Fit Tip of the Day: Try Interval Walking

Walking is one of the easiest and most accessible forms of exercise — you don’t need a gym membership and (other than a comfortable pair of shoes) you don’t need any special equipment. If you live in a safe neighborhood, all you need to do is step outside your own front door. Malls, parks and other safe areas also make great walking destinations.

But you can bump up the calorie burn by incorporating intervals into your walk. Some tips:

- Start out slow to warm up, then start incorporating one to two minute intervals of faster walking.

- Make a game out of it, and speed up your walk until you reach the next fire hydrant or the next house with a red door.

- Find a hilly area so you’re walking some intervals uphill and others downhill.

- Plan part of your walk on a flat surface, then switch to an uneven surface (such as grass or a beach) for more resistance.

After your burst of speed, slow down to a more comfortable pace. This recovery period will slow you heart rate down and ready you for your next burst of speed. As your fitness level improves, you can include longer and more intense intervals. Be sure to end your walk with a slower pace to cool down and bring your heart rate back to normal.