Fairfield-Echo.com

(HealthDayNews) -- If walking is your thing, the University of California, Berkeley, offers these suggestions for improving your workouts:

• Try to walk briskly for at least half an hour every day, or one hour four times a week.
• Get a pedometer and see how many steps you take a day. Aim for 3,000, then try to work up to at least 5,000 steps.
• If you want to increase your speed, take faster instead of longer steps.
• Swing your arms or bend them at 90 degrees and pump from the shoulder like race walkers do.
• Choose varied terrains.
• Walk up and down hills to build strength, stamina and burn more calories.
• Try walking backward for a change of pace.