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Lose inches faster, tone up and get stronger by pounding the pavements like a pro

You don’t have to join a gym, run for miles or even wear Lycra to lose weight faster, all you need to do is put one foot in front of the other. Walking is a great way to burn calories, get fit and lose weight. The NHS recommends we aim for 10,000 steps a day (which burns up to 450 calories) but most of us only manage about 4,000. While clocking up your steps throughout the day is great, making time for a daily walk is even better when it comes to your health, fitness and your waistline. There’s a big difference between a leisurely ramble and the sort of walking that will help you lose inches though. “It’s not so much the speed of your walk that matters; your walking style is what will get you results,” says sports scientist and walking guru Joanna Hall (www.walkactive.com). It’s all about how you hold your body – if you get that right, you’ll lengthen your stride, increase your speed, shape your legs and bum and slim your waist.” Researchers from the University of Virginia found women who did three shorter, fast-paced walks a week (plus two longer, moderate-paced ones) lost five times more belly fat than those who simply strolled at a moderate speed five days a week, even though both groups burned the same number of calories per workout. Experts believe the change of pace helps raise levels of fat-burning hormones and also increases the number of calories your body continues to burn after you stop walking. “If walking faster means compromising your technique, you’ll need to adopt a slower pace. Technique is more important than speed to build muscle and protect joints. Once you’ve mastered it, you can pick up the pace again,” says Joanna.

‘You don’t have to join a gym or run for miles... all you need to do is put one foot in front of the other’