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Did you know February is heart health month? A great way to celebrate is to get heart healthy by making sure you do a minimum of 20 minutes cardio each and every day. Walking is a low-impact way to work out and get your heart pumping, keeping it strong and healthy. Here are some reasons why walking is so great for you and ideas on how you can get started walking right away.

You should always contact your doctor before starting any kind of exercise program, even if it is walking. Other than checking with your doctor it is very easy to start yourself on a walking for exercise routine. How far you go on your walk and how quickly you walk will be determined by your current fitness level. You'll want to make sure you don't push yourself and overdo it. If you are not currently at a high level of fitness and it's been a few years since you've exercised then it's best to start with a 10-minute walk during dinner or lunch each day. After a week or two, increase your walking time to 15 minutes. Before you know it, you will easily be walking 20 to 30 minutes a day.

It is very important when walking to improve your health that you stay consistent. Keep on schedule and walk every day or at the very least just about every day. It's easiest to go for a walk outdoors but sometimes that just isn't practical. Going to a mall and walking around before it opens or even to look around is an idea. Many malls are open to walkers even outside of regular business hours. Go to the information center at your local mall to find out if they allow this. You might even be able to join a walking group and exercise with others doing the same thing.

Of course you can always join your nearest gym. It is normal for any gym to have one or a few treadmills for walking or jogging on. At a gym you can also combine your walking with other activities such as a stationary bike or step machine. As you become stronger and have more endurance you may even find yourself using many of the other machines and even taking some exercise classes.

If you find you're spending most of your time at the gym treadmill and really like it you may want to think about buying one for your home. This way you can work out more easily and on a schedule that will likely work better for you. People will often set up their treadmills in front of a window or a TV. By doing this you are able to get healthier without missing your favorite TV show.

Then there are walking workout DVDs. Check the exercise section of your favorite DVD store for walking DVDs. With most of them you will be walking in place in front of your TV while the DVD plays. The instructor walks you through the workout which usually also includes different step moves and an upper body workout.

With all these different walking options, your workout will never get dull or boring. Just get started and then make sure you walk in one form or another for 20 minutes a day. Your heart and the rest of your body will thank you for it.