The traditional practice of slow, purposeful steps has the potential to improve strength and even brain function
Harriet Morphy-Morris and Eleanor Fleming Senior Reporter
05:33, 04 Dec 2025
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
A user before and after using the Simple app(Image: Simple)
As the New Year approaches, many will be contemplating healthier habits. To help, Simple – a smartphone application designed to assist users in achieving their weight loss objectives – has introduced a 30-minute tai chi walking workout, an ideal way to enhance fitness this winter.
Tai chi walking, an ancient method of slow and deliberate stepping, has recently gained popularity online. Despite its unusual appearance to novices, it can potentially enhance strength, posture, balance, and even cognitive function.
By taking a brief quiz about their current health status and future aspirations, users can receive a personalised tai chi walking plan. Currently, the app is offering a 60% discount when users subscribe using the code ‘REACH60’.
So, what makes tai chi walking beneficial? According to Simple, the most straightforward way to shed fat is through ‘Zone 1’ activity. This involves light, low-intensity exercise that maintains a person’s heart rate at 50% to 60% of their maximum.
Other Zone 1 activities include gentle jogging or swimming, pilates, and yoga, as the Mirror reports. In a study published in the American Journal of Medicine, it was found that individuals who practised tai chi exhibited lower levels of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), a hormone generated by the heart to control blood pressure.
The programmes are available on the Simple app
60% off with code ‘REACH60’
Simple
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.
Elevated BNP levels typically signify cardiac stress and, as per the research, are a ‘powerful predictor’ of heart failure prognosis. In another pilot study – a preliminary trial conducted before a larger investigation – it was discovered that participants were less stable during tai chi walking compared to regular walking.
This suggests that by challenging balance, tai chi could potentially aid the body in developing enhanced neuromuscular control, thereby reducing the risk of falls. Alongside the tai chi walking programme, Simple provides several other useful features for weight loss and health improvement.
An intelligent food scanner utilises the phone’s camera to analyse meals and provide smart nutrition scores, while habit trackers facilitate easy logging of water consumption, physical activity, fasting, and weight. A subscription to Simple also grants access to a personal AI-driven, in-app coach named Avo, capable of offering guidance and suggestions such as healthy recipes and workout plans.
Avo is accompanied by Blinky, an endearing, fluffy companion designed to motivate users throughout their weight loss journey with daily encouragement and support. The Simple blog describes Blinky as “fluffy, intense, and adorably unhinged in the most entertaining way”.
The platform explains that whilst users record everything from meals to exercise sessions or weigh-ins, they’re 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 numerous other mobile applications available for health and fitness monitoring. MyFitnessPal remains a widely-used option for comprehensive nutrition tracking, whilst also recording physical activity to provide a full overview of calorie intake and expenditure.
For fitness enthusiasts, Hevy offers a straightforward method to record workouts and training programmes through its user-friendly application. Whilst it’s free to download, a premium version is offered for those seeking more sophisticated features.
Returning to Simple, numerous users have posted favourable feedback on Trustpilot, where the application holds a 4.3/5 rating from more than 34,000 reviews. It’s also achieved 4.7/5 on the App Store. One user recounted their journey: “I have tried lots of apps for getting in shape and losing weight. Simple has gotten me the best results.
The Simple Weight Loss Plans have a range of health benefits(Image: Simple)
“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 as 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.”
Another user shared their experience: “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 reviewer said: “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 backlog 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 are consumed at the same time.”
One user commended the app’s digital assistants, noting: “Blinky is cute and helpful, and the AI coach Avo has great advice and insight.” Simple weight loss plans are presently 60% off using code ‘REACH60’, with a free plan also on offer.