WITH summer on the way many people are thinking about getting  slimmer, but if the gym gives you the creeps then try this  instead.
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    Making one simple lifestyle change can help you burn an extra    700 calories per week  and it doesnt involve dieting or pumping    iron.  
    Going for a 20-minute walk is all you have to do to blast 100    calories, so by adding a stroll into your daily routine you    could be well on your way to getting lean.  
    The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that you should    do a minimum of 150 minutes of exercise per week to stay    healthy.  
    But a recent survey by walking charity Living Streets found    that nearly half (45%) of Brits are reluctant to make even a    20-minute journey on foot.  
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    In a bid to encourage more people to get up and moving, the    charitys chief executive Joe Irvin is encouraging the British    public to add walking onto their daily routine as part of    National Walking Month this May.  
    Speaking exclusively to Daily Star Online, he said: There's no    doubt that keeping active is good for our health, but that    doesn't necessarily mean that you have to start spending hours    in the gym.  
      Everyday walking is a great way to improve your health and      the way you feel    
    At Living Streets, we believe that everyday walking is a great    way to improve your health and the way you feel.  
    "That's why we are urging everyone in the UK to join our #Try20    campaign this May.  
    Walking for 20 minutes a day can make a huge difference to the    way you feel and cuts your risk of heart disease, cancer,    diabetes and depression.  
    By making this small step you will experience a big    difference, both physically and mentally."  
    Here Joe shares five benefits of going for a stroll every day:  
    1. Burn calories  
    Many people are surprised to learn that walking is a very    serious form of exercise. Although you may not feel like you    are working very hard, walking is actually a low-impact aerobic    exercise that burns calories effectively.  
    The number of calories that you burn while walking will depend    on your weight and the distance you walk.  
    You can calculate roughly how many calories youve burned    walking a mile at a slow walking speed by multiplying your    weight in pounds by 0.49, or for brisk walking multiplying it    by 0.57.  
    The average person takes 20 minutes to walk one mile  so in    just 20 minutes you could burn off over 100 calories.  
    If youre looking for a more intense walking-workout, adding an    incline will burn significantly more calories than walking on a    flat terrain, so try taking the stairs instead of the escalator    or climbing the steep hill that you usually avoid on your walk    to work.  
    This added incline will turn up the body's work rate increasing    calories burnt, whilst toning your lower body. Give it a go,    you will be surprised.  
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    2. Get your heart pumping  
    The heart, like all other muscles, needs physical activity to    keep it in good, working condition.  
    Regular exercise can help to improve your overall heart health    and avoid many of the risk factors associated with heart and    circulatory disease.  
    We should all aim to do at least 150 minutes of moderate    intensity exercise each week to keep our heart in a healthy    state. Moderate intensity means that you should feel warm and a    touch breathless, but still be able to hold a conversation.  
    Going for a brisk walk is a moderate intensity exercise that    will get your heart pumping and increase your cardio exercise,    without even having to visit the gym.  
    Try to walk energetically, adding in hills and spurts of speed    walking, if you want to increase the intensity.  
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    3. Up your energy  
    Naturally you will get a lot more out of your day when you have    more energy; and a brisk walk is one of the most effective,    natural energisers around.  
    Walking strengthens the circulation of blood around the body    and increases the oxygen supply to all your cells, helping you    to feel much more alert and alive.  
    In fact, scientists have concluded that one of the best ways to    beat fatigue and boost energy is to exercise more  not less.  
    Try walking for 20 minutes on your lunch break or 20 minutes in    the evening before you have dinner to make sure that you feel    energised and get the most out of your day.  
    4. Free your brain  
    Anxiety, stress and depression are all mental health    issues that are becoming increasingly common in todays    hard-working and busy society.  
    Whilst many people look to medication to treat these issues,    walking is a free "home remedy" that can also help.  
    This is because walking releases chemicals called endorphins    which interact with the receptors in your brain, reducing your    perception of pain and, thus, helping to boost your mood.  
    In fact, recent studies have shown that a brisk walk is just as    effective as antidepressants in mild to moderate cases of    depression, stress and anxiety.  
    Even if you dont suffer from these mental health issues, and    are just feeling a little tense after a busy day at work,    walking is the perfect way to zone-out, de-stress and rid    yourself of all the negative thoughts in your mind. So for    positive mental health  walkings an absolute must.  
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    5. Offset serious health issues  
    If youre looking for a more serious reason to start walking,    then consider the benefit that walking can have on your    life-span.  
    Statistics show that physical inactivity now rivals smoking as    one of the UKs biggest health problems, and the WHO says that    inactivity is the fourth leading risk factor for global    mortality  contributing to 6% of deaths globally each year.  
    If these figures arent enough to encourage you to get active,    then consider that walking for 20 minutes a day can also help    to reduce the risk of several serious illnesses, such as    heart disease, type-2 diabetes, asthma, dementia, strokes and even some    cancers, including breast, bowel and womb cancer.  
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How to lose weight by doing this ONE thing every day  and it doesn't involve the gym - Daily Star