Latest news with #powerwalking
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Forget running — I added power walking intervals to my walks and now I'm hooked
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. While summer weather still lingers, I'm making the most of my mornings. A run or walk before work generally helps me get my zoomies out before I need to sit down at my desk and concentrate. But after swapping the Stairmaster for hill running recently, I'd worn myself out. So I was ready for something lower-impact but still energising. That's when I turned to power walking. Interval-style walking has been trending lately and if you haven't already, check out the 3-2-1 walking workout as it was what inspired me to pump up my walks a notch. I decided to add short bursts of faster-paced walking into my usual morning route. Why the change? Just 30 minutes of power walking can burn calories, build strength, improve sleep and boost your mood. So, if you happen to be looking for a good lower-impact alternative to running or simply want to shake up your walking routine, here's how to get started. What are power walking intervals? Power walking intervals are a way of breaking up your walk with bursts of faster-paced walking followed by slower, recovery periods. Power walking itself is simply walking at a pace that feels brisk and purposeful. You should be moving faster than your normal stroll, with a momentum in your stride that engages your legs and glutes, and an arm swing that helps drive momentum. I didn't fancy following a set structure that required committing to exact times of faster walking followed by slower walking. For me, that would take away from just enjoying the walk. Instead, I simply picked up the pace when I felt like it and held it for as long as I wanted before easing off. If you prefer a bit more structure, my colleague created her own routine called the 3-4-5 walking method, which you can try for yourself. I added power walking intervals to my walks and now I'm hooked A bit like fartlek training in running where there isn't a set structure and you vary your pace based on how you feel or the terrain, I tried a similar approach with power walking intervals. Here is how I got on with fartlek-style walking. It gets the heart rate up I am the type who usually strolls through my walks without a care and barely glances at my Garmin watch to see what my heart rate is saying. But when I added bursts of faster walking, I noticed my heart rate felt faster, and my watch agreed. Why does this matter? When your heart rate goes up, your body works harder to pump oxygen to your muscles, which means your fitness improves, more calories are burned, and you support a healthier heart. So if you think walking can't give you a workout, think again. Doing it intuitively made it more enjoyable Doing power walking intervals intuitively made the whole experience way more enjoyable for me. I didn't have to set any timers on my watch and stick to strict times for fast or slow walking. Instead, I just listened to my body and picked up the pace whenever I felt like it. Some days I felt energetic and powered through longer bursts. Other days I took it easier and kept the intervals shorter. This flexibility took the pressure off and made the walk feel less like a workout and more like a natural part of my routine. It also meant I stayed more present and connected to my surroundings rather than obsessing over the timer. If you are thinking about trying power walking intervals, I would recommend trying intuitive intervals first. Play around with paces and find out what feels right, and then you might lean towards adding in some structure to your sessions. It gets your metabolism going What surprised me most was how these power walking intervals changed the way I felt about breakfast. I always try my best to avoid skipping it, but would begrudgingly spoon down some oats with a coffee just to say I had eaten. After an energetic walk, though, I come home properly hungry and actually excited to make something filling and nutritious. Your body uses your metabolism to turn food into energy, and getting your heart rate up early helps to fire it up. When you move more, your body burns more energy and signals that it needs refuelling. Eating a proper breakfast after a walk can keep your energy steady, stop mid-morning crashes, and set you up for the rest of the day. Research published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine has also linked brisk walking with improved metabolic health and a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, adding another reason to start your morning on the move. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button. More from Tom's Guide No, not pull-ups — these 3 simple moves will improve your posture and ease upper back stiffness I cancelled my gym membership two months ago — here's how I'm staying just as fit at home No gym needed — my favorite trainer reveals 9 no-equipment moves to build strength anywhere
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
This Type Of Walking Burns More Calories And Delivers Benefits In As Little As 10 Minutes
