Speed walking--seems silly, right? Not so, according to a study by the University of Virginia that says it could help you lose five times more belly fat compared to walking.

According to researchers, women who speed walked for at least five days a week lost far more body and visceral fat, resulting in a weight decrease of eight pounds. The women who did not walk as fast noticed far less decreases in body fat and weight. Oddly enough, the speed walkers in the study didn't burn more calories than the women who walked leisurely.

Researchers believe speed walking helps increase your post-workout metabolism, increasing the calories you burn after the exercise is complete. This effect is commonly credited to high intensity interval training, but it appears speed walking can reap the same benefits.

So how do you speed walk--and how can you use it to your advantage?

1. Keep your arms constantly in motion. It may look silly, but swinging your arms back and forth as you speed walk helps keep up your momentum, which helps you walk faster. Make sure both arms are bent at a 90 degree angle and kept close to your body.

2. Tense the abdominal muscles. Avoid over-tension--it can wear out your abdominal muscles and cause discomfort. Aim to keep the abdominal muscles firm instead. This helps keep your body steady as you walk.

3. Push off your feet with the heels, not the balls. This helps propel you forward. Avoid bouncing on your feet--this can make you stride less even. If done correctly, it should feel like you're gliding across the pavement.

4. Keep your strides short. Overstriding can actually slow you down and make you prone to injury. Keep each leg straight as the other foot lands on the ground to increase your walking speed. Do it in a fluid, rapid motion, increasing the speed of your stride as you become more accustomed to this technique.

Remember, short, even strides are the best way to increase your walking speed and your caloric deficit--long strides make you more prone to injury. Always check with a physician before beginning any walking program.