by April Plank, Certified Fitness Expert
If you’ve been walking for a while and are not seeing the results you once did, it may be time to add a little pizzazz into your workout. Here are some great ways to make your walks more fun, more effective, and more of a calorie burner.
Play a funky beat. Music has the power to inspire and studies have shown that people who work out to up-tempo music cover 11 percent more ground than those who do not. Create a playlist that makes you want to keep moving or create a station using Slacker Radio, Pandora or another service!
Move mountains. Add some hills to your workout to kick your calorie burn into overdrive. Whether on a treadmill or just walking up and down hills, you can burn more calories while sculpting your legs and glutes. One workout I like to do on the treadmill is to increase my incline every minute until it is as steep as I can manage. Then I lower it every minute until I get back to my starting point. And I do like the occasional stadium stair workout, which can really get your heart rate pumping.
Relive your youth. Kids find the fun in everything. Make walking a game by picking up the pace every time you see a dog, a blue car, a fast food restaurant! Every time you pick up your pace, you will be burning more calories. I like to pick up the pace for 100 steps then drop back to my normal pace and catch my breath. Pick your step number and make it a goal to increase the number of steps as your fitness level progresses.
Try Tone to Go. Combining strength training and your walk will push your calorie burn through the roof! Tone to Go is a 30-minute walk with a resistance band so you can get both your cardio and strength workout in one.
Think Nordic. You can burn 20 percent more calories just by using walking poles. When you’re working out with poles, you’re working your arms more, standing taller, and can actually move faster.
Every minute counts. Try to add five minutes to at least two to three of your weekly walks. These extra few minutes can increase your calorie burn. Every step you make is a step in the right direction. Just remember to keep the pace and not slow down to compensate for the extra walking time.
This information is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to be an exhaustive examination of the subject matter nor a substitute for medical advice. Always consult your primary care physician or healthcare provider before beginning any diet or exercise program.