Rebel Wilson Reveals The Free Exercise That Helped Her Lose Weight

Actress Rebel Wilson recently shared that the best weight loss tip that she has is one that almost anyone can do: Get outside and walk more. At 40 years old, the Pitch Perfect star credits walking in addition to strength training and high-intensity interval training for her 60-pound weight loss. In 2019, Wilson declared that 2020 would be her "Year of Health" and clearly, her transformation has worked: But more important than the weight loss, Wilson says that she's feeling healthier than ever, after years of struggling with emotional eating (via Prevention).

"On the physical side, my biggest tip, guys, is get out there and walk," she said in her Instagram video (via Prevention). "If you can do an hour, that's what I like to do, when I go walking, and it is the best. Just get your body moving." She added that in order to stay motivated, she listens to podcasts while she walks, but you can also try a pump-up playlist, audiobook, or even phone a friend and catch up as you walk around your neighborhood. 

Can walking really help you lose weight?

The Mayo Clinic notes that walking can be a great exercise for both weight loss and weight maintenance — a brisk 30-minute walk can burn around 150 calories. While rarely is that enough for significant weight loss, it can help steadily drop pounds over time, and you can opt for more vigorous walking to speed up the caloric burn. (Wilson noted in her video that she loves walking up hills to add a bit more challenge to her walks.)

The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) recommends that anyone hoping to lose weight do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week, which could include walking at a pace that leaves you breathing slightly heavier than normal. If you want faster results, ACSM recommends aiming for 200 to 300 minutes per week of exercise, which is still only around 40 minutes of vigorous walking each day. Adding resistance exercises like bodyweight strength training will also speed up weight loss.