Walk off belly fat

Experts share easy, effective ways to to incinerate calories, build muscle and send energy soaring

- CHAD BIRT

With age comes wisdom, confidence and sometimes...a growing waistline. The good news is that you're not resigned to middle-age spread. One of the most effective ways to melt menopausal belly fat is with exercise—and walking is a particularly powerful option that happens to be free, easy and available to everyone. Here's how to make walking work for you, including tips for maximizing fat burn—with added benefits like building muscle, keeping your blood sugar in check and boosting energy.

The key to burning more calories and shrinking your waist with aerobic exercise?

Moving at the right pace. To burn belly fat from walking, you should walk at a brisk pace as much as you safely can,” explains Virginia Weaver, M.D., a bariatric surgeon at Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare. “Studies show that the intensity of exercise makes a significant difference when it comes to weight loss.”

The powerful perks of fast walking

In a study published in Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism