Tips on Making the Most of Your Outdoor Walking for Exercise and Weight Loss

Outdoor temperatures are warming up, which means that a lot of us are heading outside for our daily workouts. For me, it means lots of walking without freezing. However, no matter how warm it is, keeping going is somewhat of a problem for some of us.

I have found that who you're with, where you are, and what you're listening to have a lot of influence on one's endurance when working out by walking.

I used to prefer working out with a buddy. I felt like it motivated me to get up and get going. However, as a couple of weeks have passed since I started walking outdoors, I have seen that I prefer walking alone. A lot of people like to talk while working out. I prefer not to. It changes your breathing and leaves your mouth drier, making you exhausted and in need of more water sooner.

Where you are plays a big role in how long and how hard you work out. I used to walk our property, which is three acres downhill, as well as the track at the park, which has an uphill side. I would get exhausted walking these two things, even once. For the past week, though, I have been walking from corner to corner on our back deck. Sure, it's a lot of back and forth work, but it's flat. Also, this area is partially in the shade and partially in the sun, so I get the best of both worlds, and don't sweat as much as someone who runs in an area that's JUST in the sun.

Also, while I don't really like conversation during my workout, I get pumped by music. I've went through my music on iTunes and made a workout playlist for my iPod to work out to. It's important to chose songs that will keep you pumped, even when you feel like quitting before you've reached your goal.

Here is a list of my top twenty songs I play during my walks:

1. "I Gotta Feeling" by The Black Eyed Peas
2. "For Your Entertainment" by Adam Lambert
3. "Rockarfeller Skank" by Fatboy Slim
4. "Don't Trust Me" by 3OH!3
5. "Uprising" by Muse
6. "Vertigo" by U2
7. "War" by Edwin Starr
8. "Mambo Number 5" by Lou Bega
9. "Hey, Hey Disbeliever" by The Living End
10. "Saturday's Kids" by The Jam
11. "Helter Skelter" by The Beatles (I prefer the Across the Universe OST version.)
12. "Billy Jean" by Michael Jackson
13. "I Kissed a Girl" by Katy Perry
14. "Sheena is a Punk Rocker" by The Ramones
15. "Rock 'N Roll High School" by The Ramones
15. "One Week" by The Barenaked Ladies"
16. "Get on Your Boots" by U2
17. "Slam Dunk the Funk" by 5ive
18. "Miss Fit" by The HorrorPops
19. "Lollipop" by Mika
20. "Strut" by Adam Lambert

Lastly, goals are important, but don't overdo it or sell yourself short. When I first started out, I burned 250 calories a day via exercise. Today, I prefer to do burn between 500 and 800 calories. If you're just starting out, start with something like 250 and work yourself up. If you're good with exercise, 500 is a good place to start. Also, you can break up your exercise, like two sets of 250 calories.

If you want to lose weight, do well with your exercise, but make sure you are getting the calories and nutrients you need. Consult your doctor or do your research to see how many calories you should be consuming. And stay hydrated!