A new walking trend has emerged on social media and it promises scientifically-supported results
Eleanor Fleming and Laura Mckenna Audience Writer
12:55, 16 Oct 2025
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With Simple’s AI Coach, each user’s plan is adapted to suit them(Image: Getty Images)
Most Brits are familiar with the 10,000-step daily target and its touted health benefits, from weight management to fat burning. However, a new walking trend is gaining traction online, promising even greater benefits – and it couldn’t be easier.
Contrary to popular belief, the 10,000-step rule isn’t scientifically grounded but was actually a marketing ploy by a pedometer company in the 1960s. Current research suggests that while increasing step count can be beneficial, fewer steps can also yield significant health advantages.
TikTok fitness creator Eugene Teo, confirms this idea and asserts that the Japanese walking routine offers ten times the benefits of achieving 10,000 steps a day in just half an hour. Better still, this routine is straightforward and low-impact.
But this isn’t some baseless claim; the routine is scientifically supported. The Japanese walking routine is essentially interval training, consisting of a 30-minute high-intensity, low-impact walk divided into segments, reports the Mirror.
The routine involves three minutes of brisk walking (around 70% of your maximum aerobic capacity), followed by three minutes of leisurely walking (approximately 40% of your peak aerobic capacity). This pattern is repeated five times, totalling 30 minutes, four times a week.
The Simple App provides a personalised walking plan
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Simple
For new users, the Simple app is currently on offer at a 60% discount
Importantly, those following the Japanese walking routine should still be able to converse whilst walking, even during the faster intervals.
Because walking represents a gentle, moderate-intensity form of exercise, it reduces strain on joints including the hips, knees and ankles. As an alternative to high-impact activities such as running, it could be an excellent choice for individuals susceptible to injuries or experiencing joint pain.
The Simple app can assist in planning these walks by providing a personalised walking plan based on an individual’s optimal step count. Currently, new users can avail of a 60% discount on the app using the code REACH60 at checkout.
For those who might be doubtful about the potential results, they can look at the remarkable user transformations. Take Karen Heffernan for instance, who once weighed 26-and-a-half stone (168.28kg).
Karen Heffernan lost over 14 stone using the Simple App (Image: Simple)
After a “health scare”, she took control of her weight and turned to the Simple app, which guided her through a series of minor, incremental adjustments.
Over approximately 18 months, this approach helped her lose an incredible 14-and-a-half stone (92.08kg), reducing her to less than half of her initial body weight. Karen stated: “I can’t believe it’s actually been so simple. I’ve not felt deprived along the way, my motto just now is ‘delay don’t deny.’ You can have the treats, you have the yin and the yang, you build things up.”
She further added: “This isn’t through surgery, it’s not through medication or any of that, some vitamins along the way, yes, but good food, good exercise, good sleep and motivation to keep you going along the way.”
To kick-start their journey with the Simple app, users are required to fill out a short online questionnaire about their dietary and fitness objectives. The app then harnesses this data to devise a fully customised programme that aligns with their specific requirements and timetable.
With the aid of Simple’s AI Coach, each user’s plan is tailored to them, providing regular feedback. Furthermore, the Simple approach doesn’t involve calorie counting, eliminating essential food groups, or weighing every morsel – instead, it emphasises safety and sustainability, offering guidance throughout the process.
Alternatively, customers can opt for the MyFitnessPal app. This comprehensive food tracker, calorie counter, macro tracker and fitness tracker assists users in establishing long-term habits all in one place.
This new routine is backed by science (Image: Simple Life)
Another option is the Hevy app. This complimentary workout tracker for iOS and Android aids individuals in creating routines and monitoring progress alongside friends.
Trustpilot reviews for Simple are overwhelmingly positive, with users awarding an average 4.3 out of five-star rating, based on more than 7,000 reviews. One user praised the app as ‘consistently gorgeous’.
They said: “It’s a great project with a promising future… it’s reliable since it has its own exchange app outside (the) telegram. They are straight forward and care about the community.”
Another remarked on the app’s user-friendly nature, stating: “The experience was great due to the fact that it was easy to understand, not as complex as others.”
One individual left more critical feedback, noting that they have encountered network problems. They wrote: “The app is good, but improvements in processing speed is needed.”