'Sneaky' weight loss trick 'burns more than 400 calories a day' - you won't even feel it

A health influencer has shed light on the significant impact a daily walk can have on your weight loss journey.

We often hear that 10,000 steps per day is the magic number for maintaining fitness and health. But now, John Schaefer, a coach based in California, has provided some clarity, sharing its benefits to 905,000 TikTok followers (@johnschaeferhealth).

"By far one of the easiest ways to increase the rate in which you lose weight is to start walking more," he said. "The goal is 10,000 steps a day - it's about four-and-a-half miles. It's not a hard number, but it gives you something to shoot for."

"It is the sneakiest form of fat loss. If you hit 10,000 steps a day for 100 days that's a million steps. For an average person, you burn about 100 calories per mile walk... Not only does that help you on a daily basis, but adds up to incredible calorific burn over time."

John isn't alone in advocating for 10,000 steps a day. Interestingly, this concept actually stemmed from a highly successful marketing campaign launched prior to the Tokyo Olympics in 1964. The Japanese character for '10,000' resembles a person walking, hence its selection for the campaign.

But since then, various studies have confirmed that 10,000 steps can significantly benefit your health and support weight loss - even if it isn't as vigorous as running on a treadmill.

Research spearheaded by the University of Southern Denmark has even suggested that 9,800 to be precise could dramatically cut your dementia risk, following an analysis of data from 78,430 UK residents.

The NHS reports that the average Briton clocks in between 3,000 and 4,000 steps daily, indicating that upping those numbers could be a simple yet effective fitness strategy for those who aren't fans of traditional gym workouts. John added his endorsement: "It's good for the mind, good for muscle soreness. Walk your dog, catch up on phone calls with a friend - it's a super easy way to make permanent fat loss a reality."

John's social media post quickly garnered a flurry of responses, with numerous followers attesting to the effectiveness of walking. One user commented: "I lost 12kg in three months with a calorie deficit and just walking, I agree! ", while another shared: "Especially if you do a fasted walk!"

In addition to these personal testimonies, the NHS also promotes the benefits of brisk walking, even if it's just for a short duration. Their guidance states: "Sometimes overlooked as a form of exercise, walking briskly can help you build stamina, burn excess calories and make your heart healthier,".

They further advise that you don't need to commit to lengthy walks to reap the benefits. "You do not have to walk for hours. A brisk 10-minute daily walk has lots of health benefits and counts towards your 150 minutes of weekly exercise."