Walk More, Lose More: The 10,000+ Steps Revival

Hello Ziddis! If fitness trends had awards, this one would have gotten an award for consistently being the most trusted and followed! Any guesses? The 10k+steps trend. For years, it has been a go-to fitness advice for any beginner. No complex programs, no burnout culture, just walking! Let us know more about this trend and how it is a great one for you!

Walking Workout

Walking is the most underrated exercise. But here’s the catch: one assumes that 10,000 steps is the bare minimum, the easiest one, “a cakewalk”! But it is not. Unless you take it up as a task, you wouldn’t know how tough it is. Unlike high-impact exercises, walking works with your body, not against its resistance.

Here’s why walking is a good workout:

• Low-impact and joint-friendly.
• Activates large muscle groups like glutes, hamstrings and calves
• Improves cardiovascular endurance.
• Reduces cortisol instead of spiking it
• Easy to sustain daily
• No performance anxiety

Level up your walking working with:

• Brisk walking
• Incline or stair walking
• Short speed intervals
• Weighted backpack walks

Even 30 to 45 minutes of intentional walking has proven to improve your circulation, digestion, and energy levels. This makes it the most impactful low-effort workout.

Weight Loss Through Walking

You can totally achieve the impacted weight loss through walking. Here is how walking can do it for you!

• Increases daily calorie expenditure
• Improves insulin sensitivity
• Supports hormonal balance
• Reduces stress-driven fat storage
• Encourages better digestion and sleep.

In comparison to the extreme, high-pressure workouts, walking is more calming. It does not trigger hunger spikes. Walking keeps your appetite more regulated. This is ideal for people who want slow, sustainable fat loss without burnout.

Pro tip: Walking for 10 to 15 minutes after every meal helps improve insulin sensitivity.

The 10,000 Steps Challenge 

The 10,000 steps challenge never died; it was just underground, beneath all the HIIT and sweaty workouts. Why do people love this challenge? Here’s why:

• Clear daily goal
• No gym membership or equipment required
• Easy to track on phones and watches now
• Flexible
• Builds a sense of routine and discipline
• The slow fitness trend has romanticised it
• “Hot girl walks” and “soft girl workout” propagate it.

There are ways to have fun in this challenge:

• Tune into a podcast on your walk
• Find a walk buddy for yourself to do this challenge
• Have fixed slots in your day for this to make it more like a goal
• Make a playlist for your walk

10,000 Steps a Day Benefits

Walking 10,000 steps daily offers benefits that go far beyond the scale.

I. Physical benefits:

• Improved cardiovascular health
• Better blood sugar control
• Enhanced joint mobility
• Increased metabolism
• Improved posture and balance

II. Mental and emotional benefits:

• Reduced anxiety and stress
• Better mood
• Improved focus
• Better sleep quality
• A designated time for solitude and reflection or mindfulness.

III. Lifestyle benefits

• Encourages daily movement
• Reduces doom-scrolling
• Easy to start and continue
• Fits into a busy schedule

Read Also: How Many Steps Do You Actually Need to Walk Per Day?

Takeaway

The revival of the 10,000+ steps trend is a great move in the fitness industry. Walking is the very foundation for fat loss, fitness and mental well-being. Pair your walking habit with a healthy eating habit, like swapping junk for fit foods and starting your day with oats protein.