Get fit Listen to fast music. You’ll subconsciously pick up your pace to match the tempo of the music. This can make a significant difference! Head outdoors. When you walk on a naturally uneven surface, such as grass, snow or sand, your body has to work harder and thus uses up more calories than on a treadmill. Remember the 160-pound walker in the example above? If she hikes for one hour instead, she increases her calorie expenditure to 438—more than double the amount burned during her 2-mph walk. Bonus: The change of scenery and extra sunlight can boost your mood, enhancing your enjoyment and encouraging you to walk even farther. Get your arms into the action. Swinging your arms as you walk can increase the calories used by 5% to 10%, according to research from the University of California, Berkeley. What to do: With elbows bent at a 90° angle, wrists straight and hands unclenched, let your arms swing from your shoulders in opposition to your legs.
Posted on: Mon, 22 Jul 2013 12:36:56 +0000