Let’s Walk Our Way To Wellness - Together!

by Denise Austin |

Apr 02, 2026 |

Workouts

Hi everyone! It’s National Walking Month, and I can’t think of a better way to start moving for a strong, healthy body and positive outlook this year! It truly is one step at a time, and it’s so easy to get started - so let’s do it together!! I’ve said it for years, and I believe it: walking is one of the most effective, sustainable ways to lose weight, gain muscle, boost your mood, and feel your best, no matter what your age!

Find out why I recommend walking as a way to enhance your fitness, no matter your level or age: read on for my three reasons we should be walking, plus tips for leveling up your walks!

3 Benefits Of Walking

1) Fat (and weight!) loss. You don’t need intense workouts to shed extra fat and pounds and replace with lean muscle: walking helps your body stay in a low-stress, fat-burning state. Unlike high-intensity exercise (which can sometimes spike cortisol), walking keeps your body calm and steady, making it easier to burn fat, especially around the dreaded menobelly. That’s why walking is so wonderful for women: it's a low-stress, low-impact way to burn fat and calories - plus it’s fun!! My NEW Fit Over 50: Walk Off The Weight magazine has an entire walking plan to help you take that “first step” - it’s available now!

2) It boosts metabolism while supporting your hormones. After 40, our hormones naturally shift, which can affect how our bodies store fat and use energy. The good news is that walking can help to combat or reverse waning metabolism or fat redistribution. It’s one of the easiest ways to work with your body instead of against it. And you can begin a walking program at any age - grab a friend, lace up those shoes (or if you're looking for a laceless option - I LOVE my Easypace with Easy Spirit!!) and head outdoors! OR you can walk indoors anytime with my Z-Work Treadmill! Walk while you work or watch TV, then stow it away when not in use. Perfect for anyone in inclement climates who wants to make walking part of a daily lifestyle!

3) It’s one of the easiest forms of exercise to stick with. I always say, do the workouts you love because you will continue to do them more easily… and walking is one my go-to forms of exercise! It makes me feel good, it’s easy to fit into my daily schedule, there’s no real planning (anywhere I am - even on vacation - I go for a walk every morning!), and recovery is minimal. I enjoy walking with friends or family, or listening to a podcast or music (my Fit Over 50: Walk Off The Weight has my walking playlist to get you motivated and moving!).

Level Up Your Walks: 4 Steps

1) Pick up the pace: Aim for a brisk walk where you can still talk, but feel slightly challenged.

2) Stay consistent: Schedule 30 minutes most days to walk.

3) Stand tall, engage your core, and swing your arms. This helps activate more muscles and burn more calories!

4) Mix it up! Try intervals (faster and slower walking), hills or inclines (extra effective for burning fat), and different routes, to keep your mind engaged.

So let’s walk together this month! Whether you do my walking plan in my new magazine, walk with me in my Indoor Walking Workout in my membership, try my easy-to-use Z-Work treadmill, or grab a friend and get outdoors, you CAN do it. You will feel so wonderful after it’s done!

Let's live FIT, HAPPY and HEALTHY - together!

Denise