Walk It Off

Craving a big slice of chocolate cake? Or tempted to plop in front of the TV with a bag of chips? The next time you want to indulge in a not so healthy vice, take a walk instead. A recent review of 12 studies involving smokers trying to quit found that exercising for just 10 minutes a day can help ward off a craving. It may be that a short bout of exercise can cause a positive change in mood that may help fight off an unhealthy urge, says Guy Faulkner, Ph.D., an assistant professor of exercise psychology at the University of Toronto. While this research involved people attempting to kick a cigarette habit, the findings may also apply to those trying to eat Less and exercise more. So the next time you hear a pint of ice cream calling your name, try one of these 10-minute walking tricks.

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The excerpt above is by Anna Davies, and the 8 walking tips in the linked PDF are by Joan Pagano. The linked PDF is a scanned page from Family Circle's November 2007 issue where this was originally published.