Walking is already one of the easiest ways to stay active, but if you tweak your pace just a little, it can turn into a serious fat-burning workout. Enter interval walking—a simple trick where you boost calorie burn and keep things interesting.
It’s perfect for anyone who wants the benefits of a workout without the intensity of a full-blown sprint session. Plus, it keeps boredom at bay, making your daily walks feel less like a chore and more like a fun challenge. Lace up those sneakers—it’s time to walk smarter, not harder.
Very Well Fit explains that interval walking is a weight loss program that uses short bursts of faster walking to burn fat. The publication mentions that this is a great way to improve fitness, burn more calories, and transition to jogging or running, providing a short recovery period.
Interval walking for weight loss boosts metabolism by providing high-intensity activity bursts that activate the body’s calorie-burning engine, according to HealthShots. This “afterburn effect” aids weight reduction efforts and makes interval walking more efficient than steady-state walking, the publication continues.
“Walking for weight loss improves your cardiovascular fitness significantly, and interval walking ramps up the benefits even further. By including high-intensity walking into your regimen, you are effectively giving your heart and lungs intense exercise,” explains fitness expert, Mahesh Ghanekar.
The above health publication adds that to incorporate interval waking into your routine you need to begin with a 5-10 minute brisk walk to warm up muscles. The mentioned source then advises you to alternate between high-intensity and moderate-intensity walking, walking at a comfortable pace for 1-2 minutes.
Repeat for 20-30 minutes, then finish with a 5-10 minute cool-down walk to lower heart rate and prevent muscle soreness, HealthShots concludes.
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