Walking for Weight Loss

Take your first steps to losing weight and getting in shape by simply walking.

Walking is one of the best exercises you can do as it is one of the most natural forms of movement, it is something you do every day and it is free. Best of all done the right way it can be the best aid for permanent weight loss.

Intensity

The key to getting results is to ensure you walk at the right intensity. Making sure you are putting some power in your walk will ensure you melt away body fat, super charge your metabolism and leave you feeling super fit and super gorgeous.

You should aim to walk at a speed that is approximately between four and five miles per hour, so you feel slightly out of breath.

Body sculpting

The clever thing with walking is as well as being a good form of aerobic exercise you also sculpt all those muscles you want to keep trim and toned in your legs and arms.

The forward and backward movements from each stride creates a large range of motion so helps lift and tone the hips, legs, bum and arms.

As you up the speed when you walk you naturally engage your deepest core muscles which help to keep good alignment as you’re upper and lower body propel you forwards.

Make it social

Walking is also a great way to keep fit with your friends so why not start your own weight loss group and motivate each other?

Make fitness your focus

Instead of obsessing about weight loss, focus on your walking fitness. You’ll find it easier to stay motivated as you’ll see results so quickly and the two good hand in hand so the fitter you get the faster the weight will be dropping off.

Get motivated

Setting a goal is a great way to keep on track. Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life is a brilliant event to take part in as it only takes an hour to walk 5k and you can choose to go at whatever pace is right for you. To register and make sure you’re ready for it visit www.raceforlife.org and follow the six week plan. You can even get your walking friends together and enter as a team so you can encourage each other along the way.

Get going

Try this 20 minute workout as soon as you get the chance:

Four minutes brisk walk, then one minute walking as fast as you can with your arms crossed over your chest for one minute to give your bottom, hips and thighs a great sculpting session. Repeat this routine four times.

By Lucy Wyndham-Read, leading women’s fitness expert and Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life trainer