Learn how to get the most muscle-boosting benefits for your steps.
But what about building muscledoes enough strolling add up to gains in your calves, quads, and hammies?
Heres a look at the relationship between walking and bulking up.
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For muscles to grow, they first need to be broken down.
The body then sends reinforcements in the form of protein to build muscles back stronger and larger.
This is primarily true for the muscles of thelower body.
Despite these promising results, dont count on walking to give you a bodybuilders physique.
If you really want tobulk up, youll need to focus on activities that use fast-twitch muscle fibers.
Think weightlifting, box jumping, or sprinting.
These forms of exercise tap fast-twitch muscle fibers for more dramatic growth.
It’s worth noting, too, that building muscle is also a matter of diet.
Here are just a few.
Boosts Heart Health
Unlikestrength training exercises, walking is primarily a cardiovascular activity.
Its benefits stem mostly from increasing your heart rate and getting your blood pumping.
These advantages alone are worth getting your daily steps in.
Research shows that walking more can reduce your risk of cardiovascular diseaseand lower your blood pressure.
Brisk walking is well-known as afat-burning activity.
What Muscles Does Walking Work?
These are the areas youll tone as you trek.
There are several ways to bump up the muscle-building potential of your daily laps.
For starters, you might always increase the intensity of your walk by upping your speed.
Your muscles will work harder the faster you go.
Also, consider walking up hills or setting the incline on the treadmill higher.
Grabbing some light handheld weights and swinging them as you go is another muscle-building tactic that targets your arms.
Meanwhile, aweighted vest forces your whole body to workharder, burning more calories and increasing total resistance.
Bottom Line
Nobody ever said walking was the surest path to bulging muscles.
Its main benefits come from raising your heart rate and steadily burning calories.
Its also well worth incorporating into an exercise routine with other strength-related activities.
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