5 Implement interval training

If standing in one place for an hour sounds tedious, don’t forget that you can easily split your workout into more manageable sections. Doing your step goal in intervals can be great for those wanting to improve their musculoskeletal health. 

Does Walking in Place Burn Calories?

As stated earlier, any time your heart has to pump more blood and oxygen around your body due to a heart rate increase, your calorie burn will also increase. 

Therefore, walking in place will cause calorie burn rates to increase, which can help you lose weight if that is your goal or maintain a healthy weight if you are happy with this aspect of your health. 

5 Benefits of Walking in Place

Aside from the ability to lose weight, there are other benefits to walking in place you should take note of. Paying attention to these benefits can help motivate you to pick up this hobby!

#1 Accessible form of exercise 

Life isn’t cheap, and something that many of us pin the blame on regarding why we don’t exercise is gym prices. But walking in place doesn’t require additional fees, and you can do it from the comfort of your home. 

#2 Low-impact exercise 

Whether you are 18 or 80, walking in place is a low-impact workout that results in minimal damage to joints or muscles. Often, walking or running on roads can be strenuous for our joints, so walking in place is a gentle alternative all ages can enjoy. 

#3 You can do it no matter how busy you are

Life gets in the way of many things, but your health should never be one of them. Looking after your body is fundamental to living a long healthy life, and it doesn’t always have to revolve around weight loss. 

#4 Easy to start

Thinking of excuses will be challenging to get out of walking in place, as there are pretty much no outside factors affecting your ability to do this easy form of exercise. Despite how easy it is, walking in place provides many of the same benefits as going for short walks. 

#5 You can incorporate other forms of exercise

If you have specific fitness goals but lack motivation, you can incorporate walking on the spot with other exercises to reach them. For example, using a small pair of dumbbells and completing arm movements will ensure your upper body is targeted without needing to go to the gym or leave your home. 

FAQs

Conclusion 

If you struggle with regular exercise, adding a daily walk in place to your routine will greatly benefit your health. You could add this slowly by starting to walk through commercial breaks of your favorite show and adding up your steps each day.

You can have fun with this and eliminate any anxiety you may endure when exercising in public spaces, as you will be in your own house with only your loved ones around you.