Walking: A Wonderfully Effective Quick Weight Loss Strategy

By Brad Morgan

Walking works so well for so many people because it is an exercise that most people can easily do. Added benefits are that it is free, don't can do it at home or in your neighborhood, it's good for overall health, and it's great for weight loss.

If you're a walking aficionado, you may be wondering how to amp up your walk for quick weight loss. The following tips will help burn more fat and get you slim:

The first thing that you should do is be conscious of your posture. It can help you move more efficiently and prevent injury.

* Assume a natural posture, making sure to keep your head and back straight.

* When you walk, step forward from the balls of your feet. When your foot hits the ground, make sure the heel strikes first.

* Avoid leg and hip pain by walking with your toes straight, not turned out or in.

* Relax your shoulders and hold your head up high. Turn your hips in to correctly align your back.

Now, to get more from your walk:

1. Get your arms involved.

Don't let your legs do all the work. Bending your arms at right angles and holding your hands in loosely curled fists will help you burn a bunch more calories than if you just let them come along for the ride.

When you step, move your arms in a straight forward and back movement while keeping them tight to your body. Don't flail around like a windmill.

Keep the arch of your arms even with your breastbone; you don't need an exaggerated movement. Try a few minutes at first and then progress until your arms are actively involved in your entire walk.

2. Don't stagnate.

Quick weight loss comes from challenging the body. If you stop seeing results from your walk, it is time to add some more miles or minutes to your routine. Go from thirty minutes to forty-five on every other walk. When that is too easy, progress to sixty minutes.

So will you end up walking for hours and hours as you become more fit? That is not necessary; just add some intensity with hills and a faster pace.

3. Don't avoid the hills!

When you begin an exercise program, you often notice quick weight loss. It levels off dramatically, though, as your body becomes used to its new level of activity. To keep burning fat and calories, you need to add intensity to challenge your body.

If you are walking outdoors, find a route that has a good mixture of level terrain and hills. If you keep your pace brisk, these hills are great for busting through weight loss plateaus.

When you are inside, just a few pushes of the incline button can add instant hills. You can also achieve results even if you are doing walking videos. Simply add intervals of more brisk walking. You can even jog to keep up the intensity.

Don't let your body ever become used to an exercise. It needs to be challenged constantly in order to keep your heart healthy and your body working at its optimum.

4. Do something else

Walking is one of the best things you can do for your body, but it also needs a range of movement in order to achieve quick weight loss. Strength and flexibility training can help you get there.

There are different ways to add variety. You can cut your walk in half (keep it difficult, though) and use the rest of the time for weight training or you can devote two or three days to strength and/or flexibility workouts. Your weight loss efforts will be rejuvenated, and you'll have the added bonus of sleek and toned arms.

Using walking to lose weight is so effective, but only if you make it intense enough to challenge your body. A leisurely stroll won't cut it.

Always strive to do more when you exercise. Walking, with intense intervals and with a variety of other workouts mixed in, is an excellent way to achieve quick weight loss and keep the pounds from coming back on. - 29951

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