6 Ways to Get More from Your Walking Workout
It’s easy to take a leisurely stroll when the sun is shining and a warm breeze is blowing, but that won’t help when you are trying to lose weight, either before or after weight loss surgery. To get the pounds off, you need to walk at a quicker and more challenging pace.
Follow these six tips to get more from your walking workout:
- Avoid the walking rut. Many walkers tend to walk the same route day-in and day-out. However, that can lead to boredom, and may even cause you to walk less frequently. Instead, change up your Hollywood walking route as well as your walking pace pattern. For instance, some days opt for shorter speed walks while and on other days choose longer endurance walks.
- Include hills. While it is easy to choose the path of least resistance (i.e. avoiding the hills), the truth of the matter is that hills can give you up to a 60 percent increase in calories burned.
- Purchase new shoes. If your tennis shoes are old, they may not be giving you the support you need for walking. When shopping for new tennis shoes, shop at the end of the day; your feet will be largest at the day’s end.
- Keep hydrated. It’s critical to stay hydrated when you exercise, even when you’re walking. Drink at least a glass of water before heading out on your walk, and take another sip every 15 minutes while walking. When finished with your walk, drink another eight ounces of water.
- Do before and after stretches. Your muscles need to be stretched both before and after a workout.
- Set goals. Depending on your preference, choose to set a time goal or a distance goal with your walks. To keep it interesting, switch back and forth between different types of goals. Set smaller goals shortly after weight loss surgery, like bariatric surgery, and make them more challenging as you recover.