Walking and weight loss
Replies
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janejellyroll wrote: »I might feel differently if I hated walking, but the fact that I enjoy it it probably coloring my opinion here. My daily lunch walk "pays" for my evening glass of wine and that seems like a pretty good arrangement for me.
I'm with you. I truly love my daily walk and look forward to it every day. It's how I basically resolve the things in my crazy, stressful life. I think it's a fantastic habit, and wouldn't give it up for any reason. I would go mad otherwise, probably
I lost the bulk of my weight on diet alone, after researching that exercise is basically a really poor way to lose weight. My walking habit came later, after accidentally discovering that it was a great way to think over my day. It also did wonders for my resting heart rate - going from the mid-to-high 60's to low 50's.
I think everyone agrees that it exercise helps in minuscule ways for weight loss. I just don't feel that's where its prime benefits lie. People ALWAYS seem to overestimate the good exercise is doing towards their waistlines - but are quick to ignore how much damage their diets are doing. Worse, many people feel that they can simply make up the difference by walking an extra couple of miles when all it's really buying them is half of that can of Pepsi. It's probably not worth it, it was probably never worth it.
All that said, I'm still going to walk for my own sanity's sake Everything else is secondary. 4 -
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Thanks for all the replies. I was taken back when my mum said it to me.
I mean, my Mum has 2 stone to lose to get a healthy bmi , has high blood pressure and high cholesterol. ... I've been encouraging her to take up walking.... not anything too strenuous to start with ....maybe 2 miles a day and work it up. She's only in her mid 60s so I'd love her her get her cholesterol and bp under control.
She's made some great dietry changes lately, which will help hugely, but I feel walking would be an added benefit ....and for the leader to say this.....it just baffles me !!
I'll keep encouraging her and I'll keep doing what I'm doing too... I am at the stage where I need to add something else in....like strength training and / or circuit classes.... but walking has helped me get to this stage....by aiding weight loss and building stamina.... and ill always continue it .4 -
janejellyroll wrote: »I might feel differently if I hated walking, but the fact that I enjoy it it probably coloring my opinion here. My daily lunch walk "pays" for my evening glass of wine and that seems like a pretty good arrangement for me.
I'm with you. I truly love my daily walk and look forward to it every day. It's how I basically resolve the things in my crazy, stressful life. I think it's a fantastic habit, and wouldn't give it up for any reason. I would go mad otherwise, probably
I lost the bulk of my weight on diet alone, after researching that exercise is basically a really poor way to lose weight. My walking habit came later, after accidentally discovering that it was a great way to think over my day. It also did wonders for my resting heart rate - going from the mid-to-high 60's to low 50's.
I think everyone agrees that it exercise helps in minuscule ways for weight loss. I just don't feel that's where its prime benefits lie. People ALWAYS seem to overestimate the good exercise is doing towards their waistlines - but are quick to ignore how much damage their diets are doing. Worse, many people feel that they can simply make up the difference by walking an extra couple of miles when all it's really buying them is half of that can of Pepsi. It's probably not worth it, it was probably never worth it.
All that said, I'm still going to walk for my own sanity's sake Everything else is secondary.
Yes, if someone was only going to do *one thing* for weight loss, I would always recommend focusing on diet first. It's just too hard for your average person looking to lose weight to do enough exercise to create a meaningful deficit if they aren't also focusing on limiting the amount of calories they're eating.1 -
janejellyroll wrote: »
LOL I don't even drink but I've got the eating while walking thing down to a science.2 -
Also to be fair, not everyone uses that 100 cals for wine. It's easy for people who can eat 1800 cals and lose weight at a nice clip to say 100 cals is no big deal. But some of us get poverty-level calories due to our height and gender, and that hundred some odd calories from a brisk walk can be the deciding factor for being able to eat reasonably well and still have a deficit. As someone who originally had a 1350 cal goal to lose half a lb per week, increasing my NEAT by adding a good amount of walking to get my goal up over 1500cals was on many days the difference between success and failure for me.
That's not to say I didn't occasionally use those cals for wine though
OP didn't say all you need to do to lose weight is walk. She said her mom was told walking isn't helpful for weight loss. And that is simply not true. It can help, assuming you have your calories in line.17 -
My mum attends a local slimming class. This week the leader said that walking does not help u lose weight, no.matter how far or how fast you Walk!
I, personally can't agree with this. My main exercise is walking. I walk 5-7km most days at a fast pace.
According to map my walk...I burn anything between 270-400 kcal on those walks.
How can that not help with weight loss? If I don't walk ...for various reasons...I don't see as much weightt loss that week.
CICO seems lost on this lady!
Maybe I'm wrong....what do.ye think ???
I haven't seen anyone advance what seems like the simplest explanation.
The slimming class leader in all likelihood derives income from leading the slimming class. If the students grasp that walking and calorie counting while eating normal food - both of which are free and simple - can lead to successful weight loss, why would anyone need a slimming class?
Maybe I'm just a cynic. 11 -
cwolfman13 wrote: »My mum attends a local slimming class. This week the leader said that walking does not help u lose weight, no.matter how far or how fast you Walk!
I, personally can't agree with this. My main exercise is walking. I walk 5-7km most days at a fast pace.
According to map my walk...I burn anything between 270-400 kcal on those walks.
How can that not help with weight loss? If I don't walk ...for various reasons...I don't see as much weightt loss that week.
CICO seems lost on this lady!
Maybe I'm wrong....what do.ye think ???
