| In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, | | | | Since each pound of fat is comprised of 3,500 |
| gasoline prices appeared to be on automatic | | | | calories, walking to work would burn about |
| pilot to the moon. As reported by CNN on | | | | one pound of fat every five weeks. That |
| 9-5-05, "Drivers paid an average of about | | | | translates to at least ten pounds of fat loss |
| $3.20 a gallon for unleaded regular on | | | | in just one year. That's an impressive feat, |
| Monday, up $1.35 from a year ago, and 75 | | | | since according to the Federal Citizen |
| cents more than they did before the | | | | Information Center "Even a small weight loss |
| hurricane". | | | | of 10 to 20 pounds can improve your health, |
| | | | for example by lowering your blood pressure |
| Higher gas prices are putting a big dent in | | | | and cholesterol levels". |
| the budget of the average citizen, leaving | | | | |
| many with less disposable income for | | | | Changing how we get to work will, however, |
| essentials like food and clothing. | | | | make one thing heavier: our wallets. As a |
| | | | whole, Americans do not drive fuel-efficient |
| But Americans can take solace in the news | | | | cars. As reported by Business Week on |
| that there is a way to dramatically lower | | | | 6-20-05, "Federal mileage standards -- 20.7 |
| gasoline costs, while at the same time | | | | mpg for light trucks and 27.5 mpg for cars |
| shrinking our waistlines. The answer is to | | | | last year -- are little changed since 1985 |
| start walking to work, to the store, and | | | | (though the light-truck standard is slated to |
| anywhere else it's practical to do so. | | | | rise to 22.2 mpg by 2008). As a result, the |
| Walking is great exercise and doesn't require | | | | average mileage of U.S. passenger vehicles |
| a trip to the gas pump. | | | | peaked in 1988 and has fallen slightly |
| | | | since". |
| A 160 lb. person who spends thirty minutes | | | | |
| walking to work will burn approximately 145 | | | | Assuming a two-mile commute to and from work, |
| calories. An uphill walk will boost that | | | | walking instead of driving would save twenty |
| calorie burn to 218 calories, and | | | | miles of driving per week. That's a savings |
| 'race-walking' will increase that to a | | | | of about three dollars per week, or $156 per |
| whopping 236 calories. | | | | year. |
| | | | |
| Taking a thirty-minute walk to work would | | | | With gas prices still high, the best time to |
| burn approximately 725 calories per week. | | | | get started on a new walking program is now. |