Walk the Weight Off--Anywhere

Around the block, in the mall, on a treadmill: 3 routines that slim you down fast

By Jessie Knadler , Jessie Knadler is a freelance writer and documentary film-maker living in New York City.

Get ready to be inspired: This workout trio may just make winter your favorite walking season. Head outdoors for a routine that cranks up the intensity, helps keep your muscles warm, and ensures a quick return home.

If getting outside is impossible, we've also provided an at-home treadmill workout; we even have a fitness walk you can do while shopping at the mall! "The more options you have, the more likely you'll be to stick to an exercise routine, no matter what the weather," says certified personal trainer Kate Larsen, author of Progress Not Perfection: Your Journey Matters. Keep up the hard work all season long, and by spring, you might be shopping for a smaller size!

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Pace Yourself for Best Results

Here are the pace and exertion levels you'll find in these workouts:

Easy: You can sing

Moderate: You can talk freely

Brisk: You can talk but you'd rather not

Fast: You're huffing and puffing

Sprint: You can't go for longer than 30 seconds/Hop on the Treadmill

350 calorie burner

This hill-heavy routine sculpts and strengthens thighs and glutes, says creator Jennifer Renfroe, Tread N' Shed treadmill class instructor at Crunch Gym in Atlanta. "Feel free to adjust the speed and incline depending on your personal fitness level," she advises.

What You'll Need A treadmill with an incline adjustment

The Routine

Duration 45 minutes

0-2:00 Easy walk (warm-up)

2:01-5:00 Moderate walk

5:01-10:00 Hill drill: Brisk walk, increasing incline one level every minute

10:01-12:00 Lower incline to level 1 and walk briskly

12:01-17:00 Hill drill: Brisk walk, increasing speed by 0.1 MPH and incline by one level every minute

17:01-19:00 Lower incline to level 2 and walk at a moderate pace

19:01-20:00 Raise incline to level 5 and walk briskly

20:01-24:00 Hill drill: Brisk walk, increasing speed by 0.1 MPH and incline by one level every minute

24:01-26:00 Lower incline to level 2 and walk at a moderate pace

26:01-40:00 Repeat minutes 19:01-26:00 two times

40:01-45:00 Easy walk, return incline to level 1 (cool-down)

Boost Your Burn Strap on a Powerbelt ($90 at Bodytrends), a lightweight padded belt that's equipped with retractable resistance cords, and give your upper body a workout. Hold the cords while you swing your arms forward, backward, up, or down and you'll burn as much as 64% more calories.