Running vs Walking

moe5474
moe5474 Posts: 162
edited December 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
Is there a reason that I tend to lose weight faster with walking than with running even though I make sure and net the same calories either way? i.e. I still net 1400 whether I walk or run because I eat back my exercise calories accordingly (meaning I have to eat more back when I run than when I walk)

I've been working out for years and I've known this pattern is still persistent even though running isn't new to me (so I know my muscles aren't shocked and retaining water).

Why is this? It makes me want to give up running and just walk instead. I've also kept an eye on my body fat % and it's only been dropping since I stopped running and began walking.

Thoughts?

Replies

  • moe5474
    moe5474 Posts: 162
    Anyone? I guess I'm the only one...
  • ichorica
    ichorica Posts: 475 Member
    How long have you been running? I know when I started for about 2 weeks I was just hanging out at a certain weight. Then started dropping lbs again after that point.
  • watchtheworld
    watchtheworld Posts: 39
    Putting on muscle maybe?
  • Cocochickdeleted
    Cocochickdeleted Posts: 342 Member
    Conventional wisdom would suggest that running would cause one to lose more weight than walking if done for the same amount of time. I know that running is a better workout for me than walking, in terms of the way I feel after a run as opposed to a walk.

    I found this article, but of course, it's not necessarily true just because it's on the internet.
    http://www.livestrong.com/article/385979-do-you-lose-more-weight-walking-or-running/
  • 3shirts
    3shirts Posts: 294 Member
    The only thing I can suggest is that perhaps whatever you are using to calculate the calorie burn is more accurate for walking.

    Do you have a heart rate monitor?
  • bert16
    bert16 Posts: 726 Member
    My suspicion would be that the running has greater wear and tear on your muscles, which is causing you to retain more water as your body repairs itself (which is very typical). There's no other logical reason I can think of that would cause this difference, though I don't claim to be an expert.

    Either way, just pick whichever exercise you enjoy and get out there! Running clearly has cardiovascular advantages, but if that's not what you're after right now, just do what you like! :-)
  • moe5474
    moe5474 Posts: 162
    The only thing I can suggest is that perhaps whatever you are using to calculate the calorie burn is more accurate for walking.

    Do you have a heart rate monitor?

    I use a fitbit for this reason and I always trim the "calories burned" by 10% just in case so I won't overestimate.
  • moe5474
    moe5474 Posts: 162
    How long have you been running? I know when I started for about 2 weeks I was just hanging out at a certain weight. Then started dropping lbs again after that point.

    I've been running for about 4 years now and actually don't run anywhere near as much as I used to. I used to average 6 miles several times/week and now I shoot for 2-3 miles each workout
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