Does Incline Walking Help You Lose Weight? Why I Stopped Running

If you hate running, I can reassure you: so do I.

For a long time, I thought you had to enjoy running to lose weight. Everyone seemed to do it, I kept hearing the same advice, and I assumed I would eventually get used to it. But every session was the same: I checked the clock every two minutes, wondering when it would finally be over. With my asthma, it was not particularly comfortable either.

Then one day, I stopped forcing myself.

I swapped running for brisk incline walking and, honestly, never expected it to become my favourite form of cardio. It is now part of my routine alongside Lagree and skipping.

If you have read my article about how I lost almost 10 kg with Lagree and the Montignac method, you will know that I do not believe in miracle solutions. I would much rather find a routine that makes me want to return each week than force myself through a workout I will eventually abandon.

I Like Starting My Day This Way

I nearly always try to go in the morning, at around 7 or 7.30.
It wakes me up, puts me in a good mood and means the workout is done before the day really begins.

In Paris, I particularly like going to L’Usine Beaubourg. The gym is still quiet, the treadmills are usually free and I feel as though I have started the day on the right foot. When I am in the South of France, I keep exactly the same habit at KOSM, in Les Angles.

I will not pretend the first ten minutes are easy. That is usually when I wonder why I got up so early.

So I have created a little routine of my own.

I put on a film or documentary on my iPhone, place it in front of the treadmill and walk. I stop watching the clock and the session seems to pass on its own. If you tend to check the time every thirty seconds, try it. It genuinely changes everything.

At around the twenty-minute mark, I always have the same thought: right, I am halfway there. From that point, I know I will finish.

I Did Not Start at a 14% Incline

If you want to try incline walking, please do not begin at 14%.

I started much more gently at 12%, then moved to 12.5% and 13%. I increased the incline gradually, without putting pressure on myself. I now usually walk at an incline of 14 % and a speed of 5.5 km/h.

I sometimes increase the incline to 16% for a few minutes, lower it, then raise it again. The changes break up the rhythm and somehow make the session feel shorter.

The important thing is not to copy somebody else’s settings on Instagram. It is to find settings that make you want to come back two or three days later.

Do You Need to Walk for 40 Minutes?

I tend to walk for forty minutes because that suits me. If you only have thirty minutes, that is still a very worthwhile session. Thirty minutes regularly is better than forcing yourself through an hour once and never stepping onto a treadmill again.

I usually do this session on days when I do not have Lagree. You can do both on the same day, but I prefer alternating them. If I do too much at once, I get bored, which is exactly what I am trying to avoid.

Gentler Than Running, Yet Still Effective

I find brisk incline walking much gentler than running. I am less breathless, my knees are happier and, with my asthma, I feel far more comfortable. My legs still start working very quickly.

Most importantly, I never feel as though I am enduring the workout. I step onto the treadmill, start my documentary and walk.

A Routine That Works for Me

I also alternate it with skipping, which I will write about properly soon. It was another activity that helped me while I was losing weight, but that deserves a fuller article.

I think we sometimes spend far too much time searching for the perfect workout.

In reality, the best form of exercise is often the one you genuinely want to do again the following week.

If running bores you, or you simply want another way to do cardio, try brisk incline walking. You may be as pleasantly surprised as I was.

After your workout, if you fancy breakfast without turning it into a source of guilt, here are two of my favourite places: Café Berry in Paris and Ozone in Shoreditch depending on where you are.

Finding balance also means allowing yourself to enjoy it afterwards. ❤️