Want to lose weight but hate going to the gym? Try walking instead!
For the majority of human history, walking was just a way to get from one place to another. But walking for weight loss is the easiest form of exercise, and if done right, it can help you shed weight while also offering a hoard of other health benefits.
Find out more about how walking regularly can improve your health and tips for getting started.
Contents:
- Is Walking Good for Weight Loss?
- How Much Should You Walk for Weight Loss?
- Tips to Lose Weight Through Walking
- What is the Best Time to Walk for Weight Loss?
- What are the Other Health Benefits of Walking Every Day?
- Don’t Have Time To Read?
- FAQs
Is Walking Good for Weight Loss?
Brisk walking for weight loss is a form of moderate aerobic exercise, which is considered effective for weight loss.
Aerobic exercises are also called cardio workouts, and they increase your heart rate and breathing rate, which helps your body pump more oxygen and blood to your muscles. This helps you burn fat and build muscle, both of which are important for weight loss.
Walking or physical activity alone cannot help you lose much weight. Try making some changes to your diet in order to get better results.
How Much Should You Walk for Weight Loss?
You need to walk for at least 30 minutes every day to lose weight. You can burn more calories by walking for 45 minutes to one hour.
The pace you walk at is also important in determining the number of calories you are burning. You can use this calculator to figure out the calories you burned based on the pace and duration of your walk.
NOTE: Do you know what helps you burn more calories than walking? Running, of course! Check out this guide on how many calories you can burn running a mile, and what are the factors that can affect the number of calories you burn while running.
Tips to Lose Weight Through Walking
Want to know how to make your walking workout more effective? Try these tips!
1. Start Slow
If you are not in the habit of walking or exercising regularly, pushing yourself to work out for an hour on the first day may not be realistic.
Overdoing it in the initial stages can hurt your progress in the long run and could also cause injuries. So start slow and incorporate more walking into your routine gradually as your body gets used to the increased levels of physical activity.
2. Choose the Right Accessories
Having the right gear can enhance your exercise performance and keep you motivated to work out more. Wear shoes and clothes that keep you cool and are comfortable to walk in.
A smartwatch that can measure your heartbeat and step count can also help you track your progress and achieve your goals.
3. Stretch Before and After
Warm-up and cool-down exercises like stretches can help your body relax and loosen up. Performing physical activity when your muscles are tight and tense can make you more likely to sprain or injure them.
Stretching for 5 to 10 minutes before and after a workout can help prevent this.
4. Set a Goal
Having a fixed activity goal in the form of distance walked, number of steps or calories burned can increase your likelihood of sticking to your fitness routine. Raising your goals every one or two weeks can help you lose more weight.
5. Have a Water Bottle With You
Hydration is the key to keeping your energy levels up when walking. You lose a lot of moisture from your body in the form of sweat when you’re working out. Dehydration can give you headaches or make you feel tired. So drinking water while exercising can keep you going longer.
6. Wear Layers
Adding layers of clothing like jackets or sweatshirts on top of your workout clothes can help your body generate more heat. This helps you burn more calories.
7. Walk Briskly or On an Incline
Upping your pace or walking up a slope can help make your muscles work harder to keep up. This can help you burn more fat and also help you tone your muscles.
8. Add Weights
Walking with hand weights or ankle weights burns more calories because of the extra energy needed to carry the added weight. However, the extra strain on your muscles can increase your chances of injury if you do not follow proper form while walking.
9. Walk With a Partner
Walking with your friends, family, or even a pet can make it more enjoyable and boost your mood. Besides losing weight, walking with a partner can help you relax and also improve your social relationships.
10. Add Strength Training to Your Exercise Routine
Along with walking, try to incorporate strength training into your routine at least twice a week.
Bodyweight training and resistance training exercises can help you build muscle. Your muscles require more energy to function on a daily basis, which helps you burn more calories and lose weight.
Strength training can also prevent muscle loss that is associated with regular aerobic exercise.
What is the Best Time to Walk for Weight Loss?
If your goal is to burn fat, walking in the morning on an empty stomach would be the best time. Your body uses up the energy from dinner during the night, so any exercise you perform on an empty stomach will help you burn more fat. Make sure to have a protein-filled breakfast after your workout.
Walking in the morning also boosts your metabolism which helps burn more calories throughout the day.
What are the Other Health Benefits of Walking Every Day?
- Walking for 30 minutes every day can help lower your blood pressure levels and reduce your risk of developing hypertension.
- Regular walking can help lower your blood sugar levels and reduce your risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes.
- Walking can boost your metabolism and energy levels.
- Walking can also lift up your mood and improve your mental health.
- Walking can lower your stress levels and make you more productive.
- Walking regularly in the morning can reset your circadian rhythm and help you get better sleep.