Walking is one of the best forms of exercise that you can perform. Not only is it free, but it’s also low-risk and accessible to practically everyone. Aside from helping you shed excess weight, consistent cardiovascular exercise can help prevent health conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and even cancer. Walking can also improve your heart and lung health, strengthen your joints, and reduce stress. This 30-day Walk Your Way to Weight Loss Challenge is simple, but extremely effective at improving your overall health.
Calories Count
Weight gain is a result of a sedentary lifestyle (not exercising enough) and consuming too many calories. In order to lose weight, you must exercise, and more importantly, you must eat the proper amount of calories for your body each day.
Generally speaking, 3500 calories convert to 1 pound. Studies have shown that walking 1 mile burns approximately 100 calories. With this in mind, you would need to walk 35 miles to burn 1 pound of body fat. That’s pretty excessive, right? This goes to show that dieting is a key component to losing weight.
A safe, daily caloric deficit for the average person is 300-500 calories, per day. This will allow you to burn another 2100 to 3500 calories each week. Incorporating exercise on top of this, will lead to much faster, yet still totally safe, weight loss!
At SkinnyMs, we’re all about delicious, clean-eating recipes and tips. You may find the following articles and plans helpful in your weight loss journey!
- How to Lose 6 Pounds of Belly Fat in 30 Days
- How to Change Your Eating Habits in 30 Days
- 30-Day Weight Loss Meal Plan
- Clean-Eating Overhaul: 30-Day Weight Loss Program (ebook)
Reaching Your Goals
There are multiple ways to hit your mileage goals each day. You don’t have to complete the distance assigned all at once; you can do it throughout the day. For instance, getting yourself a pedometer can be extremely beneficial to counting steps. On average, 2000 steps adds up to 1 mile. There are many different ways to increase the number of steps you take each day.
- You can take a walk on your lunch break and/or after dinner.
- Form or join a walking group. Accountability partners greatly increase your chances of weight loss success.
- You can take the dog on an extra walk or put the kids in the stroller and take a few laps around the neighborhood.
- Switch up the path you take, routinely, so that you don’t get bored. You’d be amazed how much longer you can walk when you have interesting scenery to look at.
- If you can walk to school or work, do it! If it’s too far, park farther away than normal to get more steps in.
- Taking the stairs can add up to a considerable amount of extra steps each day.
- Pick the time of day that works for you! If you’re an early bird, get some miles under your belt before the sun comes up. If you’d rather workout at night, get as many steps in during the day!
30-Day Walk Your Way to Weight Loss Challenge
In the beginning of this challenge, you’ll only be required to walk a couple of miles a day so getting in your exercise will be fairly easy. As it progresses, however, you will be asked to complete up to 6 miles in a day. This is when taking steps to help yourself throughout the day will come in handy. Getting more active will fill you with energy, boost your mood, and help you become the healthiest you’ve ever been!
What you need: It’s highly recommended that you get yourself a good pair of shoes. Check out these 5 Tips for Choosing the Best Cross-Training Shoes. You should also make sure you stay hydrated, so it’s a good idea to get a water bottle that you can take with you!
Are you ready to begin? Let’s get moving!
Day 1: Walk 1 Mile
Day 2: Walk 2 Miles
Day 3: Walk 3 Miles
Day 4: Walk 1 Mile
Day 5: Walk 2 Miles
Day 6: Walk 3 Miles
Day 7: Rest
Week 1 Mileage = 12 Miles (1200 calories burned)
Following a 300 calorie daily deficit: 3,300 calories burned
Following a 500 calorie daily deficit: 4,700 calories burned
Day 8: Walk 2 Miles
Day 9: Walk 3 Miles
Day 10: Walk 4 Miles
Day 11: Walk 2 Miles
Day 12: Walk 3 Miles
Day 13: Walk 4 Miles
Day 14: Rest
Week 2 Mileage = 18 Miles (1800 calories burned)
Following a 300 calorie daily deficit: 3,900 calories burned
Following a 500 calorie daily deficit: 5,300 calories burned
Day 15: Walk 3 Miles
Day 16: Walk 4 Miles
Day 17: Walk 3 Miles
Day 18: Walk 3 Miles
Day 19: Walk 4 Miles
Day 20: Walk 3 Miles
Day 21: Rest
Week 3 Mileage = 20 Miles (2,000 calories burned)
Following a 300 calorie daily deficit: 4,100 calories burned
Following a 500 calorie daily deficit: 5,500 calories burned
Day 22: Walk 4 Miles
Day 23: Walk 5 Miles
Day 24: Walk 2 Miles
Day 25: Walk 4 Miles
Day 26: Walk 5 Miles
Day 27: Walk 2 Miles
Day 28: Rest
Week 4 Mileage = 22 Miles (2200 calories burned)
Following a 300 calorie daily deficit: 4300 calories burned
Following a 500 calorie daily deficit: 5700 calories burned
Day 29: Walk 4 Miles
Day 30: Walk 6 Miles
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Just because the 30-Day Walk Your Way to Weight Loss Challenge is finished does not mean that you need to stop here! In fact, we recommend that you keep going. Through consistency, your body will begin to adapt. Did you notice that walking became easier as the weeks passed? Maybe you realized that you were walking faster and getting out of breath less. This is because consistent exercise will improve heart and lung health.
If you want to keep walking and finish out the 5th week, you would walk 2 miles on day 31, and then repeat this week’s cycle (4 miles, 6 miles, 2 miles) with day 35 as your 5th rest day.
Keep it Going!
Now, in order to continue losing weight (or at least maintain your current weight) it is imperative that you keep exercising. There are many different forms of cardiovascular exercise, you don’t necessarily need to keep walking. You can swim, ride your bike, roller blade, ice skate, kayak, jog, run, or perform any of the following fun, fat-melting cardio workouts:
- The Ultimate Fat-Blasting Cardio Workout Plan
- 30-Minute Upper Body Cardio Workout
- No-Running Cardio Workout
- Lean Body HIIT Workout Challenge
- Kettlebell HIIT Challenge for Women
Remember, it doesn’t matter what you do, as long as you get up and get moving 5 to 6 days per week. Keep in mind that rest days are a key element to progressing towards your goals because they are your body’s time for recovery and growth. Without them, you will burn out. Don’t skip your rest day(s)!
For more walking, jogging, and/or running cardio workouts and challenges, follow us on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.
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