Expert: Robbie Bugo - 6/7/2009

Question
I am 42 years old, not over-weight but starting to get flabby. I have been walking for an hour daily for 2 months but haven't seen alot of change. Am I being impatiant or is there a better way to tone up.

Answer
Hi Delinda,

An effective strategy for toning up is doing some resistance training coupled with some medium to high intensity interval training. Walking an hour a day will certainly help you manage your weight. But you need to work the muscles using some weight training. Everyone can benefit from weight training as it boosts the metabolism, helps burn fat even after you stop, helps with bone density and a host of other benefits. Doesn't mean you have to do heavy weights like bodybuilders. Just what's right for you. Everybody is different. Buy yourself some hand weights and do an exercise for each bodypart a couple times a week.

Remember diet is at least 70% of the game. So you need to eat right and drink plenty of water.  

Interval training is all about going medium/hard for a selected amount of time then going easy for a length of time. For example if you are walking..do a speed or power walk for 1 minute then do a normal walk for 2 minutes. The intensity levels depend on your current level of fitness and injuries etc.

Hope this helps
Robbie