People ditch 10,000 steps for ancient walking trend that ‘boosts heart health’

‘Simple has gotten me the best results’

The New Year is nearly here, and improved health habits will be in the minds of many. Simple – a smartphone app that can help users achieve their weight loss goals – has launched a 30-minute tai chi walking workout, which could be the perfect way to get in better shape this winter.

Tai chi walking is an ancient practice of taking slow and purposeful steps that’s recently gained traction around the web – and although it may look a little strange to those who’ve never tried it, it has the potential to improve strength, posture, balance, and even brain function.

Users can get their own personalised tai chi walking plan by completing a quick quiz on their current health and future goals, and the app is currently offering 60% off when users subscribe with code ‘REACH60’.

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So, how exactly does tai chi walking help? According to Simple, the simplest way to lose fat is through ‘Zone 1’ activity – light, low-intensity exercise that keeps a person’s heart rate at 50% to 60% of their maximum. Along with tai chi, other Zone 1 activities include light jogging or swimming, pilates, and yoga.

In one study in the American Journal of Medicine, a group of people who participated in tai chi showed lower levels of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), a hormone produced by the heart that helps regulate blood pressure. High levels of BNP often indicate the heart is under stress and, according to the study, are a ‘powerful predictor’ of heart failure prognosis.

The programmes are available on the Simple app

60% off with code ‘REACH60’

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Simple — a smartphone app that can help users achieve their weight loss goals — has launched a 30-minute tai chi walking workout, which could be the perfect way to get in better shape this winter.

Elsewhere, a pilot study – a trial run that takes place before a larger investigation – found that individuals were less stable during tai chi walking compared with regular walking. It suggested that by challenging balance, the practice could in turn help the body develop improved neuromuscular control to reduce the risk of falling.

Along with the tai chi walking plan, Simple offers several other handy features for losing weight and improving health. An intelligent food scanner can use the phone’s camera to analyse meals and give smart nutrition scores, while habit trackers make it easy to log water intake, activity, fasting, and weight.

A Simple subscription also includes access to a personal AI-driven, in-app coach named Avo, which can provide guidance and suggestions like healthy recipes and workout plans. Avo is also joined by Blinky, an adorable ball of fluff who’ll help motivate users through their weight loss journeys with daily encouragement and support.

According to the Simple blog, Blinky is “fluffy, intense, and adorably unhinged in the most entertaining way”. They explain that as users log everything from meals to workouts or weigh-ins, they are simultaneously ‘feeding’ Blinky. In his own words, Blinky says: “Every log keeps me alive, thriving, and (yes) even clingier. Skip too long, and I spiral. Dramatic sighs. Sad eyes. Fluff deflation. I will miss you loudly.”

There are several other smartphone apps users could consider for health and fitness tracking. MyFitnessPal is a popular choice for in-depth nutrition tracking, and it can also log exercise to give a complete picture of calories consumed and burned.

For gym rats, Hevy is an easy way to log workouts and routines though its intuitive app. It’s free to download, but there’s a pro version available for more advanced features.

Back to Simple, many users have left positive reviews on Trustpilot, where the app is rated 4.3/5 from over 34,000 reviews. It’s also scored 4.7/5 on the App Store. One user shared their experience: “I have tried lots of apps for getting in shape and losing weight. Simple has gotten me the best results.

“What I like about Simple is that it doesn’t require detailed tracking in order to be useful. I can keep my input general and use the fasting timer. I can enter as much or little detail as I want. In my case, I’m focused on the big picture of my fast and not the minutia of each thing I eat. I am down 25lb from the beginning of this year, and it’s the first time in my 30s and 40s that I’ve actually had a sustainable approach to managing my weight.”

A second gave their thoughts: “I love the balance of simplicity, accountability, and the transparency of the use of AI coaches. It’s the first time I’ve successfully tried intermittent fasting and my body is loving it. I’ve lost 4kg in a month and I feel confident I can stick with this long term.” One left some feedback as part of a longer review: “I like the reminders, the exercises, the recipe suggestions, and I’m in my own home not having to go anywhere to do this. I wish that I could back log meals.

“Unless I’m using the program incorrectly, there are numerous times I can’t log a meal until later in the day, and it looks like the time indicates the breakfast and lunch and dinner all are consumed at the same time.”

One user praised the app’s digital companions, saying: “Blinky is cute and helpful, and the AI coach Avo has great advice and insight.”

Simple weight loss plans are currently 60% off using code ‘REACH60’, and there’s a free plan available too.