Top 5 Walking Workouts for Shedding Belly Fat
Walking is one of the most accessible and effective ways to get rid of unwanted belly fat. Regardless of your fitness level, walking offers a low-impact, high-reward solution to burning calories, increasing your metabolism and trimming your waistline. It’s a simple activity that doesn’t require any fancy equipment or gym membership – just a good pair of shoes and an open road. To help you get started, I’ve rounded up five of the best walking workouts to lose belly fat and reach your fitness goals.
Not all walks are created equal. If you want to maximize fat loss, especially around the midsection, it’s time to up your walking routine. By adding intervals, adding resistance, and mixing up your pace, you can turn a leisurely walk into a vigorous workout that challenges your body in new ways.
However, it is important to remember that diet plays just as important a role in weight loss as exercise. Pairing these workouts with a balanced, calorie-conscious diet will help you see the best results. The key is to keep your body guessing so it never gets into a comfort zone where fat loss slows down.
Allow me to serve up five invigorating walking sessions to melt belly fat and increase your overall fitness. From heart-pounding (walking) sprint intervals to steady, weighted hikes, each routine keeps you engaged and burning calories.
Are you ready to step up your walking game?
The benefits of working out to lose belly fat
Walking is a natural and effective way to burn calories and reduce body fatespecially around the stomach. It is gentle on the joints and can be easily adjusted to suit all fitness levels. The consistent motion of walking helps engage the core muscles, especially as you focus on posture and breathing, which in turn helps tone the abdominal area. Also, walk regularly improves cardiovascular health, increases metabolismand boosts moodmaking it a holistic approach to weight loss.
How does changing your routine help you lose weight?
Variety is the spice of life – and the secret ingredient to effective weight loss. When you constantly switch up your walking routine, you prevent your body from adapting to the same movement pattern, which keeps your metabolism burning and your muscles challenged. Incorporating different walking sessions, such as intervals and steady-state sessions, keeps things exciting and targets different energy systems and muscle groups. This approach helps you avoid plateaus and ensures that your body continues to burn fat efficiently.
5 Best Walking Exercises to Lose Belly Fat
Walking isn’t just about leisurely strolls – when done right, it can be a powerful tool for weight loss. Here are five of the best walking workouts to lose belly fat, each designed to challenge your body in different ways and keep your fitness journey exciting.
1. Sprint Walking Intervals
What you need: Just your body and a stopwatch or phone timer. This workout is short and intense and takes about 20 to 30 minutes.
The routine:
- Sprint Walk (30 seconds)
- Recovery Walk (60 seconds)
- Repeat 10-15 times
Directions:
- Start with a 5-minute warm-up at a brisk walking pace.
- For the sprint walk, go as fast as you can for 30 seconds, then slow down to a comfortable pace for 60 seconds during the recovery walk.
- Repeat the sprint-recovery cycle 10 to 15 times, depending on your fitness level.
- Finish the workout with a 5-minute cool-down walk and light stretching to help your muscles recover.
2. Jerk Walking Steady-State
What you need: A weighted backpack or backpack (start with 10 to 20 pounds). This workout is perfect for building endurance and strength, and takes about 45 to 60 minutes.
The routine:
- Ruck Walk (45 to 60 minutes)
Directions:
- Load your backpack with a weight that challenges you while maintaining good posture.
- Walk at a steady pace throughout the duration, focusing on keeping your core engaged and shoulders back.
- After completing the jerk walk, finish with a light stretch, paying extra attention to your shoulders and legs.
3. Long range steady state
What you need: Just your body and a timer. This workout is great for fat burning and endurance, and takes about 40 to 50 minutes.
The routine:
- Moderate intensity walk (10 minutes)
- High intensity walk (5 minutes)
- Moderate intensity walk (10 minutes)
- High intensity walk (5 minutes)
- Cool-Down Walk (10 minutes)
Directions:
- Start with a 5-minute warm-up at a comfortable pace.
- Alternate between 10 minutes of moderate intensity walking and 5 minutes of high intensity walking.
- Repeat this sequence twice, then finish your workout with a cool down walk and stretching to help your body recover.
4. Pyramid Walking Intervals
What you need: Just your body and a timer. This workout builds endurance and strength and takes about 30 to 40 minutes.
- Warm-up walk (5 minutes)
- 1 minute brisk walk
- 1-minute recovery walk
- 2-minute brisk walk
- 2-minute recovery walk
- 3-minute brisk walk
- 3-minute recovery walk
- 2-minute brisk walk
- 2-minute recovery walk
- 1 minute brisk walk
- 1-minute recovery walk
Directions:
- Start with a 5 minute warm-up.
- Follow the pyramid structure by increasing the brisk walking interval by 1 minute each time until you reach 3 minutes.
- Then gradually decrease back down.
- After completing the pyramid, finish with a 5-minute cool-down walk and some stretching to ease your muscles.
5. Low Intensity Steady State Hikes
What you need: Just your body. This workout takes around 60 minutes and is perfect for beginners or recovery days.
The routine:
- Steady-State Walk (60 minutes)
Directions:
- Maintain a steady, moderate pace throughout the walk, focusing on deep breathing and good posture. This walk will be easy on your body, making it perfect for recovery or a relaxed fat burning session.
- Finish with light stretching to keep your muscles flexible and help prevent soreness.
Jarrod Nobbe, MA, CSCS
Jarrod Nobbe is a USAW National Coach, Sports Performance Coach, Personal Trainer and Author, and has been involved in health and fitness for the past 12 years. Read more about Jarrod