5 Secrets That Will Make You A Faster And Fitter Walker

Whether you’re talking about power walking, race walking, or just a good workout to increase your health and fitness levels, our simple realbuzz tips and secrets will make sure you not only avoid injuries and improve your well-being, but also become a faster and fitter walker. Walking can prove to be a winning aerobic workout and while there are no hard and fast rules, these few simple tips and techniques can offer you the potential to increase your speed and get fitter as a result.

1. Improve your posture

Done correctly, you can burn as many calories through walking as you do when running, while taking less of a toll on your body. As with life itself, it’s not just about the distance travelled, but how you reach your destination. In this case that should start with your posture, something that’s so easy to take for granted.

Focus ahead of you rather than at the ground, with your head and chest up, your shoulders down rather than hunched, your back relaxed, and your chin level. Swing your arms from front to back, no higher than your breast bone, rather than side to side and across your body. And try to keep your arms in slightly under a 90 degree angle, don’t swing them too vigorously and keep your hands gently cupped.

Making these simple changes to your posture will help you to go faster and therefore get fitter!

2. Take smaller, faster steps

Smaller, faster steps increase your speed. Swing your arms faster and your feet will follow, but try not to increase the length of your steps or over-stride. You’ll soon see the difference from just a slight alteration to the pace and length of your steps. The best approach to the challenge of weight loss is to increase your body metabolism, something you can achieve by building up energy expending muscle.

If you increase your speed along the way, you can naturally tighten and tone your muscles in the buttocks, thighs, hips, shoulders, upper back and abs. Keep your back flat and your pelvis slightly forward, push off with your toes and concentrate on landing on your heel, using the spring of your calf muscles to take you on.

3. Breathe naturally

Get into the habit of taking deep, rhythmic breaths - that way you get the maximum amount of oxygen through your system. And if you walk fast enough, your breathing will be increased yet but you won’t be out of breath. So having more oxygen in your system will allow you to walk faster and for longer without feeling the effects.

4. Keep properly fuelled

The basics of weight loss are fairly simple - you need to burn off more calories each day than you consume. Therefore, try to get the energy your body will need en-route from high-carb, low-fat foods such as fresh and dried fruit, chicken or tuna sandwiches, fruit loaf, scones or fruit juice. You could even add a little chocolate, as it gives a psychological boost that outweighs the high fat and sugar content in some cases.

5. Remember to re-hydrate

It’s so important to rehydrate after your workout, ideally with water or some other low-calorie or calorie-free drink. That way, you can replace fluids lost throughout your walk and reduce the desire to eat large amounts immediately afterwards – meaning that you feel the benefits of your walk long after you’ve stopped.