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If you've spent one too many winter nights on the couch with food to keep you warm, don't fret. Now is the perfect time to take advantage of this glorious season and do the one exercise guaranteed to get you in shape before the end of summer. So grab your sneakers and head outside - it is time to start walking. Sound too easy? Good, because it is.

Beginning a walking program is simple: You don't need any fancy gear nor do you have to be of a certain fitness level. This low-impact activity doesn't involve skill or grace, just motivation. A good pair of athletic shoes and weather-appropriate clothing is all you need.

While walking for weight loss or weight maintenance is easy, there are a few steps to follow to ensure you get the most out of your workout.

Don't overdo it

Don't try to walk a marathon the first time you go out. If you are out of shape, start slowly. As your aerobic capacity increases, gradually increase your speed and distance. Gradually increase speed and change your intensity by changing the terrain. For instance, instead of walking strictly on flat ground, try adding a hill.

Do the talk test

Walking for weight loss or maintenance involves walking briskly while comfortably pumping the arms. This makes walking a total body toner. If you are unsure if you are walking at the proper pace, try the talk test. According to Norris, if you can sing an opera while walking, you are moving too slow, but being able to only respond with an out of breath grunt means you are pushing too hard. You should be breathing more intensely then normal, yet able to carry on a conversation.

Get a pedometer

Try to walk 10,000 steps per day to get in shape. How do you count every single step? Get a pedometer. For only $20, this little contraption hooks to your waistband and counts every step you take. "We tell people that if they walk less than 3,000 steps per day, they are considered sedentary. Walking 3,000 to 7,000 steps is considered moderately active while everything over 7,000 is considered active."

Try water walking

While walking is low impact, water walking is no impact. Water walking is especially beneficial for people with arthritis or joint problems who are looking to get in shape. Many local YMCAs offer water-walking classes, as do many gyms.

Start slowly, increase gradually and know that everything counts

Simply walking to get lunch or to the post office counts toward your 10,000 steps. Don't walk that many steps in a day? Incorporate them slowly. You can walk around the block during lunch, after work or after dinner. Try adding 100 extra steps every day for the first week, then 200 extra steps every day the second week and so on. Increase your pace at a gradual and comfortable rate. Getting in shape will be quicker and easier than you ever imagined.

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