“It was a disappointment and we felt locked in,” Lind says. “My mum kept telling me and my sister to go for a walk outside. So we did, and little by little I started to feel better.
During the pandemic, Lind developed what would become one of TikTok’s biggest fitness crazes to date – the Hot Girl Walk. Her video describing the Hot Girl Walk has garnered over 750,000 views, and the #hotgirlwalk hashtag has millions of views and a billion hits on Google.
Here’s how it works: Walk. Every day. Ideally, about four miles. And as you walk, you can only think of the following: Your goals. What you are grateful for. And how hot you are.
For this final part, Lind riffs on the Hot Girl Summer trend featured in July 2019 by Megan Thee Stallion, a rapper who eventually released a song of the same name. The genius behind Hot Girl Summer is that it’s not about looks; heat is a state of mind, after all.
But unlike many fitness trends, the key tenets of the Hot Girl Walk — walking and mindfulness — are backed by research.
Among other benefits, regular walking has been linked to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, improved memory and cognition, lower stress, improved mood, and a lower risk of premature death. .
“The best attribute of walking is its simplicity,” says David Sabgir, cardiologist and founder of Walk With a Doc, a community of doctor-led walking groups.
Sabgir says Lind’s four miles can be difficult for many people. “Fortunately, even short walks give us benefits, and those benefits only increase as our step count increases,” says Sabgir. “150 minutes a week or more is a wonderful goal.”
Practicing gratitude, meanwhile, has been linked to increased overall well-being — it’s associated with greater patience, increased happiness, and stronger relationships.
“Although no double-blind, placebo-controlled studies of the Hot Girl Walk have been conducted, there are plausible mechanisms to determine how it may improve well-being and self-rated subjective hotness,” says Glenn Fox , a neuroscientist at the USC Marshall School of Enterprise specializing in the neural correlates of gratitude, empathy, and neuroplasticity. “Those who undertake Hot Girl Walks can benefit from the virtuous cycle of gratitude, starting with exercising both mind and personal will, reducing distraction, and focusing on abundance and personal strengths. The benefits of the Hot Girl Walk can be theoretically unlimited.
Readers might be wondering: Is the Hot Girl Walk just for…girls…sexy? First, remember that sexy is a state of mind, and second, if “girl” doesn’t describe you, feel free to cross it off and write your preferred descriptor. That’s what Rob Kirkpatrick did when his daughter, Ceara Kirkpatrick, a wellness and photography influencer on TikTok and Instagram, started a challenge she called Walk Girl Summer.
“I created a calendar that my subscribers could use to track their progress,” Ceara explains. “My dad printed it out, crossed out ‘Daughter’ and wrote ‘Dad’ above it.” Thus, Walk Dad Summer was born.
Ready to start your own Walk Girl season? Here are some tips for mastering the Hot Girl Walk.
Remember, the goal isn’t to achieve an ideal body type or look, or achieve an impossible fitness goal. “The point of the Hot Girl Walk is to channel something that’s already within you to increase your physical and mental well-being,” Lind explains.
Do what you can. Ceara Kirkpatrick opts for a 45-minute walk over Lind’s four miles. “If you don’t feel it, go for it for five minutes,” she says. “Every little bit counts.”
Go outside. Although you can do the Hot Girl Walk on a treadmill, it’s really meant to be done outdoors, preferably in nature. “Walking outside allows me to focus on the present moment,” says Kirkpatrick.
Make it a judgment-free zone. “Instead of being critical, try being curious,” Lind says. “Notice when thoughts become self-critical and gently lead them back to things you are grateful for.”
Go with friends. If quiet contemplation isn’t for you, ask a friend to join you or call someone as you walk. And look for hot girl walking groups in your area — Ceara Kirkpatrick’s Girls Who Walk Facebook group is a great place to start.
Don’t forget about security. If possible, try to walk during the day in an area with sidewalks. If you listen to music, avoid noise-canceling headphones. Always be aware of your surroundings. “If your gut tells you something is wrong, turn around,” says Rob Kirkpatrick. Dad’s wisdom for victory.
Copyright 2022, Consumer Reports Inc.
Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works alongside consumers to create a fairer, safer and healthier world. CR does not endorse products or services and does not accept advertising. Learn more at ConsumerReports.org.
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