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." The term 'power walking' might make you think of days past, it's so back. Walking in general is beyond popular right now because this low-impact exercise has a bunch of benefits—both mental and physical. And while walking is great for you in general, some walking speeds and styles are more beneficial for your health than others. One way to power up your next walk? You guessed it: Turn your walk into a power walk. Here's how. Why power walking is so good for you First things first, power walking gives you all of the benefits of walking like boosting your mood, conditioning your heart, and strengthening your muscles, but turned up a notch. This is because power walking increases the intensity of a walk and therefore demands more of your heart and body, says Alexander Rothstein, CSCS, an exercise physiologist. Want more walking guidance and motivation? Get the exclusive WH+ 4-Week Walking Plan to burn fat and build muscle. A more intense walk taxes your cardiorespiratory system more, turns over more oxygen, and burns more calories. It also should help improve blood pressure and blood glucose levels, says Richardson. All in all, a power walk is a more efficient way to get the benefits of walking. A power walk is more than a leisurely stroll, experts say. 'You're putting in effort beyond what would normally be a comfortable walking pace,' says Rothstein. In fact, while the actual miles per hour will be different for everyone, a power walk should be done at your maximum walking pace. Basically, in addition to a few other form techniques (more on that in a sec), the key to power walking is simply walking as fast as you can. If you're a beginner, good news: You'll see benefits with as few as 10 minutes of power walking. So how do you know if you're in a power-walking zone? If you think about your effort on a scale from one to 10 (also known as the rate of perceived exertion, or RPE, scale), you should be at a seven, says Laura A. Richardson, PhD, a professor of applied exercise science at the University of Michigan. Physically, you'll feel your heart rate increase and start to breathe heavier—and you might notice your calves feel more engaged. Warm-up (five minutes): Before you start power walking, it's important to do a warm-up, says Richardson. All that entails is walking at your natural, slower pace before kicking it up a gear. Power walk (10 minutes): Now that your body is moving and blood is flowing, increase your pace to your maximum walking pace, making sure you engage arms and core and ideally varying your incline. Cooldown (five minutes): Return to your natural walking pace. Good luck, get walking!'Most sneakers that are advertised as slip-ons, but still have laces, are not actually easy at all to get on sans hands,' says Andriakos. 'The Urban Sneaker proved me wrong—even if I'm holding my daughter or a bag. I walked 17,000 steps in them and felt great.' She also loves that they don't have a big, well-known brand logo on them and look minimalist and sleek. Oh, and they come in 28 (!) different colors. $149.00 at VivaiaWhen it comes to juggling a packed day (think: chasing after an 11-month-old, commuting on foot, and squeezing in a treadmill boot camp class), Andriakos needs sneakers that can do it all. The Alo Runner rises above other lifestyle shoes with its ultra-cushioned sole that keeps foot fatigue at bay. 'Unlike most stylish sneakers that fall short in performance, this one delivers comfort and stability all day long—without sacrificing looks,' Andriakos says. Her tip: If you're between sizes, go with the smaller one for a snug, supportive fit. $185.00 at AloTalk about accessible—they are easy to slip on and have a secure, comfortably snug (but not tight) fit. With no break-in period, they're cushioned and don't pinch at the back or put pressure on the Achilles like other step-in shoes do, says WH deputy visual director Allison Chin, who walked to work in them. $100.00 at hybrid walking and running shoe prioritizes heavy cushioning to take you far without pain, with a roomy toe box and solid fit right off the bat. Unlike other (often less attractive) cushioned running shoes, these look less sporty while making you feel and move like a top-tier runner, says WH deputy photo director Dangi McCoy. $240.00 at AhnuWH managing editor Laura McLaughlin wore these even while on crutches after a meniscus root repair. The toe box and heel were comfortable and fit well so there's no slippage, and the two loops make putting the shoe on easy. 'I felt safe and secure in them, which is critical when you are relearning how to walk,' she says. 'They provided a firm foundation and a stylish profile.' $49.00 at Easy Spirit You Might Also Like Jennifer Garner Swears By This Retinol Eye Cream These New Kicks Will Help You Smash Your Cross-Training Goals
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
This Type Of Walking Burns More Calories And Delivers Benefits In As Little As 10 Minutes
