By Kaitlin Vogel (Parade)
When it comes to weight loss, the first workouts that come to mind are most likely HIIT, running and other types of cardio. And while many of us don’t associate walking with a ripped bod, it can, in fact, help you lose weight.
As the type of physical activity that’s low risk and accessible to most people, it’s an excellent workout to incorporate into your daily life. It’s also a lot easier on your body over time than other types of workouts. So the question becomes: how many minutes each day will make a difference? Is there a proper technique to burn the most calories?
Monitor your heart rate
In order to lose weight through exercise, your heart rate needs to be in a specific range. “Ideally for weight loss, your walk needs to elevate your heart rate to somewhere between 64%-77% of your maximum HR range,” explains Andrea Marcellus, fitness expert and AND/Life app creator. “Many health trackers will do this math for you, but the old school method is 220 – your age = maximum heart rate.”
Walking somewhere between 64-77% means you are exerting enough energy to make your workout effective.