The Importance of Hydration

We are all familiar with the phrase “drink 8 glasses of water a day,” which, many of us can admit, we do not always follow. We do however need to make sure we are keeping our water consumption level up when we are physically active. Staying adequately hydrated while walking or hiking is crucial and is as essential as wearing the right shoes!


An average individual should drink about 62 ounces of water a day, but when being active, such as walking or hiking, you need to consume more. Factors that can attribute to the amount of water you should be drinking include the outside temperature, distance of walk and humidity level. You should also consider drinking water before your walk or hike, that way you won’t be dehydrated before you set out. Drinking a lot of water at one point throughout your walk won’t help a considerable amount; the right idea is to drink water periodically throughout your walk to maintain a steady level of hydration.

 
 
For more info on the importance of hydration visit:
http://gettingoutsideagain.com/hydration-while-hiking/

Terrific Trails

Instead of walking the same loop around your neighborhood, why not enjoy a change of scenery by trekking one of Ontario’s picturesque trails? You can easily change your surroundings by finding a trail near you… and what a great time of year to get outside and experience the changing of the leaves this fall. Lace up your shoes and conquer a new trail!

Visit the Ontario Trails Council website for a complete list of trails.

You can also vote for your favourite Ontario trail through our poll on Facebook.

Don’t let the cooler weather slow your step

The winter months are fast approaching, which unfortunately means that cold weather is just around the corner. Keeping active might fall to the wayside due to the change in weather, but that doesn’t mean you can’t optimize on the activities you perform on a regular basis. Speeding up your stride allows for improved use of energy supplies, muscle conditioning and body shape.

Walking at a faster pace is most commonly referred to as speed walking, but other terms such as aerobic walking and power walking are also known to be used. If you want to pick up the pace without transitioning to jogging or running, these simple additions to your daily routine can help you burn more calories and enhance the benefits you obtain from traditional walking.

1. Maintain good posture - keeping your spine extended by standing up straight


2. Keep your head up - head level should be as if your chin was resting on a desk

3. Swing your arms - let your arms swing comfortably, but keep your elbows at a 90 degree angle

For more information on the proper techniques of speed walking, visit Jo Ann Taylor’s website.

Walking 30 minutes a day helps keep the doctor away

What’s a simple activity to do to stay healthy? You guessed it, walking.

As simple as it sounds, you can benefit greatly from taking a leisurely walk once a day.

If you’re not feeling as upbeat as you would like, take a walk, on your own or with a family member or friend, or start a walking group in your neighborhood. How about changing your indoor book club meeting to a discussion on foot!

Walking is a simple way to achieve and maintain your health, and it also benefits you in the following ways:

• Reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety

• Lowers blood pressure
• Increases cardiovascular endurance

• Maintains lean muscle

Why not get a head start in preparing for the 2012 MS Walk today!

For more information on the benefits of walking check out articles by Ed Forteau

Happy Labour Day Weekend!

Labour Day weekend has been celebrated on the first Monday in September since the 1880s. What started as a parade in support of the Toronto Typographical Union's strike for a 58-hour work-week has over the years become an opportunity to take a late summer trip to a country cottage or to enjoy the company of family at a picnic, fair or festival. Unfortunately it is also the unofficial end to the Canadian summer, so we encourage you to get out there and enjoy the warm weather while it lasts.


We here at the MS Society of Canada want to wish everyone an amazing, safe and fun long weekend!