EMAIL THREAD

Can I Lose Weight Just Walking?

the answer is yes yes yes. Here are some thoughts:

Link

Sat. Feb 5, 9:07am

nothing else but walking... and marathon training observation

My husband is 41 years old, 6' 2" and prior to moving to Europe, he weighed 210 pounds. We've been here about 6 months now, and his weight has settled at 185 pounds. If anything, he eats a bit more cheese and has a bit more to drink here... but he walks EVERYWHERE! The weight just fell off! I'm so jealous!

Back in 2007 when I first joined PEERtrainer, I was around 220 pounds (I'm 5' 6" and I was in my late 30s at the time) I could not run nor do "serious" cardio back then. I started out walking on the treadmill. Of course, I have changed my diet significantly, and I try to maintain a fitness schedule... but just moving at a moderate heart rate is FANTASTIC for health and weight loss. I am now in the 140s.

I am currently training for several half marathons and a full later this year.

That said, high intensity can be fun... it has it's time and place. however, everyone I know has said that it is tremendously difficult to lose weight while training for a marathon. I can't help but wonder if it has something to do with the high intensity (sugar burn state). You can burn 1,000 to 2,000+ calories easy on a long run... but then you are ravenous and want to eat everything in sight later that day! I wonder if you train at a lower intensity level (SLOW BURN) over a longer duration of time, if perhaps you will not be as ravenous... because then you are relying on your fat storage as fuel as opposed to sugar (glucose in the muscles from the pasta dinner the night before, GU, Gatorade, Cliff Shot Blocks, Jelly Beans, etc.)

I will conduct some experiments over the next few months and report back my findings...

Saturday, February 5, 2011, 12:20 PM

Wow. You've lost 80 pounds. Your husband has lost 25 pounds. You are inspiring me....

Saturday, February 5, 2011, 1:57 PM

awesome, can wait to hear them!

Saturday, February 5, 2011, 3:55 PM

related thread:

http://blog.peertrainer.com/diet/2010/01/i-hate-to-exercise-how-do-i-make-it-more-enjoyable.html

Sunday, February 6, 2011, 11:52 AM

You can definitely lose weight walking, but you have to do a lot of it, and you really have to watch your food intake. A couple years ago I got into some obsession and HAD to walk our woods every day -- I usually just walked back and forth along some paths, for an hour a day but some days I did up to 2 hours, until I was really, really tired and could feel it. I walked briskly, and I just daydreamed and listened to ipod - and just really concentrated on my body and the beautiful surroundings. I ended up losing 15 lbs. without really even trying -- and 15 lbs. showed a lot on me, I only had 25-30 to lose overall at that time.

Sunday, February 6, 2011, 5:39 PM

You are right about it being difficult to lose weight while training for a marathon. I have done two, and I primarily walked both of them. However, I found that when I didn't eat enough carbs, I would just bottom out over and over again. I worked hard to eat well and choose wisely, but I could not cut that calorie intake. You have to keep in mind that over a distance like that, once your training mileage starts to climb, your body just cannot convert the fat into energy fast enough to supply the constant and steady demand.

I read in a great training manual that losing weight and completing a marathon are, and should be, two different goals. That helped me focus on good nutrition and training, not weight loss.

You are very clearly a remarkable person...thanks for sharing and inspiring the rest of us with you perseverance!!

Tuesday, February 8, 2011, 8:43 AM

Can i lose weight just walking

Yep, you can depending on your body type. However, to lose optimal weight you will have to incorporate a high intensity workout and a healthy eating diet plan.

Basically that's all I did to lose 10 pounds in 5 weeks
Hope that helps.

Link

Wednesday, February 29, 2012, 1:34 PM

Saturday, February 05, 2011, 12:20 PM - UPDATE

Wow, it's been a year! How has the walking been going for everyone? :)

I recently went through the PEERtrainer Cleanse (January 2012 group)

in 14 days on Cleanse...

3.5 inches lost on my waist
3 inches lost on my hips
Down 2.1% body fat
Down 3.8 pounds

I also discovered that I have serious issues with wheat. I felt best during the initial two week Cleanse with no wheat. It's time I go back to that. I'm hoping to update here again with new results!

In the past year since originally posting, I pretty much stayed the same weight, ran 7 half marathons but didn't track my body fat or training intensity. I'll pay more attention this year.

When I bring up the wheat/carb conversation with other runners, they get touchy and sensitive and seriously freak out! (laughs) I am very curious about low carb diet and running. I friended a Marathon Maniac of a certain age who is also an ULTRA runner, trainer and RD (registered dietitian) and she has given me some advice on low carb fueling (she does paleo - mostly a grain-free, bean-free, processed-food free diet)... I'm looking forward to taking some of her advice for long run and race fueling and blending it with the PEERtrainer "Cleanse Compliant" way of eating.

But about the original post.. WALKING! Yes, yes, yes! Walking is fantastic. Go out and get some sunshine on your face!! Breath in the fresh air. Circulate! Move! You don't have to run, do something you enjoy! Just get out there and DO IT!!

Wednesday, February 29, 2012, 2:16 PM

Buy a pedometer!!!

Just read this article today in New York Times:

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/29/why-its-so-important-to-keep-moving/?smid=FB-nytimes&WT.mc_id=HL-E-FB-SM-LIN-WIS-030112-NYT-NA&WT.mc_ev=click

I am shocked at the difference on blood sugar levels, health and disease just by walking!!

Walking 5 miles a day now. I'm a believer!

Link

Thursday, March 1, 2012, 2:35 PM

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