Living Well

Been planning to do brisk-walking every morning but I failed. The plan is still a plan. I wasn’t able to it even just once because I became a night person and I usually wake up late. But still, I am hoping that one of these days, me and the husband will seriously take the challenge and wake up early for a good walk around the neighborhood.

To maximize the benefit of walking, I should put these 10 tips to walk off fat faster.

1. USE YOUR ARMS. Vigorously pumping your bent arms helps you go faster – and burn more calories.
2. TAKE SMALLER STEPS. The best way to boost your speed – and thus burn – is to take shorter, faster steps. Time yourself walking 100 steps, then recover for one minute. Count another 100 steps, and try to shave five seconds off your time. Repeat 12 times.
3. GET SOME POLES. Using Nordic poles torches an average 20 percent more calories by engaging the muscles in your upper body and torso. Plant the pole firmly at a 45-degree angle behind you, then push back forcefully against the ground to propel yourself forward.
4. SET GOALS YOU CAN SEE. Choose markers (stop, sign, park, bench, etc.) and speed up until you reach them. Slow down for some distance.
5. WIPE THE PAVEMENT. Roll through from heel to toe. When you get to the ball of your foot, push off as if wiping off your gum off your sole. This will get your calf, hamstring, and glute muscles involved – and the more muscle you use, the more calories you burn.
6. GO SHOE SHOPPING. To get the most power from your push-off, opt for a shoe with minimum cushioning and maximum flexibility in the front of the shoe.
7. STAND STRAIGHT. When your body’s aligned, your back and butt muscles are able to work more powerfully, so you can work faster and torch more calories. Stand tall with a straight spine, keeping your ears and shoulders aligned over your hips.
8. SKIP KILLER HILLS. Don’t assume the biggest inclines are the best for burning fat. It is better to maintain your speed on a moderate hill than to slow down substantially on a steeper one.
9. RAISE YOUR RATE. Wearing a heart-rate monitor is like having your own coach keeping you at optimal fat-torching pace. It will give you a push if you’re slowing down too much, but also get you to ease up if you’re pushing too hard.
10. ADD STRENGTH. Simple moves like push-ups and lunges get more muscles involved for major burn. When you walk, stop every five minutes and do one minute of moves. This will help up your metabolism over the long term, too. What’s better than burning more calories while you walk? Blasting them off while you sleep, of course.

Source: Health Magazine

Tags: briskwalking tips, burn fat faster, exercise, exercise tips, lose weight faster, walking, walking tips