Walking Essay

Persuasive Speech

Title: Walking Not Watching

Specific Purpose: To persuade my audience to start walking so they can improve their health.

I. Introduction

A. Attention-getter: Let’s be honest, we lead a pretty easy life: automatic dishwasher, riding lawnmowers, banking online, TV remotes, automatic garage door openers, electric cars, etc. etc. We live in a time-saving, energy-saving, convenient society. It’s a wonderful life. Or is it? While today’s luxuries have been welcomed by the masses, they have also been accused of turning us into passive, lethargic couch potatoes.

B. Establishment of ethos: It is pretty disturbing to know that people can help that they stay fit and healthy and many choose not to. As a reformed couch potato myself, I know how easy it can be to slip into an inactive lifestyle. I also know how sluggish and apathetic such a lifestyle can make me feel.

C. Thematic statement: Today I want to urge you to move off that couch and get your body moving by walking.

(Transition: Walking, according to wedmd.com is one of the simplest exercise that doesn’t require any equipment besides a good pair of shoes. So why not set aside just 30 minutes a day for getting fit?)

II. Need

I. Americans lead an inactive lifestyle at the expense of their health.

A. Barbara Carey wrote an article in Health Magazine saying that adults watch between 15-18 hours of TV a week.

1. That means we spend approximately 40% of our leisure time in front of the TV (Carey 82).

2. Ironically, it is also reported that we really don’t like many of the shows we watch (Carey 83).

B. An article in the March, 2009 issue of Walking reports that there is evidence that our inactive lifestyle is bad for our mental and emotional state of mind.

1. Walking magazine also says that studies today indicate that people are experiencing higher bouts of depression than in the 18th and 19th century when work and life was considered more difficult (McAuliffe 43).

2. The article reports that 12.6% of Americans suffer from anxiety and another 9.5% suffer from serious depression (McAuliffe 42).

C. Our eating habits, combined with our lack of exercise is purported to be the “second leading non-genetic contributor to death in the U.S.” (WebMD).

1. Nutritionist Phyllis Hall stated that we tend to eat food that are high in fat, which produce high levels of cholesterol in our blood, which in turns leads to plaque in our arteries (WebMD).

2. While modifying our diet can certainly help us decrease our risk for heart disease, studies have indicated that people who don’t exercise are at an even greater risk for heart disease (WebMD).

(Internal summary: All of this shows that while maintaining a healthy diet can change your health the most important is to exercise because if you don’t it could take your life.)

(Transition: Now that we see there is need for more activity and less couch sitting. I will inform you all of an exercise you can partake in.)

III. Satisfaction

II. Fortunately, there is a simple, effective exercise that we can all do.

A. This exercise is known as walking.

1. Walking for 20 minutes at a moderate pace 3-4 times a week is good for our physical and mental health (Pubmed.gov)

2. Walking is also great because it is a very inexpensive form of exercise that doesn’t require an training, or that much equipment besides a good pair of shoes.

B. Regular walking can reduce our risk for heart disease and improve our health.

1. A 2009 article in Prevention magazine reported that walking can curtail our risk for heart disease (Ullman 9).

2. Walking enhances an enzyme that removes triglycerides, which are blood fats from our bloodstreams (Ullman 10).

C. Regular walking can also improve your mood.

1. It combats depression by activating the neurotransmitters, which are basically chemicals used by our nerve cells to communicate with one another and often associated with avoiding depression. It also stimulates the production of endorphins, another type of nerotransmitters that produce feelings of well-being, provide for “natural” pain relief, and help you relax.(Pubmed.gov)

D. Here is a simple plan to start walking for your health according to mayoclinic.com: Show shoes and chart for visual aid.

1. Start at a slow and easy pace: try to walk 10-15 minutes in the beginning and then slowly begin to build up do these walk three times a week. Then after you have done that for a few weeks try to work up to 30 to 60 minutes of walking most of the days of the week until you get to 90 minutes.

2. Measure the intensity of your workout: as you walk, measure your intensity by checking your heart rate. Knowing your heart rate allows you to increase the intensity to maximize your workout or slow down to avoid overdoing it.

(Internal summary: All of this shows that there is a simple solution to begin walking and off the couch.)

(Transition: Now that we know there is a solution to the problem, why would we use them?)

IV. Visualization

III. We can visualize the benefits of walking by contrasting the lifestyle choices we have.

A. We can take shortcuts in life and therefore cut or life short. Or

1. We find the closet parking space in the lot.

2. We drive to the convenient store that is just around the corner from our house.

3. We catch the bus to take us to the building just a 5 min walk across campus.

4. We text/call neighborhood friends just to chat.

B. Or we can choose to lessen our risk of health problems and improve our mental health by making an effort to walk.

1. Steven Ullman wrote in Prevention magazine that “walking will enable you to stumble onto natural little wonders that otherwise go unnoticed.”

2. John P. Wiley comments on the benefits of walking by stating, “Being on your own two feet is restful. No one is climbing on your back, leaning on a horn…and if something catches your eye, you can stop without being rear ended.” (Wiley 24)

(Internal summary: Now we can see what we do to deplete our health and how we can fix it.)

(Transition to conclusion: So what are you going to do?)

V. Conclusion

I urge you to start walking more. A simple, easy activity. Park at the back of the parking lots and walk. Walk, don’t drive, to your local convenient store. Walk past the bus stop and let your two feet take you across campus. Take 30 minutes out of your day and enjoy a walk around campus. Hide the T.V. remote, move off the couch, and walk—for your health’s sake.

References

Carey, Barbara. "Turn Off the T.V." Health Oct. 2008: 82-84. Print.

Mayo Clinic Staff. "Walking: Trim Your Waistline, Improve Your Health." Mayo Clinic. 08 Dec. 2010. Web. 04 Apr. 2011. .

McAuliffe, Katherine. "Out of the Blues." Walking Mar. 2009: 42-47. Print.

Melone, Linda. "Lose Weight and Get Fit By Walking." WebMD - Better Information. Better Health. Web. 04 Apr. 2011. .

Morris, JN, and AE Hardman. "Walking to Health." PubMed.gov. 24 Aug. 1997. Web. 04 Apr. 2011. . (Database)

Ullman, Steven. "Feet First Prevention." Prevention Jan. 2008: 9-10. Print.

Wiley, John P. “Phenomena, comments, and notes.” Smithsonian July, 1989: 22-24

References: Carey, Barbara. "Turn Off the T.V." Health Oct. 2008: 82-84. Print. Mayo Clinic Staff. "Walking: Trim Your Waistline, Improve Your Health." Mayo Clinic. 08 Dec. 2010. Web. 04 Apr. 2011. . McAuliffe, Katherine. "Out of the Blues." Walking Mar. 2009: 42-47. Print. Melone, Linda. "Lose Weight and Get Fit By Walking." WebMD - Better Information. Better Health. Web. 04 Apr. 2011. . Morris, JN, and AE Hardman. "Walking to Health." PubMed.gov. 24 Aug. 1997. Web. 04 Apr. 2011. . (Database) Ullman, Steven. "Feet First Prevention." Prevention Jan. 2008: 9-10. Print. Wiley, John P. “Phenomena, comments, and notes.” Smithsonian July, 1989: 22-24