Walking is perhaps the cheapest form of exercise known to man. For one, you don’t need to be a member of Gold’s Gym to be able to do it regularly. And while it helps to have a good pair or running shoes, you can still walk with a pair of sandals and get decent mileage. Moreover, you don’t need a lot of time for it as you can walk on your way to work, to school, or home.
And it is effective in promoting weight loss, too. According to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, women who are between the ages of 18 and 30 are 44 percent more likely to lose weight if they walked at least for hours a week compared to those who didn’t walk at all.
To maximize your weight loss gains from walking, keep in mind the following tips:
Walk briskly
If you want to lose weight, you should not walk like you’re in the park. Imagine that you’re trying to catch a flight, and you could lose more weight in the process. According to studies, 30 minutes of brisk walking on a flat surface can make a person burn off more than a thousand calories in a week.
Don’t hesitate to walk, when possible
Instead of taking the elevators, why don’t you take the stairs instead? Or ditch the taxi and walk a mile or two when headed to a friend’s house. You can also make it a habit to walk home instead of taking the mass transit. It’s not only cheaper, but can also help you shed those unwanted fats.
Pair it with some resistance training
Walking is good, but it would be a lot more potent in helping you lose weight if you pair it with some resistance training workout that you can do in your gym. Simple exercises like squats and push-ups can hasten your fat loss.
Drink more water
Drinking more water can make you lose weight faster than you can imagine. According to a study that was published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, drinking about six cups of water a day can help burn 17,400 calories a year. That roughly translates to five pounds of lost weight. Now imagine how much you will be able to lose weight if you make walking a habit along with increased water intake.