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." The term 'power walking' might make you think of days past, it's so back. Walking in general is beyond popular right now because this low-impact exercise has a bunch of benefits—both mental and physical. And while walking is great for you in general, some walking speeds and styles are more beneficial for your health than others. One way to power up your next walk? You guessed it: Turn your walk into a power walk. Here's how. Why power walking is so good for you First things first, power walking gives you all of the benefits of walking like boosting your mood, conditioning your heart, and strengthening your muscles, but turned up a notch. This is because power walking increases the intensity of a walk and therefore demands more of your heart and body, says Alexander Rothstein, CSCS, an exercise physiologist. Want more walking guidance and motivation? Get the exclusive WH+ 4-Week Walking Plan to burn fat and build muscle. A more intense walk taxes your cardiorespiratory system more, turns over more oxygen, and burns more calories. It also should help improve blood pressure and blood glucose levels, says Richardson. All in all, a power walk is a more efficient way to get the benefits of walking. A power walk is more than a leisurely stroll, experts say. 'You're putting in effort beyond what would normally be a comfortable walking pace,' says Rothstein. In fact, while the actual miles per hour will be different for everyone, a power walk should be done at your maximum walking pace. Basically, in addition to a few other form techniques (more on that in a sec), the key to power walking is simply walking as fast as you can. If you're a beginner, good news: You'll see benefits with as few as 10 minutes of power walking. So how do you know if you're in a power-walking zone? If you think about your effort on a scale from one to 10 (also known as the rate of perceived exertion, or RPE, scale), you should be at a seven, says Laura A. Richardson, PhD, a professor of applied exercise science at the University of Michigan. Physically, you'll feel your heart rate increase and start to breathe heavier—and you might notice your calves feel more engaged. Warm-up (five minutes): Before you start power walking, it's important to do a warm-up, says Richardson. All that entails is walking at your natural, slower pace before kicking it up a gear. Power walk (10 minutes): Now that your body is moving and blood is flowing, increase your pace to your maximum walking pace, making sure you engage arms and core and ideally varying your incline. Cooldown (five minutes): Return to your natural walking pace. Good luck, get walking!'Most sneakers that are advertised as slip-ons, but still have laces, are not actually easy at all to get on sans hands,' says Andriakos. 'The Urban Sneaker proved me wrong—even if I'm holding my daughter or a bag. I walked 17,000 steps in them and felt great.' She also loves that they don't have a big, well-known brand logo on them and look minimalist and sleek. Oh, and they come in 28 (!) different colors. $149.00 at VivaiaWhen it comes to juggling a packed day (think: chasing after an 11-month-old, commuting on foot, and squeezing in a treadmill boot camp class), Andriakos needs sneakers that can do it all. The Alo Runner rises above other lifestyle shoes with its ultra-cushioned sole that keeps foot fatigue at bay. 'Unlike most stylish sneakers that fall short in performance, this one delivers comfort and stability all day long—without sacrificing looks,' Andriakos says. Her tip: If you're between sizes, go with the smaller one for a snug, supportive fit. $185.00 at AloTalk about accessible—they are easy to slip on and have a secure, comfortably snug (but not tight) fit. With no break-in period, they're cushioned and don't pinch at the back or put pressure on the Achilles like other step-in shoes do, says WH deputy visual director Allison Chin, who walked to work in them. $100.00 at hybrid walking and running shoe prioritizes heavy cushioning to take you far without pain, with a roomy toe box and solid fit right off the bat. Unlike other (often less attractive) cushioned running shoes, these look less sporty while making you feel and move like a top-tier runner, says WH deputy photo director Dangi McCoy. $240.00 at AhnuWH managing editor Laura McLaughlin wore these even while on crutches after a meniscus root repair. The toe box and heel were comfortable and fit well so there's no slippage, and the two loops make putting the shoe on easy. 'I felt safe and secure in them, which is critical when you are relearning how to walk,' she says. 'They provided a firm foundation and a stylish profile.' $49.00 at Easy Spirit You Might Also Like Jennifer Garner Swears By This Retinol Eye Cream These New Kicks Will Help You Smash Your Cross-Training Goals
Wall Street Journal
26-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- Wall Street Journal
Are Weighted Vests Really Worth the Hype?
It's not often that we intentionally add extra body weight. But the latest fitness fad encourages it: Meet the weighted vest. You've probably seen them in your neighborhood, on power-walking pros out and about at the crack of dawn. That's my neighbor and me.
