Is dog walking going to help lose weight?

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Replies

  • chaosbutterfly
    chaosbutterfly Posts: 71 Member
    I agree, walking is awesome exercise. On days when I can't get to the gym, I try to get out and just walk a few miles, and while it's not as good as a vigorous workout, it does make a difference. Definitely try to seek out different terrain. Hills, valleys, stairs...they are all going to really help bring up your heart rate and work your muscles in different ways.

    You can also go to the gym (without your dog lol), hop on the treadmill, and walk at different inclines and speeds. Depending on the settings, you will be pouring sweat within minutes and it's a good way to build aerobic endurance, so you can start doing other, more vigorous forms of activity.

    Last, I always find that when I am active, it is easier to make healthy choices in terms of food. I'm much less tempted to eat unhealthily knowing that I just put in so much work at the gym or track or wherever and if I eat that donut or slice of pizza, it would have all been for nothing.
    So even though walking itself might not lead to great weight loss alone, just increasing your activity could launch a snowball that will eventually lead to a healthier lifestyle overall.
  • TonyB0588
    TonyB0588 Posts: 9,520 Member
    linlinjay wrote: »
    Hello everyone!
    So i'm a student so I either study or lay in bed all day, especially after not having high school sports anymore. I just got a dog, haven't been walking her as much but I want to start with that to get back in shape. Is it something that will make we lose weight and gain *some* muscle? Because I tried to do body weight exercises because I hear that gaining muscle helps to burn alot of fat. But i'm so out of shape that I give up in 2 minutes. For now my goal is walking her 30 minutes a day and then when it becomes a habit maybe an hour a day.

    Walking will help - with or without the dog. The main principle here on My Fitness Pal is Calories In, Calories Out, and Calorie Deficit. The walking will increase your Calories Out, portion control and wise food choices will reduce your Calories In, then its easier to have a Calorie Deficit which will lead to weight loss and better health.
  • JeepHair77
    JeepHair77 Posts: 1,291 Member
    linlinjay wrote: »
    JeepHair77 wrote: »
    Also, I think I could give much better advice if I had a picture of said dog.
    She's a husky! So very energetic!!

    Oh, lordy. I have a husky mix who is 99% husky, I think. For the first two years if his membership in the family, it was my daily goal to just wear him out.

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