Walking is a wonderful activity - it provides moderate, relatively gentle exercise and it's very inexpensive. You just need your own two feet! Walking helps to keep your blood circulating, bringing nutrients where they need to be and helping your body eliminate what it doesn't need. An evening walk is a great idea all around - but what do you do when the weather doesn't cooperate?

Staying Inside

An obvious option is to stay inside with a treadmill. A treadmill just isn't as enjoyable as being able to get out and walk, see the sights, and breath the fresh air as you walk. But it's an effective way to get your blood going when you're in the house because of bad weather.

Treadmills can actually be nice - on high quality models you can set resistance and incline to simulate walking on a hill and higher ground, which can give you a more effective workout.

Other Indoor Options

If you keep an eye on the weather reports for the day or week you can get a good idea on what the weather will do on a given day. If you know there's going to be a lot of rain or snow you can plan to walk at an indoor facility.

Many shopping malls open early in the morning for walkers, and even have helpful signs posted to show you distance markers. Check with your local mall to see if they welcome walkers.

The local gym is another obvious option. Most larger gyms and health clubs have an indoor track that's comfortable to walk on.

Even if you don't have anywhere you can really walk, you can still find opportunities for more movement in the house or other buildings. Take the stairs - and even walk up and down the stairs several times. Get up and make a big meal in the kitchen - you'll be back and forth quite a bit as you take care of the preparations. Get all the laundry taken care of or do some of those bigger chores you've been putting off - vacuuming, washing the inside of the windows, etc.

A final option, of course, is just to walk in the rain. If the weather is warm and the rain is a light drizzle, this is completely possible - and may even be enjoyable.

Hot and Cold Weather

When the weather is very hot or very cold it's harder to walk, just because it's much harder to motivate yourself to get up and go. Dressing appropriately can make walking in both temperature ranges much more comfortable.

When you're walking in very hot weather, wear cool, looser-fitting clothing that will breathe. A lot of fitness clothing is made from synthetic fibers that tout all kinds of benefits, but cotton still breathes very well and is a completely natural fiber. Decide what works best for you.

Research is showing that highly supportive shoes may not actually be very good for feet - so especially in the hot summer month you may want to seek out a lighter, flat soled alternative. There are many shoes designed to simulate being barefoot while providing protection from concrete and trails. The Vibram Five Finger is one example. Cooler, minimal shoes will keep you much more comfortable as you walk.

A lot of people keep walking in cold weather - even through snow and ice. Chances are you're going to need more substantial shoes in this weather! Dress warmly and in layers. It won't take many walks for you to figure out how many layers you need to be comfortable. You may be surprised just how warm you get walking during the winter!

It is recommended that even if you find you need lighter clothing that you keep your skin covered as much as possible. So if you find you want shorts, do wear leggings over your legs. A scarf over your face is a good idea, too. This is because the winter wind and cold saps moisture from your skin and can cause a lot of uncomfortable dryness. It's good to minimize this by keeping your skin covered.

Remember traditional alternatives for walking exist in both summer and winter - both seasons represent a great time to try something new. In the summer, you can ride your bike or go for a swim. In the winter, you can snowshoe or try your hand at cross-country skiing. In mild areas you can bike all winter long.

The weather doesn't have to stop you from getting your daily walk in. Remember that moderate walking is a natural form of physical activity that's great for your health and improves your outlook on life.