11 Walking Tricks This Coach Uses to Burn More Fat
Finding time for effective exercise can feel overwhelming. But according to nutrition coach Thomas DeLauer, the simplest form of movement – walking – could be your key to fat loss. With over 3.68 million YouTube subscribers and years of experience coaching professional athletes, DeLauer reveals how small changes in your walking routine can lead to significant fat loss results. Here's what science says about optimizing your daily walks.
The Science Behind Walking and Fat Loss
Walking at 50-60% of your maximum oxygen consumption (VO2 max) triggers beta oxidation, where your body preferentially burns fat, explains DeLauer. "At lower intensities, like walking, our bodies preferentially use fats unless there's something standing in the way," he states. A study in the Journal of Exercise, Nutrition and Biochemistry demonstrated that walking three days per week for 12 weeks significantly reduced BMI, subcutaneous fat, and visceral fat in obese subjects.
Why Walking on an Empty Stomach Works
Research from the International Journal of Obesity revealed compelling evidence about meal timing and fat oxidation. "What they found is that when breakfast was consumed, the level of carb oxidation was very high prior to exercise, during exercise, and after the walk," DeLauer says in his post. In contrast, "The group that didn't have breakfast had higher levels of circulating non-esterified fatty acids prior to exercise, meaning they were already utilizing fats before they even started exercising."
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Understanding Your Body's Fat-Burning Process
DeLauer uses a practical analogy: "Think of it like a sink with a garbage disposal. Your body has to burn through all that stuff in the sink before it can start burning the water and have the water flow through the drain." This explains why timing matters for fat loss. "You're going to have to burn through all of that before you ever get to a point where you're burning fat."
The Right Time to Walk After Meals
While immediate post-meal walks help with blood sugar control, they're not optimal for fat burning. "Going for a walk right after breakfast is tremendous for what is called glycemic control," DeLauer explains. "That means it's going to suck up the glucose from that breakfast and it's going to prevent the glucose from spiking."
The Perfect Window for Fat Loss
"If you wait for that food to break down a little bit and then go for a walk, when the food is already digested… you're going to liberate more of those fats," DeLauer advises. Wait 2-3 hours after meals when possible. "You're going to have lower levels of insulin, and you're going to be able to, therefore, oxidize more fat because insulin isn't preventing lipolysis."
Making Walking Work for Your Schedule
While fasted morning walks are ideal, they're not realistic for everyone. "Not everyone can just get up in the morning and go for a fasted walk," DeLauer acknowledges. The key is finding the sweet spot between meals when your body is primed for fat oxidation.
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Protect Your Muscle While Losing Fat
Walking offers a unique advantage for preserving muscle mass. "We know that walking is really good. It's low impact. We know that it spares muscle because it's not high energy and it's very low demand," DeLauer points out.
The Heart Health Bonus
Walking delivers powerful cardiovascular benefits alongside fat loss. Research shows that 30 minutes of walking five days a week can reduce coronary heart disease risk by 19%. Studies indicate it helps lower blood pressure, reduce stroke risk, and improve overall cardiovascular health.
Better Blood Sugar Control
Regular walking creates meaningful metabolic improvements beyond fat loss. Meta-analyses show significant decreases in glycated hemoglobin (A1c) and improvements in insulin sensitivity, supporting better blood sugar control and enhanced fat burning.
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Mental Clarity Benefits
Strategic walking reduces stress and depression scores while promoting relaxation. This mental health boost complements the physical benefits, making it easier to stick to your fat loss goals.
Creating Sustainable Results
"Timing your walks when you are the most hungry or in between your meals" creates optimal conditions for fat burning, DeLauer says. Combined with walking's low-impact nature, this approach helps you maintain consistency – the key to long-term success. And if you enjoyed this article, don't miss 12-3-30 Walking Method: 20 Proven Tips to Lose Weight Faster.
