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Walking Programs for All Levels

5 Exercise Plans to Suit Your Needs
-- By Jen Mueller, Certified Prenatal and Postpartum Fitness Expert

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Walking is an ideal form of exercise for many reasons. You don't need special equipment to do it, it can be done by almost anyone, and you can do it almost anywhere! Whether you're just starting a walking program or you've been doing it awhile, find a BabyFit walking program that's right for you!

A Heart Healthy Program

(Beginner)

This is a great introductory program if you want to slowly increase your time spent walking. Each week builds on the previous one. If you find a particular week's pattern too tiring, repeat it before going on to the next week. If you are walking hills, you should slow your pace and/or intensity to balance out the increased effort. You don't have to complete the program in 12 weeks.

Source: Exercise and Your Heart, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute/American Heart Association, NIH Publication No. 93-1677.

Week	Warm Up (min)	Brisk Walking (min)	Cool Down (min)	Total Exercise Time	Number of days/wk
1	5	5	5	15	3
2	5	7	5	17	3
3	5	9	5	19	3
4	5	11	5	21	3
5	5	13	5	23	3
6	5	15	5	25	3
7	5	18	5	28	3
8	5	20	5	30	3
9	5	23	5	33	3
10	5	26	5	36	3
11	5	28	5	38	3
12	5	30	5	40	3

Time To Start Moving!

(Beginner)

This is a great introductory program if you want to slowly increase the distance you walk. This program can be easy to use on a treadmill, with each week building on the previous one. If you find a particular week's pattern too tiring, repeat it before going on to the next week. If you are walking hills, you should slow your pace and/or intensity to balance out the increased effort. You don't have to complete the program in 12 weeks.

Week	Warm Up (min)	Brisk Walking (miles)	Cool Down (min)	Number of days/wk
1	5	1	5	3
2	5	1.25	5	3
3	5	1.25	5	3
4	5	1.5	5	3
5	5	1.5	5	3
6	5	1.75	5	3
7	5	1.75	5	3
8	5	2	5	3
9	5	2	5	3
10	5	2.25	5	3
11	5	2.25	5	3
12	5	2.5	5	3

A Step Up

(intermediate)

This program starts with a longer walk than the beginner program and builds to a higher level. It also increases the number of days/week from 3 up to as many as 5. If you find a particular week's pattern too tiring, repeat it before going on to the next week. If you are walking hills, you should slow your pace and/or intensity to balance out the increased effort. You don't have to complete the program in 12 weeks.

Week	Warm Up (min)	Brisk Walking (min)	Cool Down (min)	Total Exercise Time	Number of days/wk
1	5	10	5	20	3
2	5	15	5	25	4
3	5	20	5	30	4
4	5	20	5	30	4-5
5	5	25	5	35	4
6	5	30	5	40	4
7	5	30	5	40	4-5
8	5	35	5	45	4
9	5	40	5	50	4
10	5	40	5	50	4-5
11	5	45	5	55	4
12	5	45	5	55	4-5

Variety is the Spice of Life!

(intermediate & advanced)

This program adds variety to your workout by changing your exercise duration each session. By mixing longer and shorter sessions, you will be able to progress in your program more quickly. If you find a particular week's pattern too tiring, repeat it before going on to the next week. If you are walking hills, you should slow your pace and/or intensity to balance out the increased effort. You don't have to complete the program in 12 weeks.

*each Day Varies

Week	Warm Up (min)	Brisk Walking (*min per day)	Cool Down (min)	Total Exercise Time	Number of days/wk
1	5	25/20/25	5	35/30/35	3
2	5	25/20/30	5	35/30/40	3
3	5	25/20/35	5	35/30/45	3
4	5	25/20/40	5	35/30/50	3
5	5	25/20/45	5	35/30/55	3
6	5	30/25/45	5	40/35/55	3
7	5	35/30/45	5	45/40/55	3
8	5	40/35/45	5	50/45/55	3
9	5	45/40/45	5	55/50/55	3
10	5	45/40/50	5	55/50/60	3
11	5	50/45/55	5	60/55/65	3
12	5	55/50/60	5	65/60/70	3

Fun With Intervals

(advanced)

NOTE: This is a postpartum exercise program. This program incorporates interval training (bursts of activity followed by recovery periods), which will help you burn more calories. If you find you don't need the full 2 minutes for recovery, slowly decrease that amount of time. If you find a particular week's pattern too tiring, repeat it before going on to the next week. If you are walking hills, you should slow your pace and/or intensity to balance out the increased effort. You don't have to complete the program in 12 weeks.

*Each 10 second/2 min is considered a set.

**After week 12 is completed, continue to increase the "fast as possible" time and/or decrease your recovery time.

Week	Warm Up (min)	"Fast as Possible" Walking (seconds)	Brisk Recovery Walking (min)	# of fast/ recovery sets*	Cool Down (min)	Total Exercise Time	Number of days/wk
1	5	10	2	8	5	27:10	3
2	5	10	2	8	5	27:10	3
3	5	15	2	9	5	30:15	3
4	5	15	2	9	5	30:15	3
5	5	20	2	10	5	33:20	3
6	5	20	2	10	5	33:20	3
7	5	20	2	11	5	35:40	3
8	5	25	2	11	5	36:35	3
9	5	25	2	11	5	36:35	3
10	5	25	2	12	5	39:00	3
11	5	30	2	12	5	40:00	3
12	5	30	2	12	5	40:00	3

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Member Comments About this Article

	"I love walking! I have always been a huge walker... Love it and thank Goodness because it is some of the only exercise I actually get since I have been pregges... I am not saying that's a good thing lol but I do walk for about 2-4 hours a day 5 times a week. I also love nice cooperative weather lol" -- ANGE_AHMED

	"Elliptical is a great form of exercise." -- SAMANTHABABYFIT

	"Is the Eliptical ok during pregnancy?" -- SRANDREWS2426

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About The Author

Jen Mueller
Jen received her master's in health promotion and education from the University of Cincinnati. As a certified personal trainer, she also holds a certification in prenatal and postpartum exercise. Jen has two children and enjoys running marathons.