has anyone lost weight by walking?

SuperSizeMeNot

has anyone lost weight by walking? if so how much did you lose? how much did you walk a day? did you do anything else to help you lose weight?

malibu927

I walk a few days a week, but losing weight comes down to a calorie deficit.

queenliz99

I walk everyday but like @malibu927 says it is about the calorie deficit.

SuperSizeMeNot

I understand that, was just wondering peoples progress with walking

queenliz99

You cannot out walk over eating is what we are saying. Walking is for health and fitness, calorie deficit is for weight loss.

turkey75

i am confused with this stuff. what is the calorie deficit again??? thanks

Wysewoman53

I have! So far, I have lost 41 lbs and all I have done is walk and count calories. I walk enough steps a day to make sure I have a calorie deficit every day. One day I walk 20,000+ steps and the next I walk between 10,000-11,000 steps. On the weekends I take it easy at least one day, still watching calories. Before I got my activity tracker for Christmas, I didn't move much at all...just what I had to do to get thru the day. I started with struggling to get about 3500 steps a day at first but I kept at it and eventually got as high as 31,000 steps. However, that was too many steps for such a short period of time and my PT told me to slow down, give my body time to heal in between 'push' days so now I have this new routine of one day push, next day less and one day on the weekend doing just what I need to do to get thru the day. My belief is that the steps and watching calories work together since, in the past, I have just exercised or just watched calories and the results were not what I am getting now.

SuperSizeMeNot

Wysewoman53 wrote: »

I have! So far, I have lost 41 lbs and all I have done is walk and count calories. I walk enough steps a day to make sure I have a calorie deficit every day.

how long did it take you?

rosebarnalice

Calorie deficit means that you burn fewer calories than you consume.

Walking can help burn more calories (I went on a 1 hour walk today that burned about 275 calories.)

ladipoet

Yes, I have and still am. I try to walk every day. I usually aim for somewhere between 60-90 minutes of walking and I typically end up somewhere in the middle. So far I have successfully eliminated 150 pounds (half my starting body weight). I walk in conjunction with watching portion size (i.e. making sure I'm expending more calories than I take in) and eating in such a was that emphasizes eating more whole foods.

MichaelRpal

You can walk weight off -- that is you can contribute to your calorie deficit by walking (nutrition is always a big deal though). If you want it to really help "walk" implies walking briskly and/or walking up/down inclines. Casual walking is better than nothing, but you aren't going to watch the fat melt away just doing that.

Most exercise can contribute toward the calorie deficit; plus they usually help in other areas even if they don't burn fat like crazy.

Oh, and when walking wear comfortable, but well fitting shoes. And don't wear thin socks. Good Lord do not wear thin socks (blisters are not your friend and will slow your walking efforts for a good chunk of time).

Addendum: I walked 50-70 minutes every day for about 5 weeks, a few small hills here and there in the area. Helped feet stop hurting after a while just walking; helped knees stop hurting (probably helped build up a little more muscle). I haven't recently due to weather, but been working out indoors instead. Will probably add it back in there for fresh air, sun, and still get some exercise. Don't know how much I can attribute to Walking vs. diet, but assuming I'm not eating too little it contributed an extra pound a week.

kshama2001

SuperSizeMeNot wrote: »

has anyone lost weight by walking? if so how much did you lose? how much did you walk a day? did you do anything else to help you lose weight?

I walk every non-raining work day at lunchtime and often once or twice on the weekend. I started at about 20 minutes and am up to 68 minutes. This is mostly on a hiking trail, and when I need a change of pace I bring along tools and maintain it.

I've lost about 30 pounds so far.

Walking has lots of benefits besides the calorie burn - I feel better and I sleep better. I'm more productive in the afternoon and have more energy in the evening. My spirits are lifted by spending time in nature.

I do a variety of other activities and practices that help me lose weight, but spend the most time walking. That may change once gardening season heats up.

Wysewoman53

SuperSizeMeNot wrote: »

Wysewoman53 wrote: »

I have! So far, I have lost 41 lbs and all I have done is walk and count calories. I walk enough steps a day to make sure I have a calorie deficit every day.

how long did it take you?

Four months but I didn't start MFP until a couple of days after Christmas which has helped immensely. I am 2 lbs away from my first goal and then will set a new one. By the time I am done, I will have lost 68 lbs. I consume between 1000-1200 calories a day.

CooCooPuff

Aside from very light rehab exercises, I only walked and lost / maintained weight for six months.

musicfan68

I did. I started walking one spring, didn't change anything with diet, and by the end of summer, I had lost 2 jean sizes. Maintained the weightloss over winter, and lost another 3 jean sizes the 2nd summer. I never watched calories. Obviously, the extra walking used enough calories that I lost. I have maintained this weight loss for several years. I got deathly ill a little over a year ago, and now that I'm healthy and strong again, I'm trying to lose a few more sizes.

A few things about me though- I am disabled and walk with crutches. This makes me burn a lot more calories when I walk. I worked up to 1/2 mile and 3/4 mile walks every other day. If I walked more than that, my arms, wrists and hands hurt too much to walk the next day. I also can't weigh on a scale. I've tried weighing on a big platform scale, and can't balance enough to keep the weight constant or remotely accurate. I have to weigh in a hospital bed, so I go by clothing size more than anything to gauge what I'm losing.

