Want to switch up your walking routine? Grab some weights and let's get moving!
I’ve been sitting — or rather, walking — on this workout for a while.
My feet have been begging for a break from running, so I started walking more often. Turns out walking laps indoors is pretty boring! So I added some weights to mix it up.
Even though I can resume my usual activities (yay!) I keep going back to this fun and easy walking workout.
Walk it Out with Weights Workout
Pull on your leg warmers and get ready to channel your inner Suzanne Somers or Richard Simmons. I don’t know why, but I feel like an 80s fitness-video superstar when I’m doing this workout.
What you need:
- 3-10 lb. weights
Start with a lower weight — you’re going to be doing a lot of reps! - Somewhere to walk
A track, a treadmill, or somewhere you can walk that you can do laps and is close to a place you can put down your weights.
What you do:
Walk a lap while doing these upper body exercises:
- Alternating bicep curls
- Alternating tricep pushbacks
- Overhead presses
You might want to start with a half a lap of these (at least that’s what I do!) - Upright rows
- Alternating front lateral raises
- Alternating side lateral raises
It’s a pretty flexible workout!
…and you’ll be surprised how fast this tones your arms.
You can repeat an exercise if you’d like, add more weight if it’s too easy, or do two laps instead of one. I usually end up doing something like 80-90 reps per lap. It’s also nice because it turns walking into something that burns a few more calories. My 85-90 BPM heart rate turns into 115-120 really fast when I’m doing these moves (and more like 130 when I am doing overhead presses *sweat*).
This is why it’s important that you pick a lighter weight…
You’re going to do a ton of repetitions! You also should strive to have perfect form because you’re going to be using your back, abs, and legs to stabilize while you’re walking and you want to get the most benefit out of this workout as you can while avoiding injury.
Let me know if you give this a try! It’s something I like to do as a go-to on days that I’m not really into going to the gym, but know I’ll be super antsy if I don’t move.
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