Walking VS Running

lauramyster
lauramyster Posts: 4
edited October 1 in Fitness and Exercise
Does it really matter whether you're walking to lose weight or running, just as long as you're burning more calories than you take in?

Replies

  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,024 Member
    Running will increase you cardiovascular fitness, but in terms of weight loss, walking for exercise is fine if it's challenging for you. You should try to challenge your body to help encourage raising your metabolic rate.
  • Mom2rh
    Mom2rh Posts: 612 Member
    You will finish sooner if you run. That's often what keeps me going. ;)
  • skinnylove00
    skinnylove00 Posts: 662 Member
    power walking is also really good and it can actually burn as many calories as a light jog....i like mixing it up and doing a bit of both!
  • Phanessa917
    Phanessa917 Posts: 100 Member
    I use to HATE jogging but i actually enjoy it now because of the calorie burn but I agree with Skinnylove, power walking does the job sometimes too :)
  • iAMaPhoenix
    iAMaPhoenix Posts: 1,038 Member
    Walk, run, jog, skip, crawl...It is all about moving your body. Anything is better than nothing in my book.
  • slp2112
    slp2112 Posts: 107
    I've talked to a fitness RD about this a bit and actually learned something new: low-impact, long workouts, like going for a long walk is actually the kind of workout where you're dipping into your fat stores to fuel the workout. During high intensity workouts, however, you're generally using glycogen that's stored in the liver. So yes, you're burning calories in both scenarios (and walking for 30 min will certainly not burn as many calories as running for 30 min) but the fuel sources are actually different.

    Both will help strengthen leg muscles, though the running more so. I have also found that running, unlike walking, takes more of a toll on my core muscles and it's not unusual for me to have sore abs after a really long run.

    Both have their benefits and if you're not into running, why torture yourself? What's nice about both is you don't even need a gym, just a pair of sneakers :)
  • MikeyKeith
    MikeyKeith Posts: 9
    I hated running until I did the Couch 2 5K program. It is amazing!
    I've lost 68 Ibs and run 15-20 miles a week.
  • auntiebabs
    auntiebabs Posts: 1,754 Member
    Read an article recently about a study that compared...

    1) walking slowly
    2) walking fast
    3) running slowly
    4) running fast

    And the results were that #2 & #3 gave you the most effective calorie burns.
    Basically, because you body was built to be more efficient (using less calories) at #1 & #4
  • cjjones007
    cjjones007 Posts: 602
    I too agree with skinnylove
    The trick on walking, power walking, jogging, or flat out running IS both calorie burn and increased cardiovascular health - if you are getting your heart into the aerobic rate of beats - and sustaining that (hopefully doing some intervals in there too) you'll see increased cardio health regardless of what you are doing :)
  • BlueAventer
    BlueAventer Posts: 129
    You will finish sooner if you run. That's often what keeps me going. ;)

    Me too :smile:
  • marywilsoncline
    marywilsoncline Posts: 301 Member
    I can't seem to sweat walking, thats why I run. I associate sweating with a better calorie burn!
  • kaytedawg05
    kaytedawg05 Posts: 209
    i read an article in runner's world a number of years ago that stuck with me. It said that you burn roughly the same amount of calories mile per mile... but when u run there is an increased cardio benefit & strengthening of the legs as well. some argue that there's got to be more cal per mile burned with running... but 6-10 min run or 15-25 min walk... check the math against mfp and see what kind of numbers they put out based on how fast u run & walk in 1 mile.
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