Diet and walking, does it really make a difference?

lightenup2016

GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »

SusanMFindlay wrote: »

lightenup2016 wrote: »

I agree that if you increase your activity by walking more while keeping calorie intake the same, you absolutely can lose weight. I love to walk, and do a lot of walking over the course of a week. However, if you want to crunch the numbers, it doesn't actually burn the same per mile as running, and for me, neither burns 100 calories per mile. At least, according to the article below. At the bottom they give you formulas for NET calories burned walking or running a mile. For me, at 135 lbs, it's about 85 calories burned per mile of running, and 40 calories per mile walking. So when I go for walks or runs, these are the numbers I now use.

https://www.google.com/amp/www.runnersworld.com/weight-loss/how-many-calories-are-you-really-burning?amp

Something is wrong with those numbers. The 85 calories/mile is a very reasonable estimate for a small person (and quite consistent with "about" 100 cals as a rough estimate; I think I even suggested she might be down around 80ish because she's so small). Running does not burn double the calories per mile compared to walking. It burns slightly more - but the difference would be more like 80 vs 100. I think they have their "per hour" and their "per mile" concepts mixed up.

My weight loss - where almost all my physical activity has been walking-based - backs up my walking estimate.

I agree with you and my weight loss/TDEE from walking agrees with this. The runner's world numbers for walking have always been low, imo.

Bear in mind that I run as well. I have a Fitbit and get a burn that's on order of what you're saying for each activity, and that's pretty consistent with the scale performance for me.

The Runner's World numbers aren't.

That's an interesting thought--I guess it's in Runner's World's best interests to encourage running, not walking!

ThatUserNameIsAllReadyTaken

People say we can rely on "diet alone" and I guess that is totally true if you like eating meager and mind blowingly low levels of food. That is how it is for a lot of people. This is why exercise helps a lot. If you are sedentary you will need to eat substantially less than if you are active. If you insert some kind of daily activity you will burn more and lose more in a shorter period of time than if you only cut calories.

Tacklewasher

suzc11 wrote: »

I know this does nothing to address your question (the OPs above have done that) but KEEP WALKING WITH YOUR MOM. The benefit you'll get from being together, in the long, long run is priceless. Lost my mom 2 years ago, would love to walk with her now.

I want to second this. Lost mine a couple years ago as well and would love to be able to even sit and talk with her now, let alone walk.

jennifer_417

Any activity that burn calories can help contribute to keeping a calorie deficit, and will cause weight loss.

vnb_208

SURE DOES! -61lbs cal counting & mostly walking