Walk off 100 + pounds
Woman's World|October 07, 2024
Not long ago, Gina Buck got on a scale and saw that her weight had crept to 287 pounds. She was shocked. And then she started to get really worried about her health. "l said, 'I'm not getting any closer to 300 pounds,"' recalls the South Carolina retiree, 65, who has five beautiful granddaughters she wants to see grow up. "So l went to the doctor for diet pills." Her doctor, a no-nonsense woman who'd overcome weight issues herself, agreed to three months of appetite suppressants as a jump-start. But she also "prescribed" long-term strategies, including taking 10,000 steps a day and intermittent fasting. "It all made sense," Gina recalls. But after a lifetime of yo-yo dieting, she was skeptical she could actually make changes and stick with them. "Even so, l figured l had to try." So she found free phone apps to count her steps and help get her eating on track. What Gina didn't realize: At that very moment, scientists were finishing experiments on the same strategies she was about to try. And they would ultimately find that intermittent fasting has the power to help walkers like Gina triple their fat loss. Wow!
ALLISON NEMETZ
Walk off 100 + pounds

As Gina’s journey got underway, she often turned to the internet for inspiration. And from the beginning, she’s loved the Start TODAY Facebook group, where Al Roker and thousands of others go for walking workouts, healthy meal ideas and expert advice. Best of all, says Gina, “Everyone cheers each other on!”

Turns out, Gina is one of many who have hit on the combo of walking and intermittent fasting. “It’s very popular,” confirms Today fitness contributor Stephanie Mansour, a weight-loss coach who helps create fitness challenges for the group. And many folks do indeed get triple-fat-burning results like those in the recent study. Why? Basically, the biochemical changes triggered by walking and fasting synergize inside us and lead to an explosion of benefits. “The combination can be like magic,” says Mansour.

Superpowers of step counting

Walking is one of the easiest workouts in existence, and it’s one of the most effective for weight loss. Why? Precisely because it’s easy. What many of us don’t realize is that more difficult forms of exercise, while good for building stamina, give our bodies so much to handle that they can’t efficiently convert stored fat to fuel. Instead, hard workouts burn mostly blood sugar. “Go gently, and the difference in fat burning is dramatic,” says Katarina Borer, Ph.D., whose studies at University of Michigan have revealed walking at a pleasant pace more than doubles fat burn compared to going all-out.

And with step counting you don’t have to set aside time to walk or wear special clothes. Just weave more steps into your normal routine. It’s easy-peasy, “so you’re more apt to do it,” notes Mansour. And consistency pays off. In one test, counting steps helped women be so much more consistent, they lost nearly 20 pounds before a group using traditional workouts shed 4 pounds.

This story is from the October 07, 2024 edition of Woman's World.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the October 07, 2024 edition of Woman's World.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM WOMAN'S WORLDView All
Let spooky 'leftovers' help others!
Woman's World

Let spooky 'leftovers' help others!

From unopened candy to jack-o'-lanterns, we have a few feel-great ways to give Halloween goodies a second life!

time-read
1 min  |
November 11, 2024
Creamy & so dreamy
Woman's World

Creamy & so dreamy

Our easy no-bake filling makes this beauty a breeze to whip up

time-read
1 min  |
November 11, 2024
"Help! How do I heal a family rift?"
Woman's World

"Help! How do I heal a family rift?"

With one in three people experiencing family estrangement, we asked experts how to address this sense of loss and consider reconciliation

time-read
2 mins  |
November 11, 2024
Look gorgeous for $15 or less!
Woman's World

Look gorgeous for $15 or less!

Not only are these drugstore makeup products affordable, they've also gone viral on social media recently—and for good reason. Learn why they're worth adding to your cart!

time-read
1 min  |
November 11, 2024
'Sugar fat' disappears
Woman's World

'Sugar fat' disappears

Baker Jayne Jones' treats can help lower blood sugar and shrink belly fat 650% faster

time-read
7 mins  |
November 11, 2024
"Magnesium helped me sleep!"
Woman's World

"Magnesium helped me sleep!"

After struggling for almost a decade with debilitating insomnia, Kendra Jarratt finally discovered an inexpensive natural remedy that has her sleeping more soundly than she has in years

time-read
2 mins  |
November 11, 2024
Soothe sciatica pain naturally
Woman's World

Soothe sciatica pain naturally

Excess pressure on the sciatic nerve can cause a tingling, burning or shooting sensation that radiates from the lower back through the buttock or leg. And when you're in the middle of a sciatica flare-up, your priority is getting relief ASAP. To speed healing, just...

time-read
1 min  |
November 11, 2024
Itchy scalp? 3 ways to get rid of dandruff
Woman's World

Itchy scalp? 3 ways to get rid of dandruff

Dandruff is a sign of seborrheic dermatitis, says dermatologist Heather Woolery-Lloyd, M.D. \"This causes scales, flakes, itching and redness on the scalp,\" she says. It may be a reaction to a type of yeast found on the skin, adds dermatologist Rosanne Paul, D.O. Here's how to treat it

time-read
1 min  |
November 11, 2024
She helps fill the bellies & hearts of military families!
Woman's World

She helps fill the bellies & hearts of military families!

Army wife Monica Bassett's heart hurt when she saw a social media post from a military family who couldn't afford enough food. So she decided to start a pantry to make sure the loved ones of our heroes never go hungry!

time-read
3 mins  |
November 11, 2024
"Every day is an opportunity to grow!"
Woman's World

"Every day is an opportunity to grow!"

At just 11 years old, Candace Cameron Bure won our hearts as D.J. Tanner on Full House, and for the past 37 years, she's continued to delight millions with her feel-good movies and unflappable faith. But her journey hasn't always been easy. Here, Candace opens up about her battle with depression and how she finds hope

time-read
3 mins  |
November 11, 2024