Have you tried walking for weight loss? There are so many health advantages to simply taking a walk. It can help reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke, lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and improve the efficiency of both the heart and lungs.
Walking also helps combat anxiety and depression, and recent research suggests that as little as 8 miles a week can help to stave off Alzheimer’s disease. In addition, walking is a great exercise to do to lose weight fast!
Below are 8 ways to boost your calorie-burn big time—without much extra effort:
8. Skip killer hills
Don’t assume the biggest inclines are the best for burning fat. It’s actually better to maintain your speed on a moderate hill than to slow down substantially on a steeper one.
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7. Use your arms
Vigorously pumping your bent arms helps you go faster—and burn more calories.
6. Set goals you can see
Choose markers (stop sign, park bench, etc.) and speed up until you reach them. Slow down for the same distance.
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5. Wipe the pavement
Roll through from heel to toe. When you get to the ball of your foot, push off as if wiping gum off your sole.
This will get your calf, hamstring, and glute muscles involved—and the more muscle you use, the more calories you burn.
4. Go shoe shopping
To get the most power from your push-off, opt for a shoe with minimum cushioning and maximum flexibility in the front of the shoe.
3. Stand straight
When your body’s aligned, your back and butt muscles are able to work more powerfully, so you walk faster and torch more calories.
Stand tall with a straight spine, keeping your ears and shoulders aligned over your hips.
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2. Raise your rate
Wearing a heart-rate monitor is like having your own coach keeping you at optimal fat-torching pace.
It’ll give you a push if you’re slowing down too much, but also get you to ease up if you’re pushing too hard.
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1. Add strength
Simple moves like push-ups and lunges get more muscles involved for a major burn.
When you walk, stop every five minutes and do one minute of moves. This will help up your metabolism over the long term, too.