PaulaWallaDingDong

Counting (restricting) calories first, walking second. As of my last weigh-in, down 75 lbs from January 5015, inching towards 80.

kissedbythesunshine

Yes. I started by simply walking around the neighborhood a few times a week. Now I'm jogging 6 days a week. I look forward to it each morning. Just my music and the sun. Be carful with using exercise for weight loss though. As others have stated exercise is for fitness. Calorie deficit is for weight loss. Good luck.

kshama2001

tamicoil1 wrote: »

I did. I started walking one spring, didn't change anything with diet, and by the end of summer, I had lost 2 jean sizes. Maintained the weightloss over winter, and lost another 3 jean sizes the 2nd summer. I never watched calories. Obviously, the extra walking used enough calories that I lost. I have maintained this weight loss for several years. I got deathly ill a little over a year ago, and now that I'm healthy and strong again, I'm trying to lose a few more sizes.

A few things about me though- I am disabled and walk with crutches. This makes me burn a lot more calories when I walk. I worked up to 1/2 mile and 3/4 mile walks every other day. If I walked more than that, my arms, wrists and hands hurt too much to walk the next day. I also can't weigh on a scale. I've tried weighing on a big platform scale, and can't balance enough to keep the weight constant or remotely accurate. I have to weigh in a hospital bed, so I go by clothing size more than anything to gauge what I'm losing.

I really admire your attitude - you have challenges but found workarounds. You're inspirational

musicfan68

Thanks! I also work out at a medically oriented gym every other day. The therapists down there say I'm the hardest working member they have. I feel like I have to. I can't just go for a run, and I have to stay strong so I can keep walking. That, and I'm just stubborn. :-)

MamaMc3

I have lost 30 lbs since January 5th by counting calories and walking.

Mavrick_RN

rosebarnalice wrote: »

Calorie deficit means that you burn fewer calories than you consume.

Walking can help burn more calories (I went on a 1 hour walk today that burned about 275 calories.)

You sure about that? Calorie deficit is you burn more than you consume thus your body has to find another source for the necessary calories, so it looks to your fat stores.

melonaulait

I don't lose weight from walking, but walking is the exercise I mostly do. I don't have access to a gym, or a bicycle, and I don't have any shoes suitable for running/jogging.

coalz

I had a trainer once tell me that, in order for walking to count as cardio, you have to go 4 mph. Well my legs are so short that, at that speed, I would have to jog. Sooo, 3.5 it is for me Also, you burn more calories when you pump your arms. Feels a little silly I know! I also have friends who attach ankle & wrist weights when they walk or carry xtra weight in their backpacks. It's really all about whatever works best for you so, invest in some decent walking shoes & hit the trails.

Wynterbourne

rosebarnalice wrote: »

Calorie deficit means that you burn fewer calories than you consume.

Walking can help burn more calories (I went on a 1 hour walk today that burned about 275 calories.)

You have a small typo there. The definition you gave would be for a caloric surplus, not a deficit. Burn more than you consume for a deficit not fewer.

tomteboda

coalz wrote: »

I had a trainer once tell me that, in order for walking to count as cardio, you have to go 4 mph. Well my legs are so short that, at that speed, I would have to jog. Sooo, 3.5 it is for me Also, you burn more calories when you pump your arms. Feels a little silly I know! I also have friends who attach ankle & wrist weights when they walk or carry xtra weight in their backpacks. It's really all about whatever works best for you so, invest in some decent walking shoes & hit the trails.

Your trainer may have had a personal financial interest in keeping you in the gym.

Now to address the original post:

Walking certainly helps me maintain a caloric deficit. It has also helped tone my body and is amazing for stress-relief. My legs are the spiffiest they've been since I was 19 and I'm nearly twice that age now.

susanhung22

Yes! walking on the treadmill on a 15% incline is a burner or find some hills in your area and conquer those

tomw86

I typically walk a minimum of 7 miles a day thanks to my job (in all weathers too I should add) so tend to only use the gym once or twice a week for weight work. Although it gets logged automatically thanks to auto sync I don't eat any of the walking calories back because I've allowed for them in my basic activity setting. I'm 61lbs down so far so I think it's working - but it really is all about the calorie deficit :-)

Livgetfit

Wysewoman53 wrote: »

SuperSizeMeNot wrote: »

Wysewoman53 wrote: »

I have! So far, I have lost 41 lbs and all I have done is walk and count calories. I walk enough steps a day to make sure I have a calorie deficit every day.

how long did it take you?

Four months but I didn't start MFP until a couple of days after Christmas which has helped immensely. I am 2 lbs away from my first goal and then will set a new one. By the time I am done, I will have lost 68 lbs. I consume between 1000-1200 calories a day.

Congratulatioms! Amazing progress

tlucas69

Helps to get your heart rate up while walking. Work up a sweat. Guaranteed you'll burn calories. I wear a heart rate monitor and 2.5 lb ankle weights and just walk for about 35 minutes on my lunch break. Usually burn about 300-350 calories.

LivingtheLeanDream

Thats how I started off, counting calories and walking for 30 to 40 mins a day, its a great way to get active
I still walk alot 4 years on (although I do run and lift now as well) and have been maintaining my goal for 3+ years now

luv2bowl6

I started the MFP in January I am down 20 lbs. Now that it is nicer in Ohio I try to walk a mile in the morning for one of my breaks and 2 miles at lunch. It makes me feel better and is very refreshing to get away from the building.