When Virat Kohli opened up about his favourite pastime: ‘If I was allowed some free time…’

"In our childhood, our favourite place to hang out was West Delhi's Jwala Heri market. I used to park my scooty outside and just roam around in the market," said Virat Kohli

When Virat Kohli revealed he loves to walk but can't (Express Photo by Partha Paul)

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Virat Kohli, the master centurion, who became the first cricketer in the One Day International format to complete 50 centuries is a person who loves sharing his heart out. In one such conversation, Kohli reminisced about his good old days in West Delhi.

“I would not like to go in a car or a bike, I’d rather prefer walking. I miss walking on Indian roads without garnering attention,” said Kohli in a chat with host Gaurav Kapur for Star Sports Network‘s ‘Prime Time With Virat Kohli‘ in September 2023.

“In our childhood, our favourite place to hang out was West Delhi’s Jwala Heri market. I used to park my scooty outside and just roam around in the market and scan for jeans in the Tibetan market. If I was allowed some free time, I would repeat this routine and walk around,” he added.

Why walking is one of the best routines?

Digvijay Singh, holistic health coach said that walking in general is a great way to stay healthy and is universally suggested to people who are fit as well as people who are obese. “Walking puts less strain on your knee as compared to any other physical activity that requires running and jumping,” said Singh.

The number of calories you burn depends on various factors, including your age, weight, intensity, and distance — but you burn calories whenever you move.

Here’s how walking helps (Source: Getty Images/Thinkstock)

It is recommended that one aims for 10,000 steps every day. Set a baseline for how many steps you take per day, and then increase by 1,000 each week until you reach your target. “Step it up again once you’ve reached 10,000 steps per day. You should be able to increase the pace after a few weeks,” shared Dr Gaurav Jain, senior consultant, internal medicine, Dharamshila Narayana Superspeciality Hospital.

Also Read | Can walking for an hour daily help you lose 2-3 kgs every month?

In addition to burning more calories, a power walk would also build cardiovascular endurance and stimulate other health benefits. “It can help you lose weight and even lower your blood pressure and cholesterol. You will have more energy throughout the day and be able to fall asleep easier at night. The benefits also include improved mental health such as reduced stress and anxiety, clear thinking and better moods,” mentioned Varun Rattan, co-founder, The Body Science Academy, Noida in an earlier interaction with indianexpress.com.

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What must be kept in mind?

Walking at a comfortable speed is preferable. The most significant factor in establishing an exercise regimen, including a walking routine, is consistency, said Rattan. “Your focus should therefore be on taking frequent walks before increasing duration or pace. As your fitness level improves, you will be able to walk faster or farther without much extra effort,” said Rattan.

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