Walking Vs Jogging

gary82

Hey fitness people,

This evening both myself and my flatmate ended up going out for some exercise.

I walked 4.5 miles in 90mins
He jogged 3.6 miles in 30mins

Now we're debating who got the most "exercise"! Neither of us are sure! :rolleyes:

According to this site I burned more calories. So is that the answer?

Or is he improving his "fitness" much more by doing a more intensive workout?

I'd welcome your views on this!

I'm sure there is a formula to work it out but it all depends to how unfit both of you are and how testing the exercise was.

I'm going for your friend as walking is easier than jogging.

*Assuming you walked properly and your friend jogged properly.

Bandit883

I'd say he got a better workout

ScissorPaperRock

But lower intensities for higher durations are better for burning fat

gary82

ScissorPaperRoc wrote: »

But lower intensities for higher durations are better for burning fat

Yeah I read that online too.....

Bandit883 wrote: »

I'd say he got a better workout

That'd be the initial assumption, but from a basic physics point of view i moved the same mass (assume we're the same) over a longer distance. I know when you're jogging you're propelling yourself in the air for time too so that should counteract the extra distance, but I don't know by how much.

Deleted User wrote: »

I'm sure there is a formula to work it out but it all depends to how unfit both of you are...

Assuming we're the same...

Deleted User wrote: »

I'm going for your friend as walking is easier than jogging.

It certainly is easier, but it was for three times the duration....

Stark

You'll have burnt more calories during the duration of your exercise than your friend did. However, your friend will get a metabolism boost for some time after he finishes his exercise due to the extra intensity. You'll have burnt more fat during the duration of your exercise whereas he'll have burnt more glycogen. However, the body tends to balance out the stores in the course of recovery so he would have used up fat while recovering his glycogen stores. From a time spent of view, your friend is spending his time far more efficiently.

In the long run, higher intensity=better.

rubadub

gary82 wrote: »

Now we're debating who got the most "exercise"! Neither of us are sure! :rolleyes:

You must first debate what "most exercise" means!

gary82 wrote: »

That'd be the initial assumption, but from a basic physics point of view i moved the same mass (assume we're the same) over a longer distance. I know when you're jogging you're propelling yourself in the air for time too so that should counteract the extra distance, but I don't know by how much.

Problem is that it is not just basic physics. You will see people swinging their arms out walking, this will burn more calories. Calorie counting itself is a dumbed down version, calories are usually determined by physically burning substances, the value is the calculated from the heat given off. humans may not use the calories as efficiently.

At very low walking speeds you burn more calories per mile as you must overcome the inertia each time you take a step. Think of pushing a car, once it is going it is easy. 2 guys might push a car the same distance even in the same time, but if one guy stops and starts he has to overcome more interia forces.

Or is he improving his "fitness" much more by doing a more intensive workout?

Again depends on what fit means. Fit to do a job? fit to run? he is probably fitter after that by most peoples meaning. I have walked for many hours with no problem, I would be in tatters jogging for 30mins.

Stark

rubadub wrote: »

At very low walking speeds you burn more calories per mile as you must overcome the inertia each time you take a step. Think of pushing a car, once it is going it is easy. 2 guys might push a car the same distance even in the same time, but if one guy stops and starts he has to overcome more interia forces.

I figured it was just a straightforward case of it taking nearly twice as long to walk a mile as to jog a mile so you're engaged in the activity for a longer time period, therefore burning more calories. Jogging/running is noticeably more efficient for covering a set distance alright. I'd happily jog/run 5-10 miles but I'd be absolutely wrecked after walking the same distance. Mostly because I'd be on my feet for a lot longer when walking.