10 Ways To Maximize Your Walking Workouts

While considered a low-impact workout, you can still reap any health benefits for walking. While it may not be as intense as lifting weights or swimming, there are still many strategies you can do to maximize the results of your workout. Here are some of them.

1. Set a Goal

Be sure you know why you’re doing this in the first place. A properly envisioned goal helps you stay motivated at all times. So set specific and realistic objectives for yourself. It could be to lose weight or to be able to sign up for a 5k run.

2. Go Out There And Start

The biggest hurdle some people face when starting on their fitness journey is starting. They get so caught up in the process of planning and daydreaming about their workout that they have a hard time starting.

What’s worse is some people tend to procrastinate and never get things started at all. It’s important to psych yourself up and just do it. Dash out that door and start walking!

3. Pick Up the Pace

The faster you walk, the more intense your workout is and the more calories you burn. This helps in helping you shed those extra pounds.

4. Go for the Slopes

If there's a hill nearby, challenge yourself and follow that route. There is research supporting the fact that you can bur up to 60 percent more calories when you walk uphill.

5. Have a Healthy Diet

Being physically fit doesn’t just mean incorporating physical activity into your daily routine. You should also make sure to eat a balanced meal every day so you get the right nutrition every time. You can also take healthy meal replacements to help with your weight loss goals.

6. Plan a Safe Route

As we’ve mentioned above, safety is important when you’re working out. Make sure that you know your route well and don’t walk in unsafe locations. Plan out your route beforehand so you don’t get into any trouble while working out.

7. Have a Workout Buddy

Having an accountability partner helps to keep you motivated at all times. When you work out with a partner, your workouts are more enjoyable, you’re less likely to get injured, you less prone to stress, and you can push yourself harder than ever before.

What’s more, a workout buddy helps you stay committed to your fitness goals and they can help keep you out of a rut when needed.

8. Play a Little Music

Music boosts your mood and makes working out even more enjoyable. So don’t be afraid to plug in your earphones and walk to the rhythm of your favorite upbeat songs.

9.  Hydrate Properly

As with any exercise, walking can deplete our body's supply of water. Hence, it's important to stay hydrated. However, avoid high-calorie and sugar-laden sports drinks. Choose plain old water instead. It’s free and it doesn’t have all the added sugar and empty calories you don’t need anyway.

10. Mix It Up

When you perform the same exercise every day, things can get boring pretty fast. Be sure to add some variety in your walking routine. You don’t want to walk in the same way day after day, or your results will start to stagnate. Change up your speed, the length of your walk, the incline level, and even where you walk to avoid getting bored.