Is walking any use ?

housemap

I got lazy and fat over the last year or so, quit all exercise and gained maybe 10k, decided to get somewhat healthy again, I am going to start running, the most exercise I did in the last year was walking 100 meters to the bus stop so if I tried to run I'm sure injury would occur which is demoralising and can lead to packing it in fast which I don't want so I've started walking and will continue to do so until I feel I can begin to jog - I am now walking 15km a day at a reasonable pace.

I am wondering if this by itself could lead to weight loss, my weight was very stable about 10k too much, I haven't changed my diet at all, just added walking.

Apip99

I think you've answered you own question here: "I haven't changed my diet at all, just added walking"

If you are serious, then the first place to start is diet. How bad is at the moment?

best thing to do is put up you diet, age, male/female, diet and goals, and the good folks here would be able to give some pointers.

Walking is a good start, but your not going to see any major changes..

ray jay

if you're already walking 15km a day, then you can definitely start jogging. Take a look at couch to 5km

AntiVirus

housemap wrote: »

Is walking any use ?

Walking 15kms will burn pretty much the same calories as jogging or running the same distance. The only difference is the time is takes to complete the 15kms

Chris89

AntiVirus wrote: »

Walking 15kms will burn pretty much the same calories as jogging or running the same distance. The only difference is the time is takes to complete the 15kms

Surely this is bollocks?!?

dynamot

housemap wrote: »

I got lazy and fat over the last year or so, quit all exercise and gained maybe 10k, decided to get somewhat healthy again, I am going to start running, the most exercise I did in the last year was walking 100 meters to the bus stop so if I tried to run I'm sure injury would occur which is demoralising and can lead to packing it in fast which I don't want so I've started walking and will continue to do so until I feel I can begin to jog - I am now walking 15km a day at a reasonable pace.

I am wondering if this by itself could lead to weight loss, my weight was very stable about 10k too much, I haven't changed my diet at all, just added walking.

I heard this story of this man in the states who was severely overweight. He was unemployed and his girlfriend had just left him so he decided to walk across America. He walked at a moderate pace for 2-3 hours a day. It took him a year to get from California to New York. As far as I know he didn't alter his diet. He ended up losing 300 lbs, so yes walking will help, but you should change your diet if you dont want to wait a year!

dynamot

dynamot wrote: »

I heard this story of this man in the states who was severely overweight. He was unemployed and his girlfriend had just left him so he decided to walk across America. He walked at a moderate pace for 2-3 hours a day. It took him a year to get from California to New York. As far as I know he didn't alter his diet. He ended up losing 300 lbs, so yes walking will help, but you should change your diet if you dont want to wait a year!

If the weather was OK, that'd actually be a pretty cool thing to do. Though it'd cost a few $$ I'd say. Unless he was sleeping outdoors or camping the whole way?

AntiVirus

Chris89 wrote: »

Surely this is bollocks?!?

Its true!! Give or take 1 calorie depending on your weight. You will burn the same amount of calories running 1 mile as you do walking 1 mile.

discus

For a while Kevpants seemed to give walking the 2 thumbs up for getting rid of a few cals. Going by what he has posted over the years, you could probably rely on what he says.

silverharp

AntiVirus wrote: »

Its true!! Give or take 1 calorie depending on your weight. You will burn the same amount of calories running 1 mile as you do walking 1 mile.

http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview/id/6381.html

Hi amsterdam,

Here's the answer from Dr. Dean Ornish, a clinical professor of
medicine at UC San Francisco:

"All things being equal, you will burn more calories by running an
hour than walking an hour. It is true that walking a mile will burn
more calories than running a mile -- although it takes longer to do
so. When you run a mile, you're burning mostly sugar, or
carbohydrates, which is how your body gives you fast energy in bursts.
When you walk a mile, it gives your metabolism time to switch from
burning carbohydrates to burning fat."

