All of us know the suggestions to walk more. Advice to increase walking includes walking from the far end of the parking lot, using the stairs instead of the elevator, and walking around during lunch break, walk to conduct short errands. I never quite believed that walking could make such a difference. In my mind, it was necessary to work out in a gym, get exhausted, and end with the feeling of having completed another chore.

After having lived in a European city for over a year, I learned differently. We did not have a car and hence used public transportation. I walked daily to the bus stop, used a bus and a subway, in order to go where I needed to go.

The grocery store was within walking distance. With no car to transport groceries and other things we needed, I went to the store daily or every other day. Then I schlepped the groceries home across several stair cases into our apartment. Visiting friends also required walking to bus stops, subway stops, or train stops, to their house, and back. We seemed to do a lot of walking for a balanced life.

We also had playgrounds at around every corner. Almost every day, I would walk with my daughter to a different playground. Especially during the summer months, when the sun sets only for 3 hours, staying outside for the whole evening was what everyone did. What I did notice was that people in general seemed to have mastered the art of weight management. I did not see one overweight child during my whole stay.

Gyms are not as plentiful as in America, and I never went to one. They do not have the same status for improving general health, weight management, and balanced life as in the United States. When I came back to the United States, one of the first things was to get a gym membership. They tested my physical condition to device an individual exercise plan. I thought: Oh my, the results will be bad with me not having worked out for more a long time.

But guess what? All the results - flexibility, stamina, grip, etc. - came out on top! I told the nurse that all I had done recently was walking. He confirmed that walking a lot does improve your general health and weight management.

Now I am converted. I try to include as much walking into my daily schedule. I am motivated because I experienced first-hand how it can improve my health, keep my weight down, and make me feel better overall.

Please give walking a try - it is worth it.