Although high-intensity workouts such as HIIT circuits or Tabata sessions are often branded the best way to increase your fitness and aid weight loss, they aren't the only options available for staying in shape. In fact, low-impact workouts, like this 10-minute walking one, can get your heart rate up and boost your metabolism.
If you find certain workouts harder the older you get, are recovering from an injury, or fall victim to joint pain (which by the way, taking one of the best supplements for joints can aid symptoms) then you probably want to find ways to stay active and in shape without bringing on more discomfort or pain.
The good news is that walking is the perfect solution to low-impact fitness and with this workout from the AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) workout channel, you only need 10 minutes to complete it. Whether you do or don't own a pair of the best shoes for walking, it doesn't matter, as this is an indoor-based routine.
The AARP is a non-profit organization based in the United States committed to helping adults over 50 improve their quality of life across various areas of lifestyle, including health and fitness. Fitness expert, Denise Austin, leads this interval-style workout so that exercisers can follow along and feel supported as they move.
If you own one of the best fitness trackers, this workout is a great way to increase your daily step intake, which is more often than not a key tracking feature included in these wearables.
WATCH DENISE AUSTIN'S 10-MINUTE WALKING WORKOUT
Denise walks you through different levels of walking, beginning easy and then dipping in and out of higher intensity walking to create an interval-based workout.
The majority of research conducted around interval training tends to focus on the results of high-intensity interval training. For example, this study published in the Sports Medicine Open journal found that HIIT can increase a person's metabolism after exercise, even more than after other forms of exercise such as running and weight training. The same researchers also found that HIIT could help to move the body's metabolism more toward using fat for energy instead of carbs.
Despite this being about high-intensity training, the same can result from lower-intensity interval workouts. The interval-style walking workout shared above can help to strengthen your cardiovascular health, and still raise your heart rate to similar levels as HIIT training. This format of interval training is a really great way to trick your body into burning more calories.
Another great way to boost your metabolism, alongside regular interval training, is to incorporate good quality protein into your diet. This is because protein has a higher thermic effect than carbs and sugary food, meaning your body has to work harder to digest and store it therefore it's burning more calories in doing so.
Using a walking workout for weight loss and being mindful of what to eat to lose belly fat will help you on your way to losing a few pounds if this is a goal of yours.
-
An expert trainer says you can build strength without weights as long you follow this simple training tipWorkout This easy method will revolutionize the way you exercise
-
Do abs workouts hurt your neck? Then try this four-move sessionWorkouts This ballet-inspired workout will build core strength and stability, without neck discomfort
