CommunityBrowse groupsBlogEtiquetteInvite Your friendsSuccess Stories

Lounge
Community 


Walking

Does walking have the same benefits as running? I have started walking to and from work, which comes to a total of 4.5 miles a day. I love walking, but is this enough of a calorie burning exersize?

Thu. Aug 16, 2:59pm

Add comment  
It's an AWESOME calorie-burning exercise, and pretty sustainable (assuming you're good at getting out of bed 45 minutes earlier!). Depending on your weight, you're burning about 450 calories, give or take 100, and the ideal for weight control is 500/day. You are rockin' it!

If you're trying to lose weight and you find that things have levelled off or slowed down to less than 3 lbs a month, that's the point at which you should consider doing more than that. Otherwise, if it ain't broke, don't "fix" it!

Thursday, August 16, 2007, 3:28 PM

Add comment
I agree! I think one challenge for some is that it's easy to mail it in (i.e., not work very hard.) I walk with a partner and we push each other and it's as good as any cardio exercise out there!

Thursday, August 16, 2007, 4:22 PM

Add comment
walking IS great. I lost my first 165 pounds by walking and eating in moderation. I still walk and since than have lost a little over 200 pounds in total.. I am now 38 pounds from goal. I still have walking as one of my main exercises.

Thursday, August 16, 2007, 6:00 PM

Add comment
Wow to the previous poster! Good for you for losing all that weight. I bet you look and feel amazing.

Thursday, August 16, 2007, 10:57 PM

Add comment
Walking and running would burn the same amount of calories over 4.5 miles. The difference is that running would get you there faster and it would raise your heartrate for a period which offers aerobic benefits that walking doesn't. Walking, however, is easy on the joints, more sustainable for many people and burns the same amount of calories over the same distance.

Do whichever one you like but the calories burned for going 4.5 miles are the same whether you walk them or run them.

Friday, August 17, 2007, 7:17 AM

Add comment
I started running and felt my entire fitness level shoot up, and a lot of things got tighter and less jiggly within 10 runs. Unfortunately, my appetite became monstrous even jogging short distances, so beware! Anyway, let your goals and your physical comfort dictate which you choose, not some sense of "should".

And to 7:17 - I was under that impression too, that it was about distance covered, not the speed at which you cover it. So I experimented on a treadmill earlier this year. When I walk 3mph, I burn 310 cals/hr and when I jog at double that, same settings, I burn 890 cals/hr.

Friday, August 17, 2007, 2:01 PM

Add comment
Treadmill calorie counters are not reliable, and treadmill running/walking is not equal to street running/walking.

Friday, August 17, 2007, 5:54 PM

Add comment
They're reliable within 10%, and unto themselves.

Friday, August 17, 2007, 6:13 PM

Add comment








Related Content:

How To Lose Weight- The Basics
Weight Watchers Points System
The Fat Smash Diet
The Eat To Live Diet
The Beck Diet Solution
How To Get The Motivation To Lose Weight

 

How To Be Successful Using PEERtrainer

How To Burn Fat
Online Weight Loss Support- How It Works
Does Green Tea Help You Lose Weight?
Tips On Using PEERtrainer
Visit The PEERtrainer Community
Diet and Fitness Resources

Fitness

Weight Watchers Meetings
Learning To Inspire Others: You Already Are
Writing Down Your Daily Workouts
Spending Money On A Personal Trainer?
How I Became A Marathon Runner

 

Preventive Health

How To Prevent Injuries During Your Workout
Flu Season: Should You Take The Flu Shot?
Are You Really Ready To Start PEERtrainer?
Super Foods That Can Boost Your Energy
Reversing Disease Through Nutrition

New Diet and Fitness Articles:

Weight Watchers Points Plus
How To Adjust Your Body To Exercise
New: Weight Watchers Momentum Program
New: PEERtrainer Blog Archive
Review Of The New Weight Watchers Momentum Program
 

Weight Loss Motivation by Joshua Wayne:

Why Simple Goal Setting Is Not Enough
How To Delay Short Term Gratification
How To Stay Motivated
How To Exercise With A Busy Schedule

Real World Nutrition and Fitness Questions

Can Weight Lifting Help You Lose Weight?
Are Protein Drinks Safe?
Nutrition As Medicine?
 

Everyday Weight Loss Tips

How To Eat Healthy At A Party
How To Eat Out And Still Lose Weight
The Three Bite Rule
Tips On How To Stop A Binge