Walking for weight loss...

Thestepper

lgfrie wrote: »

One thing, get yourself a good pair of walking shoes; don't skimp. It can make a huge difference. Specifically, shoes made for walking, not running and not cross-trainers. Walking shoes have a lower heel than running shoes and generally more support in a firmer sole. If you get this variable right, you'll be able to walk more and further and it'll be a lot more fun.

Thanks. I just ordered a new pair of walking sneakers as I need the comfort.

mkculs13

AnnPT77 wrote: »

mkculs13 wrote: »

You cannot outrun your diet--meaning, you can't exercise enough to make up for eating well above your caloric need on a regular basis. (Actually, we gain from overeating even small amounts--eating 200 calories over your caloric need every day will result in a 10 lb weight gain over a year).

Walking has so many benefits, and supporting a healthy caloric deficit is one of them. I used to dislike walking--found it boring. I was always a runner. Well, many years later, I love walking and use it to add exercise and fresh air to my day--I still run, too. I try to do 2.5 miles every morning and evening right now. I'm coming back very slowly from a running injury, so I do my jogging as part of one walk. I also do most of my walking in dog parks with my dogs--and it's been awesome. They need the exercise (they go a lot farther than I do, and do a lot of sprinting) and I enjoy the time with them.

So, if you want to try walking, find a way to do it that makes you happy--it will take time to figure it out, but if all you do is slog through something boring, you won't want to stick with it. But remember to keep a calorie deficit if you want to lose weight, with or without the walking. Good luck.

Agree 100% with your post, minor quibble about math. 200 excess calories a day is 20 (close to 21) pounds in a year, not 10. 100 excess calories is 10 pounds.

200 excess calories X 365 days = 73,000 excess calories per year
73,000 excess calories / roughly 3500 calories in a pound of fat = 20.857 pounds.

Crazy how minor excesses can add up, if one is persistent. But so can minor improvements!

Thanks for catching that. And I think the point about minor improvements is a good one; it does not take all that much to change weight in either direction.