Health

Guy Fieri says rucking — the hot, new fat-burning workout — helped him lose 30 pounds

Guy Fieri and a backpack
Guy Fieri got in shape with intermittent fasting, high-intensity interval training, and rucking workouts over the past few years. He said moderation was key. Kevin Mazur/Getty Images; iStock; BI
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At 56, the Mayor of Flavortown is fitter than ever.

Guy Fieri has lost more than 30 pounds in the past few years thanks to a healthy diet and dedicated workout routine, including classes for high-intensity interval training, Men's Health reported.

His new routine includes rucking, a fitness craze that has enthralled elites from Silicon Valley to Hollywood. The simple routine — walking or jogging while carrying weight — is quickly replacing Peloton as the in-vogue way to stay fit, get lean, and clear your mind.

A few times a week, Fieri puts on his weight vest and hikes in the hills around his home, he told Michael Easter, who joined him on a 3-mile excursion.

It's part of his overall routine of healthy habits, including intermittent fasting from noon to 8 p.m. and eating plenty of vegetables. He's also been focusing on recovery with cold plunges and sauna sessions. "I think moderation is a real thing," Fieri said.

Why rucking is so effective for burning fat

While rucking is traditionally associated with hardcore military fitness and marching long miles with a heavy pack, it doesn't have to be extreme.

Wearing some weight and going for a walk is a great way to burn fat, build muscle, and even boost longevity, all at the same time, Easter previously told Business Insider.

A man putting on a weighted backpack for a rucking workout
Rucking is popular for military fitness but can be scaled for all fitness levels. All you need is a backpack.  South_agency/Getty Images

The exercise has unique benefits because it raises your heart rate, making for great cardio. It also works the muscles of the whole body, including the core, to help you become stronger and more stable.

As a result, rucking is a growing trend among everyone from elite athletes to weekend warriors to tech execs looking to optimize their health and productivity.

Rucking is also a convenient way to exercise because you don't need a gym or special equipment. Walking around the block with an ordinary backpack loaded with weight from books or water jugs will work just fine.

While it can be intense, rucking can still be beginner-friendly if you try it with just a little weight and short sessions at first— even about 10 pounds and 15 minutes can be a good starting point.

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Gabby Landsverk
Gabby is a Health Correspondent with a focus on nutrition, fitness, longevity, and all things performance.Her coverage spans from the daily routines of top athletes like Michael Phelps and Coco Gauff to the latest cutting-edge science on building muscle to the rise of peptides, supplements, and GLP medications. She loves a deep dive into fitness subcultures, health companies, or the science behind managing and preventing disease, particularly early-onset cancers. Gabby has a background in investigative journalism (previously contributing research for an investigation on correctional healthcare for the New Yorker).In her free time, she likes lifting heavy, running fast, and playing roller derby for Gotham in New York City.Send story ideas and tips to glandsverk@jkmperu.com.Expertise/Interests
  • Longevity: how to dial in a daily routine to invest in long-term health, and what makes some of the longest-living people on earth active and vibrant as they age.
  • Performance science: training techniques for goals ranging from muscle-building (hypertrophy), general physical preparedness, endurance, and injury prevention, especially for fitness beginners. 
  • Cancer research: unpacking the science behind why certain cancers are on the rise in younger people, how it's affecting the world around us, and what we can do about it. 
  • Healthy eating: how to navigate conflicting and contradictory advice across trends like protein-maxxing, intermittent fasting, and the Mediterranean, Nordic, and MIND diets.
  • Medical weight loss: how emerging science around treatments like GLP medications are shaping the connections between food, weight, and health. 
  • Digital wellness: investigating how telehealth is changing access to healthcare, including through peptides, hormones, and direct-to-consumer lab tests. 
  • Strength sports, including Olympic weightlifting, powerlifting, Hyrox, and CrossFit. 
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