Power Walking
Celeb fan: Victoria Beckham, mum to Brooklyn, 12, Romeo, 9, Cruz, 6, and Harper Seven, 5 months. Posh swapped her heels for trainers and has been pounding the pavement to get back in shape after her fourth pregnancy.
What’s it all about? Brisk walking at 5mph while also swinging your arms. Research has found that, mile for mile, power walking is as effective as running, but because it’s low impact, it has the added advantage of causing less strain on your body.
What the expert says… “Power walking is one of the few activities that really does work almost every part of your body from your posture to your muscle tone,” says Nina Barough, founder of breast cancer charity Walk the Walk (walkthewalk.org), which hosts power walking events. “It works wonders on defining the shape of your legs, lifting your bum and flattening your tummy by strengthening your core muscles.”
Feel the burn… If you walk fast enough, you should burn around 400 calories an hour. “By walking at least 45 minutes four times a week, at a pace that increases your heart rate, you could lose up to 18lbs in a year,” says Nina.
See results in… “You can expect to start seeing an improvement after just two weeks of walking a minimum of three times a week,” she adds.
Try this: Measure distance and steps with this compact, clip-onpedometer, £17, cotswoldoutdoor.com
