I’ve been doing the viral 12-3-30 workout once a week for a year, so when I stumbled upon the 6-6-6 walking challenge—another trend on TikTok—I thought it might be a great addition to my routine.
This challenge aims to increase your step count, enhance physical well-being, and promote consistency through a straightforward approach.
While a few variations of the challenge exist, the one I followed included walking for 60 minutes at either 6 a.m. or 6 p.m., starting and finishing with a six-minute warm-up and cool-down.
Brisk walking is often underrated as exercise. It’s known to improve heart health and help manage stress, and the advantages of this simple, accessible workout are well-established.
As someone who’s always trying to hit about 10,000 steps daily, I was curious to see if this method could enhance my step count and create a solid foundation before I train for a 26-mile charity hike.
Here’s how it went.
My experience with the 6-6-6 walking challenge for a week
Typically, I fit in three gym sessions each week, mixing cardio and strength training for about an hour. The idea of adding another hour daily felt daunting, so I decided to cut back on my regular strength workouts to just a quick 15-minute dumbbell session.
From Monday to Friday, I made a habit of hitting the gym treadmill at 6 p.m. I started with a few squats and lunges, followed by a gentle six-minute warm-up walk and the same for a cool-down.
During the main walk, my goal was to elevate my heart rate and stay in the cardio zone (according to my Fitbit), so I adjusted the incline and speed on the treadmill accordingly.
I preferred walking outside to the treadmill
I have to admit, spending over an hour on the treadmill felt pretty boring. Although I kept myself motivated with an upbeat playlist that included a lot of Beyoncé, by Saturday I was tired of staring at the gym walls, so I opted for an outdoor walk.
Switching from the gym to the outdoors made a huge difference. I even wrapped up the challenge with a 15km hike through nature, which felt like the perfect way to finish.
A scheduled time was a mixed blessing
It required considerable effort to leave work and get to the gym by 6 p.m. every day. But then again, it made me stick to my plan, which turned out to be a nice way to transition from work to my personal time.
On weekends, a 6 p.m. walk didn’t align with my routine, and I’m not exactly an early riser, so I aimed to be out by 9 a.m. instead.
My step count increased dramatically
During the challenge, my daily step count soared beyond my usual 10,000 steps—averaging around 15,000 each day and even reaching 24,000 on one of my weekend hiking excursions. This laid down a solid groundwork for my upcoming charity hike training.
It’s essential to mention that making large increases in daily steps carries risks. Your body might struggle with the added stress, so if you’re not already active, you should approach with caution.
I won’t continue with this routine
If you’re active and looking for a way to gain momentum, the 6-6-6 routine could be a good option, but it probably isn’t the best fit for beginners. They should focus on safely increasing their step count with gradual adjustments.
That being said, I doubt I could stick with this challenge regularly; it would take away from the workouts I truly enjoy.
By day five, I was completely ready to be done with spending over an hour on the treadmill.
Going forward, I plan to return to my usual 30-minute 12-3-30 treadmill routine and do as much walking outside as possible.
Shop walking shoes
If you’re in the market for new walking shoes, our guide can help you find the best options. Here are the top three picks briefly.
