Short walks can build confidence in your fitness level

Everyone has to start from somewhere, so if you can’t manage a 45-minute walk in one go, breaking it up into chunks might be more achievable for you. We know that sitting for long periods of time can have a negative impact on your health. Doing so, Berger points out, can cause a number of issues including “stiffness, rounding of your shoulders, decreased mobility, lack of muscle mass and also increased tiredness”.

According to a study published in the British Journal Of Sports Medicine, a daily 11-minute brisk walk may be a sufficient amount of exercise to lower the risk of diseases such as heart disease, stroke and a number of cancers. Therefore, two or three short walks throughout the day could help to prevent the effects of prolonged sitting.

Struggle with sensitive knees? “Shorter walks are significantly better for your joints and will decrease the likelihood of injury,” says James Bickerstaff, a personal trainer at Origym. That’s because doing a shorter walk at an easier pace isn’t going to put too much strain on your joints. Wearing the correct shoes and a flat terrain will also make it easier to walk with knee pain.

What’s better for cardio fitness: one long walk or multiple short walks a day?