7 Celebs Who Literally Walked Their Way to a Slimmer Body
Going on a good, old-fashioned walk is packed with refreshing benefits for the mind, body, and soul. Sure, it may not seem like the most intense exercise out there, but, nonetheless, it's a great way to increase your regular physical activity and burn calories. The best part? You don't need a pricey gym membership or fancy equipment. Just lace up your walking shoes, choose a solid route, and you're ready to roll. To get you motivated, we've rounded up celebrities who slimmed down and toned up by walking. A-listers like Rebel Wilson and Mindy Kaling are proof that this simple activity yields results.
1. Mindy Kaling
To say Mindy Kaling is a girl boss doesn't even begin to scratch the surface. The actress, producer, comedian, and mom-of-three has delivered iconic performances and truly iconic shows like The Mindy Project and The Office.
Amid her busy schedule, Mindy still makes working out a top priority. In fact, she's a major fan of walking.
"I think that if I can get in about 15 to 20 miles of walking a week, I have mental clarity, I feel like I get better sleep at night…So for me, that's always been key," the celeb told Prevention.
Mindy also shared with E! News, "I will go on a two-mile walk after dropping my kid off at school and call a friend from high school to catch up on the phone. It doesn't feel like I'm working out, but I am, and I enjoy that I get to socialize, too."
Her cardio habits don't stop there! Hiking and running are key parts of her fitness routine as well.
"It's hard with two kids that I wake up really early and I fit it in — and I basically live in workout clothes so I can get it in, get an extra mile in," she told PEOPLE. "I just tell myself I have to do basically 20 miles a week of either hiking or running. And so that's been incredibly helpful to me."
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2. Kelly Clarkson
Kelly Clarkson moved to one of the most walkable cities in the United States, New York City, a couple years ago. Naturally, she told PEOPLE that she picked up a healthy walking habit to keep herself in top form. "
Walking in the city is quite the workout," she shared, adding that she walks with her two kids and dogs at the park regularly, too.
3. Rebel Wilson
Rebel Wilson has been candid about her wellness journey on Instagram, earning plenty of love from fans along the way. One major habit that helped fuel her weight-loss transformation? A doctor's simple advice: Take more walks.
"An Austrian doctor said 'Rebel, the best way for you to lose unwanted body fat is by just simply walking, it doesn't have to be high intensity or uphill…just simply walk an hour a day'," she said on an Apple Fitness+ episode of Time To Walk, as reported by Prevention. "Sometimes the simplest thing like getting out and walking for an hour a day is the kindest thing to your body, and your body will respond to that."
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4. Jessica Simpson
Actress, singer, and mom-of-three Jessica Simpson lost an impressive 100 pounds—and she looks downright spectacular. A go-to workout that helped her achieve this weight-loss milestone? Walking.
Jessica told PEOPLE in 2019, "I have been doing a lot of walking—getting my steps in not only burns calories but it also helps me clear my head and get focused." In fact, the celeb worked her way up to tracking 14,000 steps per day.
She's dedicated about her walking habit, too. Jessica captioned an athletic mirror selfie, "Woke up before all 3 kiddos to get my steps in and spend time with me, myself, and I. Move move move for your own mental health."
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5. Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey is passionate about walking—for good reason. In 2016, she even challenged herself to get more steps in.
"Sky, mountains, creeks, trees, grass, wildflowers — I just can't seem to get enough," Oprah said in her O: The Oprah Magazine, as reported by Today. "So I made a vow this summer to log my 10,000 steps each day and get outdoors to do it."
In 2017, the media mogul shared with The Hollywood Reporter that walking is a key part of her workout regimen.
"I'll do 20 minutes on the elliptical and 30 minutes walking on the treadmill. I start out at the Level 3 incline setting and then every minute I add to the incline until I get to 12 or 15. And then I do sit-ups," she said.
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6. Christina Aguilera
Christina Aguilera lost weight through healthy eating habits and regular exercise. According to personal trainer Tee Sorge, cardio—specifically intervals, complete with uphill walking—proved to be helpful in the celeb's efforts.
"Christina slowly jogs for five minutes on flat ground, sprints for three to five minutes, and then does a slow uphill walk for the remainder of the workout," Tee shared with Glamour. "It's amazingly effective at making your body really lean."
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7. Teddi Mellencamp
Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Teddi Mellencamp revealed to Women's Health that she put on 80 pounds within a year due to a stressful job she started after moving to California. Teddi learned that "a good carb, a healthy fat, some protein, and veggies are really all you need," in addition to how powerful a classic walk can be.
"Walking, running, or hiking is just as good a workout as a cardio class at a fancy gym and they're free," she said.
