Whether you want to slim down, shape up or simply stay healthy, walking will do the trick.

Photo: mikebaird/Flickr

Walking is such a great activity; it's easy to do, convenient, costs nothing (except for a good pair of shoes), and it can do wonders for your overall health. What's more, a walk around your neighborhood or on a trail gives you time to sort through your thoughts and release stress. But sometimes, a walk just seems a little too slow.

If you walk for exercise, why not try picking up the pace a bit? You don't have to do away with your walking routine altogether, but you can slowly create a running habit as well. After all, variety is the spice of life, and you could also say it's the spice in your workout.

Fitness Magazine has some great tips for turning your walk into a run. To start out, time your walking pace. See if you can walk a 15-minute mile. Yes? Now try for two 15-minute miles. Once you're walking fitness is at that level, you can start adding intervals of running into your two-mile route. Start out with a five-minute walk for a warm up and then:

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Scared of marathons? I don't blame you -- the thought of running for 26.2 miles straight is pretty freakin' daunting. Heck, even the thought of running 10 miles non-stop seems like some sort of cruel masochistic punishment to many of us. Sure, maybe you're not a natural-born runner, but have no fear -- according to The New York Times, the Walk-Run Method is a way for regular Joes to get into long-distance running.

Most of us probably already do a version of this whenever we attempt to go for a jog -- as in, we run until we feel like we're going to die and then stop and stagger down the sidewalk, red-faced and gasping for air. But the Walk-Run Method is different -- you stop to walk at regular intervals, whether you're tired or not. If you're just starting, this might mean running for a minute, then walking for a minute -- as you get more experienced and increase your fitness level, though, the walk-to-run ratio will increase.

Intrigued? Click here for more information, and consider working this method into your fitness routine.

Feeling blue? Try lacing up your shoes and heading outside for a walk. CafeMom tells us that a consistent walking routine can have the same effect on your brain as an antidepressant.

I know that when I get out for a walk, I feel better. Maybe it doesn't release a rush of endorphins like running can, but it gives you time to move your muscles and clear your head. Try to work a brisk walk in every day -- you'll feel a boost in your mood in no time.

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Today is National Start! Walking Day, and if you ask me, that's as good an excuse as you're ever going to find for starting a walking program. Whether you're doing it to lose weight, become a little more fit, or just because it feels good to get moving, you can't deny that walking has tons of benefits. And now, there are some great ways to get started.

The American Heart Association's Start! Walking Program and ExerciseTV have teamed up to offer everyone the instruction they need to get started with the Start! Walking at Home With Leslie Sansone videos, which are available for purchase on DVD and for download on the ExerciseTV website. The videos start from the beginning, with a short intro, and build up to a three-mile walk.

By walking less than a half hour each day, you can improve the health of your heart, which I think we can all agree is fairly important. Not sure walking is for you? Consider these statistics:

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The summer season is just around the corner, which means that the calendar of events in your community is quickly filling up with fundraising runs, walks and sporting events. Last summer, Reese Witherspoon walked for breast cancer -- maybe you should consider putting your name down for something too.

Thing is, it's a win-win situation. You're doing something good for your community, and you're doing something good for yourself. You'll need to start training soonish, which means you'll be getting a regular workout from now until the event.

Make sure to challenge yourself, but within reason -- if you regularly run 5Ks, sign up for a 10K run, for instance. If you're used to walking a few miles at a time, maybe you want to pick up the pace and start training for a 5K run? Or maybe an easy fundraising walk is more your pace -- whatever the case, just give it your best.

When it comes to exercise, walking is the go-to choice for a simple, accessible, inexpensive yet effective workout. Simply lace up a sturdy pair of shoes and go. But I've discovered that if I forget my music player, walking can get a little ... well ... boring. At least when I'm stuck on a neighborhood route that I've walked 1,000 times.

