One woman has managed to shed an impressive six stone in her 40s, and she’s eager to share her straightforward approach to encourage others.
If the thought of intimidating gym environments with people “pumping iron and doing lunges,” has been putting you off your fitness goals, TikToker Claire Spencer understands completely; she wasn’t a fan either.
However, when she began adding one particular exercise to her daily routine, she found it to be “amazing” for her health and even credited it with her significant weight loss. So what’s her secret? “Do you know what? Really simple, really effective and free is walking”, she revealed.
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Claire mentioned that she had taken “two walks” that day, each just under an hour, praising the activity for its ability to connect her with the outdoors, bring fresh air into her lungs, and benefit cardiovascular and mental health.
She added: “It’s free, completely free, you can get your a** out the door and go on a little stomp. You can go out into the countryside; you can walk around the block, you can go to a park; whatever you do, try and get out and have a nice walk”.
Claire has highlighted the power of walking in achieving weight loss goals, emphasising that intensity isn’t essential – it’s about being active. Sharing her experience, she detailed strolls around her “local town and down by the river”, as well as treks “with a friend over some gentle hills” accompanied by their dogs.
She lauded walking as “walking is absolutely fantastic for weight loss” and encouraged people to “get out”, suggesting even a “brisk 20-minute walk” can make a difference.
Echoing her sentiment, the NHS advises: “Walking is simple, free and one of the easiest ways to get more active, lose weight and become healthier. Sometimes overlooked as a form of exercise, walking briskly can help you build stamina, burn excess calories and make your heart healthier.”
The health service also reassures: “You do not have to walk for hours. A brisk 10-minute daily walk has lots of health benefits and counts towards your 150 minutes of weekly exercise”.
If you’re new to exercise and have a pre-existing health condition, consult with your GP before starting any form of exercise, as if you struggle with joints, for example, walking may not be the best for you, and swimming could be a better alternative.