to run or to walk...

breannatrevs

Which is more beneficial towards weight loss, running or walking ?
Also I have never been a "runner" but am just curious if I should possibly start...

julie_a_griffin

Walking is generally considered the best exercise. It's lower impact and easier on your joints than running. If you wanted to start running though, you could always run for one minute then walk for two and build it up from there, just to see how you feel about it.

ashleymartin0627

it depends on if you have joint issues or not. if you don't, i would recommend running. start of really easy, only do 1/2 mile or less for a week, bump it up a little each week as you go. I was never a runner and my husband and i started that way and we run half and full marathons now! Make sure you have Really good shoes before you start also

mlemonroe2

Walking is generally considered the best exercise. It's lower impact and easier on your joints than running.

This is always what I've heard. Also, you tend to be able to walk for longer periods then run so you end up burning more calories. (also something I have heard) I would like to be able to run myself, though. People who run say it's a great stress reliever. I could sure use one of those!!!!

pearlof69

I would defo saying running but if you cannot sustain then walking. I joined the gym but getting up at 5.00 am killed me so the gym was short lived whereas I am walking 13 miles a day and finding that really easy to do - 3.5 miles to work and 3.5 miles back, 3 miles in my lunch break and all the incidental walking I do throughout the day as well (especially the trips up 2 flights of stairs every hour throughout the day due to all this water I am drinking). :drinker:

I am not sure if the below listed article is 100% true but it goes some way in stopping me beating myself up for not running.

Why walking is best – Written by Geoff Jowett - Bodytrim

Walking is best because it is sustainable long term. You can do it anywhere, and as hunter gatherers it is what our bodies are built for. We are not made to run 10, 20, 40km distances and this is why so many people require knee and hip replacements. Walking is non impactive so injuries are minimal. Walking can be done incidentally throughout the course of the day. Strenuous exercise inevitably makes us pigeon exercise into something that you only do at the gym.

The best time of the day for walking is first thing in the morning before breakfast due to lower blood sugar. This means that you will then tap into your fat stores sooner.

Walking first thing in the morning is also excellent for a positive mood. Walking gives you an endorphin release and you will find yourself more productive during the day. Furthermore, you will burn more fat and feet better throughout the day. Also, if you walk first thing, you never miss anything as the day has yet to become busy.

Walking also promotes the development of mitochondria, your body’s fat burning furnaces.

mfp_1

Walking is an excellent exercise. Build it into your daily life:
* If you use the car to go shopping, choose a parking spot a little further away.
* Use the stairs rather than the lift when going 1 floor up or two floors down.
* If you have shops within a 15 minute walk, then leave the car at home and walk it.


Two of the hardest things with going running or walking are to setting aside the time and getting out the door.

If you want to run, that's great too. As others have said, you can add running to a walk.

If you have a GPS phone, there are plenty of applications that'll count your calories, time, and distance. That can help.

pearlof69

Walking is an excellent exercise. Build it into your daily life:
* If you use the car to go shopping, choose a parking spot a little further away.
* Use the stairs rather than the lift when going 1 floor up or two floors down.
* If you have shops within a 15 minute walk, then leave the car at home and walk it.


Two of the hardest things with going running or walking are to setting aside the time and getting out the door.

If you want to run, that's great too. As others have said, you can add running to a walk.

If you have a GPS phone, there are plenty of applications that'll count your calories, time, and distance. That can help.


A great application I use is Walkmeter, a really nifty application - I especially enjoy it when the "voice" tells me I am walking at 4mph - 15 minute miles and when I am beating my current fastest time.

plantboy2

BOTH!

The best way to keep a high metabolic rate up whilst exercising is to do interval training - were you do low intensity (walking) for short periods and high intensity (fast running) for short periods over a longer period. You can also throw in medium intensity too. This keeps your heart rate varying, your mets up and burns fat whilst also improving fitness. Studies have shown that interval training is better for both fitness and weight loss than than sustained flat exercise.

You could start with 2 mins walking followed by 30 seconds running and repeat this for however long you can, then build up so that your intervals become shorter and more intense. It is much less boring than just plodding along on a treadmill or outdoors too!

Have fun, burn well

kimd1974

Do what you enjoy the most. I signed up for a 1/2 marathon and started running and I hate it. It makes me mean and angry knowing that I have to run 13 miles. I enjoy running 3 miles and that is it. I really love walking and now I appreciate it even more. I can't wait until my race is over so I can start to enjoy exercising again.

gtm124

Not to get off topic, but I used to be a runner. However, I have switched over to cycling because of the stress on my knees. I alternate walking and cycling both of which are easier on the joints. Times and weather can dictate which I do. For inclement weather I have no excuse not to exercise as I can put my road bike on a trainer and ride indoors. I use a Heart Rate Monitor (HRM) for both and keep my heart rate in the fat burning range and sometimes in the cardio range during my workouts.

htimpaired

I would try alternating running with walking. I am NOT a runner, in fact usually I really hate it. But I started doing the couch to 5k program for the treadmill, and it alternates increasing times of running with recovery periods of walking. I don't actually have a desire to run a 5k, but I do like the treadmill program just to mix it up because I get so bored with just walking!
Another thing I like to do is mix up the incline on the treadmill (dont' know if you are talking walking outside or inside). If you are doing treadmill, increasing the incline also increases calorie burn, and is great for toning. I love the incline treadmills they have at my gym, they go up to a 35% incline! It's killer!

Bviera

I've always been a walker myself. Been doing it since I was a little girl (I'd go walk with my mom), I'm fast, and I can do it for a long time. It feels great. Recently, I decided to take up running because I wanted something more intense. I started C25K and it's really brought me along. I went from barely being able to run a 1/4 mile to running 2 miles. I love the feeling I get from running, although I don't actually like running itself all that much. However, I feel like I'm in so much better shape and I love the intensity of it. It's also worked wonders for toning my thighs.

In the long run, I doubt I'll really be a runner, though. What I'll most likely start doing once I complete the program is interval training, like a lot of people here have already mentioned. I'll alternate between running and walking certain distances. I really enjoy that and it's great for fat burning!