Honestly? In my opinion, walking is the most underrated form of exercise. Walking absolutely “counts” as exercise! Especially if you are walking at a brisk pace.

Walking is considered aerobic activity. This type of activity is associated with improving blood pressure and reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke. If you are someone who is used to high amounts of high-intensity activity, but still not seeing fat loss, walking may be that missing piece of the puzzle (more about that here). 

We are quick to overlook walking because it doesn’t feel like we are doing enough, but this is the type of movement that our bodies crave. Walking has also been shown to decrease cortisol and help to manage stress. 

Now, I do want to make one thing clear…Walking doesn’t replace strength training or more intense forms of exercise, but it should absolutely be a part of how you move your body on a daily basis. Plus, it’s free!

Walking is also a great way to get into a more complex exercise routine. If you are struggling with trying to establish a new workout routine, taking intentional walks can help you work your way up to the exercise regimen that you desire.

It is recommended to get 150 minutes of physical activity each week. That equals out to about 21-22 minutes per day. This is why I love encouraging clients to get an intentional walk in each day, even if it is less than 20 minutes. It all adds up! Because, ultimately, the goal is just to reduce the amount of time that you are sedentary. 

There has been a lot of talk in the past few years around the number of steps that we should be aiming for a day. We are finally starting to see some actual research behind this, but to be honest, I don’t really focus on this. Each client has their own individual target and goal. For example, some research may say that 10,000 steps a day can reduce your risk of certain diseases, but if you are someone who typically walks 2,000-3,000, setting a goal of 10k is silly. Set yourself a realistic goal that is going to help you work your way up to your ultimate daily step goal. Increasing your steps in any way is going to be beneficial!

There are many more benefits to this form of exercise that often get overlooked. These other benefits include better mental health, improved mood and stability, stress management, improved blood sugar regulation, reduced joint pain, increased energy, decreased body fat, and improved productivity and cognitive function. 

Sure, walking may not help you run a 7-minute mile, but it is going to help you to increase your daily movement and other benefits that you don’t want to miss out on. Whether your goal is fat loss or just to improve health, a daily intentional walk is going to give you great outcomes. 

Want to learn more about what types of exercise are best for fat loss? Click here to learn more about our signature Metabolism Makeover program here!

Your MM Coach, 

Brianna