You don’t have to be a professional athlete to reap the benefits of interval walking. In this form of exercise, you alternate bursts of fast, intense walking with periods of slower and less-intense walking to allow your body to recover. In fact, by doing interval walking for about 20 minutes every other day, you can shift your metabolism into high gear so that you burn more calories and fat than if you were working out for about 40 minutes at a steady pace.

And there’s a bonus: With interval walking, the higher the intensity of the exercise, the longer the afterburn; that is, you will continue to burn more fat and calories even after you stop exercising! Below are 6 tips to help you get the most out of your interval-walking session:

1. Wear shoes that will give you proper support, such as walking shoes, cross-training shoes, or running shoes. Avoid cotton socks and choose synthetic athletic socks that will wick away moisture while keeping your feet dry and blister-free.
2. Begin each session with a short walk at a slow or moderate pace. This allows your muscles to warm up before you start doing your intervals.
3. Do your best to maintain good posture while you’re walking. Tighten your abdominals and keep your chest lifted and your chin parallel to the ground (leading with your chin while walking can result in neck and back pain).
4. With each step, strike the ground from heel to toe and feel your buttocks (glutes) contract. This strengthens your buttocks and hamstrings (the backs of your legs) as you walk.
5. Remember that doing something is better than nothing. Start slowly, and then gradually increase your periods of intensity and total distance.
6. If you're not up to doing higher-intensity interval training on a given day, be sure to take a recreational walk for 15 to 20 minutes.

See all South Beach Diet Tips