If you find yourself getting in a walking rut, trying playing games to entertain your brain. You never know -- they just might make you walk a little longer and a little stronger:

• I Spy: Find an object that starts with A -- automobile, maybe? -- and work your way to the letter Z. Don't turn for home until you're at least half way through the alphabet.
• Interval Challenge: Pick a nearby landmark and run or race-walk to it, walk until you catch your breath, then pick a new landmark and do it again.
• Let Chance Plan Your Route: Bring a coin on your walk. At each corner, give it a flip. Heads means go straight, tails means turn.

How do you keep your mind occupied while on a long walk?

We at "That's Fit" and "AOL Health" know that you've got a lot going on in your lives besides staying in great shape, and we know that a lot more than diet and exercise goes into feeling your best every day. That's why we thought we'd share some of the exciting reporting going on at "AOL Health."

Considering trying a detox diet? "AOL Health" heads to the experts to review Hollywood's hottest cleanses -- judging for safety, effectiveness and cost.

Tired of dieting alone? These Weight Watchers winners reveal why losing weight together leads to double the weight loss success.

Are you a fast walker, a slow walker or a slouch when you stride? Discover what your walk reveals about your personality.

Daylight Savings Time is upon us (well, most of us -- if you live in Arizona or Indianapolis, or any other place that just doesn't acknowledge DST, I guess you aren't included). And while that means we have an extra hour of light at night, it also means that summer is approaching.

As the temperatures get warmer and warmer, many of us move our runs and walks later and later in the day to avoid the heat. However, if you're moving it too late, you could find yourself exercising in the dark.

And that's not entirely a bad thing -- if you have a clear, safe path, a nighttime outing could be a wonderful change of pace. However, it's important that you make sure you're being as safe as possible -- check out the gallery below for tips, or read up on all the advice that Active.com has to offer.

Some people think fitness needs to be complicated. (Just ask Liz why she thinks fitness is stupid.) But sometimes, the simplest activities are best. Walking -- perhaps the simplest activity of all -- has long been touted as a good activity for helping you maintain a healthy weight, reduce stress and reduce the risk of conditions such as cardiovascular disease. Research now suggests that a walking program can help reduce pain associated with peripheral arterial disease (PAD).

Even if you don't have a condition such as PAD, walking can make a big improvement in your health. You can use it as an occasional break from your more intense workouts or walking can be your exercise of choice.

Are you a walker? What changes has walking made in your fitness and in your life?

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So you went a little overboard with dinner. How long will it take to walk it off?

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Those of us with canine companions know that getting a dog is hard work -- but not only is it emotionally rewarding, having a dog helps you get fit too. Singer Fergie and her new husband Josh Duhamel know -- they're about to adopt a third pooch into their fur family. And obviously it's working for them.

Yes, Fido helps you get fit, according to this article. And I believe it because here's the thing about having a dog -- you have to walk it. Which means you have to walk. Every day. I dog sat for a couple of months in the summer and it helped me get in even better shape because I had this gigantic ball of energy barrelling up and down hills that I had to follow.

I'm not saying you should get a dog just as an exercise device. But if a pooch is in the cards for you, don't fear the daily walks -- they'll do you a world of good.

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If you're used to pounding the pavement, here's an easy way to mix up your routine and reap some additional benefits.

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Last Sunday, I went over to my parents' house during the Super Bowl. I watched for a while, but my interest waned. (Sorry, I'm just not a football fan.) My son and dad kept their eyes glued on the screen, but my mom and I disappeared upstairs. While my mom worked on a craft, I hopped on her treadmill for a while.

I maintained good form. But, I was chatting with my mother the whole time, so it wasn't exactly a strenuous workout. Next time, I'm going to put a little more gusto into it. You can ramp up your workout with these treadmill techniques:

• Let go. When you've got your balance, let go of the rails. Let your arms swing naturally if you're walking and pump arms forward and back while running.
• Keep eyes level. Resist the urge to stare up at the gym's ceiling-hung TV. Keep your head and eyes level.
• Add an incline. A slight incline -- even as small as one percent -- can really increase the intensity.
• Try intervals. Vary speed and incline for a more advanced workout.

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