Want to get fit? Try walking Fido for exercise

Q: I hate going to the gym. I feel like I'm in exercise hell and need a different, more humane, way of getting my body in shape. Do you have any ideas?

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A: What about getting a dog? I'm not only giving this advice, I've followed it myself and it's made a huge difference in my exercise pattern.

An article in the Journal of the American Medical Association states that there are 65 million dogs in U.S. households. They didn’t state how many of these households have doggy doors, but  clearly many dogs and their owners live in urban areas that lack backyards. Most of us (with, perhaps, the exception of committed couch potatoes and those who do not hear, see, read or acknowledge the medical, media, and direct-to-consumer messages about cardiovascular risk factors and disease) know that we need 30 minutes of some kind of cardiovascular exercise a day to stay healthy and maintain minimal fittness. Walking, (when it's not merely strolling), fits that prescription and description. Moreover, we can receive the health benefits of exercise with as little as 10-minute “spurts," as long as they add up to that magic 30 minutes. So consider getting out there with a dog, walking him or her as fast as possible (in between bathroom privileges) so that you both get your exercise.

Clearly the larger the dog, the more briskly you'll walk, but that doesn't mean you need to own a 150-pound dog to get in shape. Small dogs love to run and often have more energy than their larger counterparts. My dog, Lucy, weighs around 45 pounds, she's a gorgeous standard poodle (even if I say so myself), and we walk at a nice pace for 30 to 40 minutes each morning, depending on how many other dogs we meet.

Lucy and I are not the only ones benefiting from our dog walks. A study from the University of Victoria, British Columbia, showed that dog owners walk an average of 300 minutes a week, versus 160 minutes a week for those who are doggy-less. Meanwhile, researchers at the University of Sidney looked at the health benefits of sustained dog walking. They found that 9 percent of the coronary heart disease experienced by individuals in that part of the country could be prevented if dog owners walked their dogs for at least 150 minutes a week.

So put on your sneakers, get your dog leash (and dog), and start walking!

Dr. Reichman’s Bottom Line: The dog you walk will wag its tail, be a friend for life, and help maintain your health.

Dr. Judith Reichman, the “Today” show's medical contributor on women's health, has practiced obstetrics and gynecology for more than 20 years. You will find many answers to your questions in her latest book, "Slow Your Clock Down: The Complete Guide to a Healthy, Younger You," which is now available in paperback. It is published by William Morrow, a division of HarperCollins.

PLEASE NOTE: The information in this column should not be construed as providing specific medical advice, but rather to offer readers information to better understand their lives and health. It is not intended to provide an alternative to professional treatment or to replace the services of a physician.