You’ve probably been told that if you want strong bones, you need to do weight-bearing exercise. That’s because weight lifting, running, and other high-impact exercises put strain on your bones, stimulating new bone growth. In contrast, low-impact activities like walking and stationary cycling have very little effect. But here’s good news: You don’t have to abandon your daily stroll for a strenuous jog. According to a study by a doctor at Hebrew University, a Simple 60-second run in the middle of your walk is enough to Signal your bones to add mass!

“You need to subject your bones to more impact than what they’re used to:’ agrees an MD at Stanford University. So if you’re inactive, start walking. And if you’re already walking, add a simple 60-second jog. Hate running? Then try the “zigzag walking” technique. This consists of side-to-side strides, or forward and suddenly backward steps. The surprise change in direction may also help build stronger bones.