Courtney, pictured left, is a 32-year-old graduate student working on her Ph.D. She didn't know anything about walking for sport or hiking before she joined GirlTrek last year. If you're like her, and interested in getting fit and fabulous, check out these commonly asked questions or ask your own question. If we don't know the answer, we'll ask women like Courtney who are now experts!
Kallima, pictured left, is a 35-year-old financial analyst. She joined GirlTrek last year because it sounded easy enough. First she went on walks with a local team. Then, on her own, she began training for her first 5K race. If you have an extra goal you want to accomplish, you can do it! GirlTrek started a year-around blog and goal-setting program to support women called OurHealth. This blog is real talk, for women 18 and older only.
India, pictured left, is a 7th grade student who joined a team started by her teacher. Her mother complimented GirlTrek, saying "India wants to walk ALL the time now - to the store, around the block...she has even encouraged me to get out there!" You can walk as a solo trekker or you can start a trek team with women and girls in your community!
Ywana, pictured left, is a 34-year-old mother and vice principal in Florida. She joined GirlTrek last year, started walking, changed her diet and lost 22 pounds! Women like Ywana are bound to keep you motivated! If you would like to join her - and other real women of color, commit to changing the health of our families and communities ...one step at a time. Join the GirlTrek Movement!
Jasmine, pictured left, is a 22-year-old college student. She grabbed her mom and started trekking last year. That easy! They loved spending time together, finding inspiration online and being a part of a greater movement of Black women committed to active living! They walked in the Susan B. Anthony 5K last year to celebrate their new found fitness! We encourage you to email us! Share your photos and victory stories!
Morgan, pictured left, is the co-founder of GirlTrek . She started walking because she was sick and tired of being sick and tired.... Her new habit took her all the way to the Pacific Coast Trail in 2008. This breathtaking scenery inspired so many of us that we decided to create a contest this year - 2010 Best Picture. To stay motivated, please read more about all of our fun and exciting contests!
Here are 9 great reasons you should walk with us... source
1. Walking prevents type 2 diabetes. The Diabetes Prevention Program showed that walking 150 minutes per week and losing just 7% of your body weight (12-15 pounds) can reduce your risk of diabetes by 58%.
2. Walking strengthens your heart if you're female. Women in the Nurse's Health Study (72,488 female nurses) who walked three hours or more per week reduced their risk of a heart attack or other coronary event by 35% compared with women who did not walk.
3. Walking is good for your brain. In a study on walking and cognitive function, researchers found that women who walked the equivalent of an easy pace at least 1.5 hours per week had significantly better cognitive function and less cognitive decline than women who walked less than 40 minutes per week. Think about that!
4. Walking is good for your bones. Research shows that postmenopausal women who walk approximately one mile each day have higher whole-body bone density than women who walk shorter distances, and walking is also effective in slowing the rate of bone loss from the legs.
5. Walking helps alleviate symptoms of depression. Walking for 30 minutes, three to five times per week for 12 weeks reduced symptoms of depression as measured with a standard depression questionnaire by 47%.
6. Walking reduces the risk of breast and colon cancer. Women who performed the equivalent of one hour and 15 minutes to two and a half hours per week of brisk walking had an 18% decreased risk of breast cancer compared with inactive women. Many studies have shown that exercise can prevent colon cancer, and even if an individual person develops colon cancer, the benefits of exercise appear to continue both by increasing quality of life and reducing mortality.
7. Walking improves fitness. Walking just three times a week for 30 minutes can significantly increase cardiorespiratory fitness.
8. Walking in short bouts improves fitness, too! A study of sedentary women showed that short bouts of brisk walking (three 10-minute walks per day) resulted in similar improvements in fitness and were at least as effective in decreasing body fatness as long bouts (one 30-minute walk per day).
9. Walking improves physical function. Research shows that walking improves fitness and physical function and prevents physical disability in older persons.
Milagros & Mirielys, pictured left, are a dedicated mother-daughter team. Walking brought them closer together! Once they mastered flat trails, they started walking hills. Milagros said, "GirlTrek gives my daughter and I a reason to get outside." To find trails near you, like the one they are walking on, use these helpful tools.
