Walking?

[kez17]

Does walking count as the 150 minutes of exervise you're supposed to do each week? Or does losing weight only work if you run or jog? I need exervise advice to lose weight!

[fenbadger]

Any exercise is good but if your walk is only an amble you don't burn much more than sitting down and its probably a waste of time. The accepted advice is for a "brisk walk" - enough to make you puff a bit. Remember, most of us overweight are already straining the heart so don't go training for a marathon. if you can make it enjoyable so much the better. I do the same circuit every week and it's different each time but not everyone is fortunate enough to have access to somewhere beautiful, though a bit of imagination can help. There's a small pleasure ground near me and if I walk each path at least once (means I have to go over some twice) it takes 3/4 hour and there are several permutations.

[Prin]

You need a deficit of 3500cal roughly to lose 1lb, I ran a half marathon and burnt around 1600, so if that's your only method it's going to take a while! Walking should be out of breath but you need to limit calories too, good luck

[Mlynas]

I've lost over 15kg by using a free app on my phone called Myfitnesspal. It helps me monitor my calorie intake. I walk the dog every day for 20mins - 2 kilometer - which is a brisk walk, which burns roughly 230 calories. So doing both has shed the weight. My target is to get down to 12 stone from 17 stone and to beat my diabetes. So walking is great! Burns nearly as much as the gym bike says for 30mins excersize.

[elliebath Maintainer]

I agree with Mlynas. I am 62 and for the past few years was 2 stone overweight . Last year I also had a torn miniscus in the knee, then had an arthroscopy operation in december, though it took a few months to feel the benefit. So, in april I decided to tackle my weight and health (slightly raised cholestrol and on medication for high blood pressure) . No way did I fancy the gym but walking was something I could do alone or with my partner and costs nothing! So, in past 12 weeks I have used myfitnesspal app to log all my food, 1200-1300 a day, and to record my walking. Walking together with a reduction in calories most definitely works, Ive lost 14lbs all over, my legs are stronger and slimmer, my BP is down to 120/70 and cholestrol acceptable.

Good luck, try and increase your walks to 30-60 minutes at weekends if you can. You will find your energy improves, sleep is better , nothing but good can come of it. Well done.

[katedaniels]

Yes it does, put some effort into it rather than dawdling along and you will see results. I have lost 24lbs with walking the main form of exercise that I do. I do not count my walks to and from work, I set off on a walk and keep a decent pace and count that. I use MapMyWalk, a free app for logging my walking, it is fairly generous with the calories burnt so please take that into account. However, walking is not the only exercise that I do, I also use an aerobic step and like aerobics but only use those a couple of times a week.

[pinkymoo]

Any kind of physical activity counts as long as it leaves you a little breathless but still able to hold a conversation.

I've lost 5st by ditching my car for short journeys to the shop and walking instead. I try to walk at a good pace but I wouldn't say I'm fast (my speed is increasing though as I get fitter).

It's not my only exercise though as I go swimming twice a week.

Basically yes you can walk and loose weight but it depends on how much you do and how intensly you do it. In my teens when i went to see the nurse at my gp's she told me that any movement was good. Even if I went up and down the stairs a few times during a tv ad break.

Weight loss works on 2 principles. Eat less, Do more!

[Alicey]

You burn off roughly 100caloriess per mile. I'm coming on 63 and took up walking about 3yrs ago I've lost 3st my walking and a healthy diet. It has helped me maintian. I started with just a 5min walk to shop leaving my car at far end of car park etc I now do 5to 6 miles 5times a week. (Weather permitting) so go for it small bit at a time. I love it now. Good luck