Speed / time or distance confused

rabbyduby
rabbyduby Posts: 123 Member
edited November 19 in Fitness and Exercise
Hi, is it better to exercise for speed, time or distance? If i walk on the treadmill for 60 minutes a day, should i aim to do more miles in that 60 minutes or should i be more concerned with walking at a slower pace which would give me less miles but higher incline to burn more calories. Please help

Replies

  • V4kerker
    V4kerker Posts: 33 Member
    Speed x Time= Distance
  • firef1y72
    firef1y72 Posts: 1,579 Member
    Which do you prefer? Personally I'd mix it up, some days I do hill intervals, sometimes go for speed and others go for longer distance but slower, it all helps with building endurance/speed
  • deannalfisher
    deannalfisher Posts: 5,600 Member
    depends what your fitness goals are?
  • rabbyduby
    rabbyduby Posts: 123 Member
    depends what your fitness goals are?

    weightloss is my goal
  • rabbyduby
    rabbyduby Posts: 123 Member
    firef1y72 wrote: »
    Which do you prefer? Personally I'd mix it up, some days I do hill intervals, sometimes go for speed and others go for longer distance but slower, it all helps with building endurance/speed

    That sounds like a great idea. will try that
  • HighlandPony17
    HighlandPony17 Posts: 55 Member
    I am walking increasing my distance at the minute and I am walking for weight loss.... :wink: its working slowly but surely
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
    So calorie burn then.

    As intense as you can make it that still allows you to do it the next day for the time available.

    If you can't jog and only walk, then incline to cause that, but keep the pace up.
  • stealthq
    stealthq Posts: 4,298 Member
    Walking is complicated because calorie burn actually can change significantly with speed, unlike running. Once you get faster than 4mph, you get closer to running calorie burns, which are approx 2x calories burned at a slower walk.

    Assuming you're walking <= 4mph at both slower and faster speeds, you burn equal calories for equal distance and incline. In that case, if the slower speed allows you to walk an equal or greater distance at an equal or greater incline, then the slower speed will burn more calories.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    rabbyduby wrote: »
    depends what your fitness goals are?

    weightloss is my goal

    Calorie deficit then
  • rabbyduby
    rabbyduby Posts: 123 Member
    rabbyduby wrote: »
    depends what your fitness goals are?

    weightloss is my goal

    Calorie deficit then

    I'm already eating at deficit. Thank you
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    rabbyduby wrote: »
    rabbyduby wrote: »
    depends what your fitness goals are?

    weightloss is my goal

    Calorie deficit then

    I'm already eating at deficit. Thank you

    Then do whatever exercise you enjoy if you have no fitness goals.
  • susanp57
    susanp57 Posts: 409 Member
    rabbyduby wrote: »
    rabbyduby wrote: »
    depends what your fitness goals are?

    weightloss is my goal

    Calorie deficit then

    I'm already eating at deficit. Thank you

    I think what was meant that you are trying to burn calories to be in a deficit. That you otherwise have no fitness goals. The response you blew off has little to do with how you are eating.
  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
    rabbyduby wrote: »
    rabbyduby wrote: »
    depends what your fitness goals are?

    weightloss is my goal

    Calorie deficit then

    I'm already eating at deficit. Thank you

    I think the key here is that exercise for calorie expenditure is unlikely to be sustainable unless you actually enjoy it. To me, the prospect of an hour on a treadmill sounds absolute purgatory.

    The benefits of exercise are improving your aerobic capacity, and developing your endurance. If you're only interested in weight loss, and not on developing your fitness, then why put yourself through it?
  • Azdak
    Azdak Posts: 8,281 Member
    Distance is a hypothetical construct. The body knows duration and intensity, it does not care about distance.

    This goes triple for working out on a treadmill. Workload intensity (and calorie burn) is determined by workload, not by miles. Whether you achieve a workload by running at a certain speed, or by a combination of walking speed and incline, the calorie burn will be the same. In this case, the actual "miles" travelled is completely irrelevant.
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