And if they told you that they are going to pay to walk? Would you believe it? Well, it’s something that already happens.
Three engineers created an app three years ago with which you can exchange the steps you have taken throughout the day for points. Its name is WeWard and it is a free application that is available for IOS and Android.
The concept is simple: the more you walk, the more you earn, since the points can be exchanged for money or gifts. There are four types: bank transfers, ranging from 15 to 150 euros; discounts on different brands; donations to associations; or getting an iPhone 13 or a weekend in Rome, for example. “This money comes from the advertising that the more than 500 partners that the application has, says Justine Roditis, International Business Developer of WeWard.
The pace of the walk or the space where it is done does not influence when it comes to getting these points. What is counted are Steps that you give during the day For example, if you do 10,000, you will get 10 points. And the most you can get is 25 points on the same day.
«For a transfer of 15 euros, three thousand points are needed. But there are other ways to earn them: by completing challenges and surveys, or by shopping at our partner stores. And you can add this to the points you get just by walking”, explains Roditis. Also, to motivate people, there are challenges and levels to complete, either alone or with friends and family.
The idea arose because these engineers consider that a sedentary lifestyle is one of the ten most important mortality risk factors in the world. «They saw that people each time had fewer healthy habits and they opted to promote good practices through an app, focusing on the fact of walking because it has many benefits”, says Roditis.
And it is that walking has many benefits for the mind, the body and the planet. It also increases empathy, reduces the risk of heart disease, cardiovascular disease and depression, as well as being in contact with others and your environment.
walking is not enough
The fitness expert and contributor to ABC Bienestar Alfonso M. Arce points out that there is nothing wrong with walking, on the contrary, it is highly recommended and healthy, especially if you do it in the middle of nature. However, consider that 10,000 steps daily or that with a walk on the weekend we have already exercised, it is very different.
We are leaving many muscle groups without working if we only walk, and protecting our muscle mass is essential for health and to protect us from the sarcopenia. “Also, if you only walk, when do you work on your mobility? And your flexibility? Balance? Or coordination?” insists the expert.
If you walk without further ado, you will get used to a medium or medium-low intensity aerobic work that will make you improve in that range of cardiac output. “If you’re wondering why you want more, do a breakdown drill in your elevator and go home up the stairs carrying your shopping bags. You will see what happens with your pulsations”, explains M. Arce. Faced with a completely different physical stimulus in intensity and duration, it will give you the feeling that your walks are worthless. «If you think that walking is a very complete exercise, I’m sorry, it is not enough“, remember.