WebMD - Dean Ornish, MD Q A:
http://my.webmd.com/content/article/3079.883

How many calories you burn depends on a variety of factors such as
fitness level, metabolism, weight and the intensity of the workout.
"Larger people burn more calories than smaller people,
particularly with activities like walking or stair climbing where they
have to carry their own weight," says Robert McMurray, professor of
exercise and sports science at the University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill.
iVillage - "How Many Calories Are You Using -- and Other Burning
Questions" by Carol Krucoff:
http://www.ivillagehealth.com/interests/healthy/articles/0,11299,165839_125472-1,00.html
As far as how intensity affects a workout, according to an example
from the The President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, if
you were walking briskly for one mile and your friend was jogging,
you'd burn about the same number of calories if you walked for 15
minutes and he jogged for eight and a half minutes.

The President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports - "Walking for
Exercise and Pleasure":
http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/health/walking/walking.htm
As far as a being better on the joints, walking is, without a doubt,
the better exercise. It's one of the safest exercises you can do and
it provides great cardiovascular benefits without all of the stress
that running puts on the body.

Yahoo! Health - "Walking Workouts" by Carol Krucoff:
http://health.yahoo.com/health/nutrition_fitness/fitness_tip.html

According to Dr. Ann Gerhardt, a Sacramento, CA doctor who was forced
to walk for exercise after tearing her anterior cruciate ligament
while skiing:

"The other plus about walking is that if you do the technique
correctly and put as much effort into walking as you would running,
you can get the same aerobic benefit. You are moving almost every part
of your body."

CityXpress - "On the Run: Walking vs. Running" by By James Raia:
http://www.xpresssites.com/spokane/spokane/XpSpecialSections/sportsandrecreation/story_137010.asp

dave80

dynamot wrote: »

I heard this story of this man in the states who was severely overweight. He was unemployed and his girlfriend had just left him so he decided to walk across America. He walked at a moderate pace for 2-3 hours a day. It took him a year to get from California to New York. As far as I know he didn't alter his diet. He ended up losing 300 lbs, so yes walking will help, but you should change your diet if you dont want to wait a year!

Forest gump did the same thing but he ran it

AntiVirus

silverharp wrote: »

http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview/id/6381.html

Thats exactly what I said!

Tonto86

Ideally to lose weight you should be eating 500kcals less then your body burns off. The more exercise you do, the more calories you use. So yes, walking will help.

You will want to get your diet in check though, not only will it be the main factor in fat loss but you'll find you'll have more energy to get out there and exercise.

Fitday is a great site for tracking what you eat and food nutritional values

kevpants

discus wrote: »

For a while Kevpants seemed to give walking the 2 thumbs up for getting rid of a few cals. Going by what he has posted over the years, you could probably rely on what he says.

LOL, my wife happened to open this thread at random. She thinks I'm a guru now.

Maybe I'll get some damn respect!

If you're reading this Wifepants... make me a sandwich!!!*


*I'm sorry

housemap

Thanks for the info guy's very helpful, have lost a few pounds already walking so it appears to work, the weather has gone to hell though as I am sure you have all noticed so haven't been out for a couple of days I am V peeved, as regards diet it's not too bad , I have one biggish meal a day your typical meat spuds and veg or similar and a toasted ham sandwich for tea - I do like chocolate though prolly have 3 100g bars a week, will give them up for the greater good though thx again

rubadub

AntiVirus wrote: »

Walking 15kms will burn pretty much the same calories as jogging or running the same distance.

I also read if you go particularly slow you burn even more energy, as you have to overcome inertia on each step -think of it like pushing a car down the road but being forced to stop every foot and never getting any momentum going.

Try doing a single chinup for 1minute and you will know all about it!

dinorebel

rubadub wrote: »

I also read if you go particularly slow you burn even more energy, as you have to overcome inertia on each step -think of it like pushing a car down the road but being forced to stop every foot and never getting any momentum going.

Try doing a single chinup for 1minute and you will know all about it!

All of my chin ups take more than a minute:o

AntiVirus

rubadub wrote: »

Try doing a single chinup for 1minute and you will know all about it!

piece of cake!