Question on walking

JMann191
JMann191 Posts: 121 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
For those who are big time walkers lol, I go on walks Mon-Fri which is about 30-40 mins a night. About how long does it take to start noticing weight loss results from walking?

Replies

  • WalkingAlong
    WalkingAlong Posts: 4,926 Member
    You probably walk about 2 miles and burn maybe 70 calories (net) a mile. So 140x5=700 calories a week. So you might lose a pound due solely to walking every 5 weeks or so (3500/700=5).
  • mulecanter
    mulecanter Posts: 1,792 Member
    Depends on what you eat. It's all about your calorie deficit.

    That amount of walking will give you a couple hundred calories to put in your "budget". If you have a smart phone, download the free app Runtastic, it records your walks, calculates calories, distance, speed, etc., and then talks to MyFitnessPal automatically and logs it for you.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    You probably walk about 2 miles and burn maybe 70 calories (net) a mile. So 140x5=700 calories a week. So you might lose a pound due solely to walking every 5 weeks or so (3500/700=5).

    Depends on his weight, to be honest, how fast he goes, and how flat the terrain is.

    But yeah, it will depend on your diet, not how much you walk. Walking just lets you eat a bit more while keeping the same deficit.
  • momof2boyz832
    momof2boyz832 Posts: 682 Member
    Keep in mind your pace as well. If you are shuffling your feet along or walking a dog (which stops to sniff everything in sight) it is not going to be an efficient way to lose some weight. It is frequently told to patients with cardiovascular disease, starting at 0% incline and 3 miles in 45 min for any health benefit. I would say this is a baseline for where to start.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    Your calorie intake and overall diet are going to have far more impact on your weight loss than walking. Walking is good...good for the heart...good for the mind and spirit...but weight loss is largely about what goes into your mouth. You can't outwork a bad diet.
  • proudjmmom
    proudjmmom Posts: 145 Member
    I have lost a lot of weight with walking as my main source of exercise while eating in deficit. It definitely depends on the terrain, your speed, distance, your weight/height, your fitness level....so many factors to take into consideration.

    For example, (i've tested this with my Polar FT4 HRM) I'm 5'3" was 130 lbs when I done this

    60 minute walk, no snow, dirt roads, walking dog, moderate-brisk pace = ~250-350 calories

    60 minute walk, snow covered roads, walking dog, moderate-brisk pace, same route taken as above = ~400-500 calories
  • JMann191
    JMann191 Posts: 121 Member
    ok thanks everyone. I use to use the App called "Lose It" but stopped keeping up with it...
    Guess I should start again..
  • TheVimFuego
    TheVimFuego Posts: 2,412 Member
    I'm pretty much the same, probably an hour a night after work at a decent pace.

    Apart from taking stairs and habitually doing things 'the long way' it's my only regular form of exercise. The occasional bit of body weight resistance work too, mostly to impress the dog.

    I do it more to keep sane and unwind than to burn calories although it helps offset the wine. ;)

    I agree with the others that the nutritional choices are going to have a greater effect for torching fat.
  • WalkingAlong
    WalkingAlong Posts: 4,926 Member
    You probably walk about 2 miles and burn maybe 70 calories (net) a mile. So 140x5=700 calories a week. So you might lose a pound due solely to walking every 5 weeks or so (3500/700=5).

    Depends on his weight, to be honest, how fast he goes, and how flat the terrain is.

    But yeah, it will depend on your diet, not how much you walk. Walking just lets you eat a bit more while keeping the same deficit.

    Yes, I was speaking very generally.

    I think it's a great habit and we should mostly ignore the small calorie burns. Walking aids digestion, improves sleep, helps with mental health, is good for our dogs and kids, doesn't often leave you injured or burned out, and when you're walking you're not eating! An extra pound a month for a small, easy investment isn't bad!
  • JustMeee333
    JustMeee333 Posts: 233
    If you're not keeping track of your food too, walking isn't really going to make any difference at all. You could still be overeating.
    Otherwise, I'd say the first week alone you should see progress, without a doubt - the first month!.. All depends on how/when you lose. For some it takes a while to "get going".
  • JustMeee333
    JustMeee333 Posts: 233
    Yes, I was speaking very generally.

    I think it's a great habit and we should mostly ignore the small calorie burns. Walking aids digestion, improves sleep, helps with mental health, is good for our dogs and kids, doesn't often leave you injured or burned out, and when you're walking you're not eating! An extra pound a month for a small, easy investment isn't bad!
    Definitely, well said! Plus, it's free, you don't have to buy any special clothes or equipment to do it! Unless you out walk your shoes (5 pairs!!!! :grumble: )

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