COLUMBUS, Ohio — For many, walking is just a simple act of exercise, but Cindy Hilling says it changed her life.  

“I had lost my husband in 1999 and I was depressed for a couple years,” said Cindy Hilling. 

After her husband died, she found that walking every weekend was the best way to get her out of her depression while also being healthy.

“I started originally in 2003, and by the end of December, I did a New Year’s Eve from nine to midnight and I lost 30 pounds,” said Hilling.

She’s spent hours every weekend getting her steps in, no matter the weather. 

“I used to walk 6.2 miles every weekend or like on a Friday or Saturday or Saturday and Sunday, I should say. And then as I got older, I moved it down to like 5K, which is 3.1 mile,” said Hilling. 

According to the American Heart Association, adults should walk at least 150 minutes a week and kids should get at least 60 minutes of play a day. 

“If you can get out and get moving and walk every single day, there’s so many great benefits from reducing stress to even more energy productivity as well, that helps you sleep better,” said the executive director of the Central Ohio American Heart Association, Nancy Tobbe. 

While it can be easy to find excuses for not doing it, the American Heart Association says there’s always time to take care of yourself. 

“We all have very busy lives, and sometimes even just breaking up and taking three smaller 10 minute breaks, those goes a long way,” said Tobbe. 

Walking around the Franklinton neighborhood, Hilling motivates herself to continue walking because she knows at 76, a lot of people her age aren’t able to walk. 

“I want to be able to be around for a long time. I want to be healthy. So, I try. I’m pretty proactive on my health,” said Hilling. 

Inspiring us all, Hilling is just taking life one step at a time.