Walking: Mental and Physical Health Benefits

Rosma Elisa & Qaisara Afiqah
Persuasive Outline

Topic: Walking For Health Life
Audience:
General Purpose: To persuade
Specific Purpose: To persuade my audience to start walking in order to improve health.
Thesis: Everyone should choose to walk on a regular basis to improve both mental and physical health.

1. Introduction
A. Attention Getter: Let 's be honest, we lead an easy life: automatic dishwashers, riding lawnmowers , television remote controls, automatic garage doors openers, power screwdrivers, bread machines, electric pencil sharpeners, etc. We live in a time-saving, energy-saving, convenient society, It’s a wonderful life. Isn’t it?
B. Reason to Listen: While today’s luxuries have been welcomed by the masses, they have also been accused of turning us into passive, lethargic couch potatoes. So, it is important for us to take this huge steps from our daily unhealthy lifestyles to healthier lifestyles with walking. C. Thesis Statement: Everyone should choose to walk on a regular basis to improve both mental and physical health. D. Credibility Statement: 1. 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. I’ve spent numerous weeks researching this exact topic.

E. Preview: Today I want to urge you to move off that couch and get your body moving. I want to persuade you to start walking. We will discuss the problem, the solution, what the the world will be like if this problem is or isn’t solve, , and what you can do today to fix the problem.

II. Body
A. Need Step
1. Americans lead a sedentary lifestyle at the expense of their health.
a. Adults watch between 15 and 18 hours of TV a week (walkingforhealth.org).
b. Children watch between 20 and 30 hours of TV a week (Jones 24).

2. This means we spend approximately 40% of our leisure time in front of the TV (Carey 82).
a. Ironically, it is also reported that we really don 't like many of the shows we watch (Carey 83).
b. Most people watch TV to relax or pass the time.

3. An article in the March, 1994 issue of Walking reports that there is evidence that our sedentary lifestyle is bad for our mental and emotional state of mind.
a. 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).
b. 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." (walkingforhealth.org).
d. Nutritionist Phyllis Hall stated that we tend to eat foods that are high in fat, which produce high levels of cholesterol in our blood, which in turns leads to plaque in our arteries (Hall 13).

Transition: I have just informed you the need step for walking in order to have healthier life, now let us take a look at satisfaction step.

B. Satisfaction Step 1. Fortunately, there is a simple, effective solution. Exercise. This exercise is walking.

2. Walking for 20 minutes at a moderate pace 3 - 4 times a week is good for our physical and mental health (Ullman 9).
a. Walking is an inexpensive form of exercise that requires no training.
b. Walking is a nice, relaxing way to spend time, especially on a nice day.

3. Regular walking can reduce our risk for heart disease. a. 1994 article in Prevention reported that walking can curtail our risk for heart disease (Ullman 9). b. Walking enhances an enzyme that removes triglycerides (blood fats) from our bloodstream (Ullman 10). 4. According to a research study done in 2006, walking was proven to relieve stress, help burn fat, and relax the muscles (Ulman 12). 5. Some of you may be hesitant to get up off of the couch and start walking. a. I can assure you that once you start, your blood will begin moving, you’ll feel better about yourself, you’ll get fresh air, and you’ll reduce the risk of heart disease. Walking works! b. 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 21).

Transition: By knowing the satisfaction step will now help you open your mind for how important why we need to walk with the visualization step. C. Visualization Step 1. We can visualize the benefits of walking by contrasting the lifestyle choices we have.
a. Find the closest parking space in the parking lot.
b. Drive to the convenient store that is just around the corner from your house.
c. Catch the bus to take you to a building across campus.
d. Telephone the friend in your neighborhood to chat.

2. If we take shortcuts in life, we may cut our life short. a. If this problem is not solved, people may be obese, unhappy, and at a risk for heart disease.
c. If people continue to watch 15-20 hours of TV per week, we’ll end up with a nation of lazy couch potatoes.

Transition: After we discussed the good or bad if you do or don’t walk, and now, finally I will show you the specific action that can be taken.

D. Action Step 1. I urge you to start walking more. 2. Walking is a simple, easy activity. a. Park at the back of parking lots and walk. b. Walk, don’t drive, to your local convenient store. Walk past the bus stop and let your two feet carry you across campus. c. Take 20 minutes and enjoy a walk around your neighborhood. d. Hide the T.V. remote control, move off the couch, and walk!

III. Conclusion

A. Review of Main Points:
In closing, we have discussed the problem with being a couch potato, the solution of walking for exercise, the good and bad if you do or don’t walk, and the specific action that can be taken today to get you up off your feet.

B. Restate Thesis: Regular walking can improve both your mental and physical health. Everyone should choose to walk each day!

C. Closure: "Walking will enable you to stumble onto natural little wonders that otherwise go unnoticed." (Ullman 10).Walk -- for your heart’s sake!
References

Camenzind, Paula. The Guide to Visual and Natural Healing. Pittsburgh, PA.: Rodale, 2006. Carey, Barbara. "Turn off the T.V." Health October, 2010: 82-84.

Hall, Phyllis. Nutritional Specialist. Personal Interview. 22 May 1999.

McAuliffe, Katherine. "Out of the Blues." Walking March/April, 2011: 42-47.

Ullman, Steven A. "Feet First Prevention." Prevention January, 1998: 9-10.

Wiley, John P. "Phenomena, comments and notes." Smithsonian July, 2003: 22-24.

References: Camenzind, Paula. The Guide to Visual and Natural Healing. Pittsburgh, PA.: Rodale, 2006. Carey, Barbara. "Turn off the T.V." Health October, 2010: 82-84. Hall, Phyllis. Nutritional Specialist. Personal Interview. 22 May 1999. McAuliffe, Katherine. "Out of the Blues." Walking March/April, 2011: 42-47. Ullman, Steven A. "Feet First Prevention." Prevention January, 1998: 9-10. Wiley, John P. "Phenomena, comments and notes." Smithsonian July, 2003: 22-24.