Walking workout: Calorie-begone bursts

Walking workout: Calorie-begone bursts

Get ready to turn your typical walking workout into supercharged steps by adding a few smart strength moves. You'll burn fat, tone muscle and peel off pounds, all in only 30 minutes. It's the easiest shape-up ever!
By Caroline Bollinger

The workout
Trainer Abbie Appel, creator of the DVD Step Strong and Stable, designed this fun, effective get-lean routine to help you firm up and slim down—fast! The do-anywhere program consists of five mini walk-burst-tone circuits. Breeze through them without a break up to four times a week on nonconsecutive days to look sexy head to toe in only one month.

Walk Begin each circuit by hoofing it for four minutes at a brisk pace. Step to it!

Burst Move directly into a one-minute high-intensity drill. Pick one of these high-energy moves, or freestyle: Try doing jumping jacks, running in place with high knees—anything that gets your blood pumping and fat burning! Adding these little energy surges may fight flab 36 percent better than a steady-paced stroll, a study at the University of Guelph in Ontario found. Take that, fat!

Tone End each circuit with a stop-and-tone move. Do two sets of the indicated reps to get a leg up on a fitter physique.

Technique tips
Amazing arms Wave good-bye to jiggle! Swing arms front to back, elbows bent, keeping shoulders relaxed.

Awesome abs A firm, flab-free belly can be yours. Concentrate on engaging stomach muscles as you move.

Tight tush For maximum fanny firming, head for hills and squeeze those glutes as you push off your rear foot.

Lean legs Lengthen your stride to recruit your inner and outer thigh muscles. Then bring on the hot shorts. Yeah, baby!

For more on this visit: http://www.self.com/fitness/workouts/2008/04/slimming-walking-bursts-slideshow#slide=1

Have a very fit day!