Why Walking Is Underrated (Especially When You’re Already Strength Training)

Let’s start with this:

If you’re strength training a few days a week and you’re walking regularly — you’re doing more than most. And you’re probably doing enough to make real progress.

Walking might not feel as intense or flashy as a hard workout, but it’s one of the most effective, low-effort ways to support fat loss, recovery, and your overall health.

Here’s why we’re big fans of walking — especially when it’s paired with a solid strength training routine.

1. Walking Helps Burn Fat (Without Stressing Your Body)

When your body’s under constant stress — from intense workouts, work, family, and just… life — layering in more high-intensity training can sometimes do more harm than good.

That’s where walking comes in.

It’s easy on your joints. It doesn’t require recovery time. And when done consistently, walking increases your daily calorie burn without spiking stress hormones like cortisol (which can actually make fat loss harder when chronically elevated).

It’s the ultimate “low effort, high reward” movement.

2. It Improves Recovery Between Strength Sessions

Strength training is where the real changes happen — but only if your body can recover from it.

Walking helps promote blood flow, aids in muscle recovery, and reduces soreness — especially after heavy lifting days. We often encourage members to take a walk the day after a hard workout to help things bounce back faster.

It doesn’t have to be long. Even a 20-minute walk can do the trick.

3. It Supports Mental Health and Reduces Cravings

Let’s be real: sometimes you just need a breather.

Walking (especially outside) helps regulate your nervous system, clear your head, and reset your energy.
It also plays a surprising role in helping with food cravings and stress eating. Regular walks can lower blood sugar, improve insulin sensitivity, and curb some of those “snack just because” moments.

We’ve had plenty of members tell us that a walk after dinner helps them sleep better and avoid heading back into the kitchen for a second round.

4. It Doesn’t Compete With Your Strength Gains

One of the best things about walking is that it doesn’t interfere with your lifting.
High-intensity cardio (done too often) can compete with your strength training adaptations. But walking? It complements them.

So if your priority is building or maintaining muscle while staying lean, walking is your best friend. It boosts your daily movement, burns calories, and supports recovery — all without stealing energy from your strength workouts.

How Much Should You Walk?

We like to keep it simple:
Shoot for 6,000–10,000 steps a day, depending on your goals and current activity level.

You don’t need to obsess over the exact number. Just move more than you did last week. Park farther away, take a walking meeting, or throw on a podcast and get outside. It all adds up.

Keep Lifting. Walk More. Stress Less.

Walking isn’t a “less serious” form of fitness — it’s one of the most sustainable, effective ways to support your goals without burning yourself out.

If you’re already strength training and want to layer in something that helps without overcomplicating your life, walking is it.

Need help building a simple, balanced training plan that works with your life?

That’s what we’re here for. Click here to book a FREE intro!