1. Walk as fast as you comfortably can. If you walk very fast - at a 12-minute-mile to 15 minute-mile pace - you can burn twice as many calories as when you walk at a 20-minute mile pace. You might not be able to move at such supersonic speeds in the beginning, but as you get fit, you can mix in some fast-paced intervals. Keep track of your heart rate to ensure that you're working hard enough to get all the aerobic benefits walking has to offer.

2. Another way to spice up your walking program is to take a hike. Walking over hilly terrain shapes your butt and thighs and helps you burn extra calories. Plus, communing with nature is a lot more interesting than communing with the white lines on a track, and it's more relaxing than traversing through a cement jungle full of suits and skirts.

3. Sneak in a walk whenever you can. Leave your car at home and hoof it to the train station. Take a 15-minute walk during your lunch break. Traverse the airport on foot rather than on that automatic walking belt. Sometimes, you actually save time by walking. A few years back, a New York City newspaper timed a walker, a bus, and a subway over some common rush-hour routes. The walker reached his destination faster than mass transit in almost every case, sometimes by more than 10 minutes.


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