Ladies, I am a firm believer in the notion that everyone’s fitness journey is unique and specific to their own needs and abilities. And while things such as my age, strength and drive have factored into the routine that I’ve cultivated for myself, there’s one type of exercise that has progressed with me throughout the years – walking!
Walking is a staple activity in my weekly fitness regime. While the critics will tell you that walking won’t do much for you as a form of cardio, I’ll tell you that walking is a safe and sure way to get your heart-rate up while helping you to de-stress, improve your posture and further tone your muscles.
Here are four ways to amp up your walking routine, bringing you even closer to your fitness goals:
- Pick Up Your Pace: This is a simple one – once you establish a walking routine, make a conscious effort to quicken your pace. If your route usually takes you about 40 minutes to complete, try to knock it out in 35 minutes. Once you’re consistently completing your walk in 35 minutes, make it a goal to finish your walk in 30 minutes. By pushing yourself to get through your usual routine faster, you’ll challenge your abilities and further elevate your heart rate.
- Pump It Up: So, you’ve managed to trim down your time, but you’re still looking for a way to challenge yourself? Try a different route all together. When I’m looking to really focus on my legs, I make sure to walk a route with hills. Hills engage my glutes and burn away excess calories.
- Get Your Arms in the Game: Once you’ve established a comfortable pace, consider upping the ante by engaging your upper body. As you walk, pump your arms up and down as if on the elliptical. In doing so, you’re enhancing the aerobic benefit of walking. An added bonus is you’re now working the muscles in your back, shoulders and arms!
- Add Some Weight – There are multiple ways to incorporate weight into your walking routine. You can wear ankle or wrist weights, sport a weighted vest, put some weights in a backpack, or even pump your arms while carrying dumbbells. Whichever method you choose, you’re sure to activate different parts of your body when incorporating weight into your usual routine. This can easily translate into increased muscle definition – just in time for shorts season!
Never underestimate the power behind a simple and consistent walking routine. Next time you go for a stroll, consider your goals and tweak your routine to get YOU the best results.
Now… get walking!
Please share your walking routine below.
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6 Simple Swaps to Cut Calories.