Walking and exercise in general may or may not help with weight loss...it still comes down to being in a calorie deficit. A lot of people pick up exercise and still don't lose weight because they compensate with more food whether conscious of that or not. I see it all of the time at my gym...people have the exercise part down, but not the food part.
^Truth. I've been going to the same gym for over 2 1/2 years. I see plenty of "regulars" in there who lift/do cardio several times a week and they never look any different. Exercise can help create the calorie deficit, but the old saying that "you can't out-train a bad diet" is true.3 -
Timely research review about walking, even though it is more directed toward cardiovascular health than weight loss: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3098122/1
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My mum attends a local slimming class. This week the leader said that walking does not help u lose weight, no.matter how far or how fast you Walk!
I, personally can't agree with this. My main exercise is walking. I walk 5-7km most days at a fast pace.
According to map my walk...I burn anything between 270-400 kcal on those walks.
How can that not help with weight loss? If I don't walk ...for various reasons...I don't see as much weightt loss that week.
CICO seems lost on this lady!
Maybe I'm wrong....what do.ye think ???
Walking will help you lose weight as part of an overall plan. There needs to be a Calorie Deficit at the end of the day, so if you burn more calories by walking, and then carelessly over eat, then it is futile. It's amazing that the leader of a program could put out such misinformation. I'd say your mother should definitely keep on walking. No doubt there's a fee charged for the slimming class, while walking is free. I think you can see what's happening there.2 -
The formula is weight x .33 x miles =calories burned.0
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My mum attends a local slimming class. This week the leader said that walking does not help u lose weight, no.matter how far or how fast you Walk!
I, personally can't agree with this. My main exercise is walking. I walk 5-7km most days at a fast pace.
According to map my walk...I burn anything between 270-400 kcal on those walks.
How can that not help with weight loss? If I don't walk ...for various reasons...I don't see as much weightt loss that week.
CICO seems lost on this lady!
Maybe I'm wrong....what do.ye think ???
I disagree with slimming classes.
As someone else pointed out they have a program to sell. They don't want people just watching their calorie intake on their own and walking for free.
Anything you do that causes you to burn more calories will help you lose weight as long as you have a calorie deficit. If you walk or swim or do exercise classes but increase your intake it won't necessarily help you lose weight.
I think I benefit from walking more beyond weight management. It is easy and free.
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The formula is weight x .33 x miles =calories burned.
I know that's the Runner's World formula, but frankly, based on my experience with my fitbit (which I've gauged against real world results), it's an underestimation.
Also, IIRC, I vaguely recall seeing a new, revised figure from them which in the .4 range.0 -
GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »The formula is weight x .33 x miles =calories burned.
I know that's the Runner's World formula, but frankly, based on my experience with my fitbit (which I've gauged against real world results), it's an underestimation.
Also, IIRC, I vaguely recall seeing a new, revised figure from them which in the .4 range.
.57 That may be gross vs net though.
https://www.runnersworld.com/peak-performance/running-v-walking-how-many-calories-will-you-burn
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Every movement burns calories. Personally I burn more calories walking 5 km than I do doing a 40 minute workout DVD.4
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I realize that I am an unusual case, but a few years ago I started walking and lost over 50 lbs over the course of 2 years just by walking. I did't change what or how much I ate. Just walked every other day. But, I do walk on crutches so I lift my entire body weight with every step I take, which I would assume burns a lot more calories than normal. I didn't even give a thought to what I ate. I was probably already eating at maintenance, and probably burning a ton of calories. I lost 2 jean sizes over about 3 months and another 3 sizes over another 3 or 4 months. Everyone is different.
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musicfan68 wrote: »I realize that I am an unusual case, but a few years ago I started walking and lost over 50 lbs over the course of 2 years just by walking. I did't change what or how much I ate. Just walked every other day. But, I do walk on crutches so I lift my entire body weight with every step I take, which I would assume burns a lot more calories than normal. I didn't even give a thought to what I ate. I was probably already eating at maintenance, and probably burning a ton of calories. I lost 2 jean sizes over about 3 months and another 3 sizes over another 3 or 4 months. Everyone is different.
There's nothing unusual about that, nor does it show that "everyone is different".
You were eating at maintenance before, and the extra activity created enough of a calorie deficit (around -250 calories) for you to lose about 0.5 pounds per week over two years. Which is how weight loss happens for everybody - by consuming less calories than you expend. Whether you change the CICO equation on the CI side or the CO side, it's still creating a deficit.7 -
musicfan68 wrote: »I realize that I am an unusual case, but a few years ago I started walking and lost over 50 lbs over the course of 2 years just by walking. I did't change what or how much I ate. Just walked every other day. But, I do walk on crutches so I lift my entire body weight with every step I take, which I would assume burns a lot more calories than normal. I didn't even give a thought to what I ate. I was probably already eating at maintenance, and probably burning a ton of calories. I lost 2 jean sizes over about 3 months and another 3 sizes over another 3 or 4 months. Everyone is different.
There's nothing unusual about that, nor does it show that "everyone is different".
You were eating at maintenance before, and the extra activity created enough of a calorie deficit (around -250 calories) for you to lose about 0.5 pounds per week over two years. Which is how weight loss happens for everybody - by consuming less calories than you expend. Whether you change the CICO equation on the CI side or the CO side, it's still creating a deficit.
No, it wasn't. Those sizes lost/time lost were over 2 summers. I didn't walk during the winter. Maintained the weightloss over winter then lost an additional 3 sizes the next summer. So it was more like 750 deficit or so. So I lost the weight in 3 month "chunks" with about 9 months off in between. I was walking 1/4 mile - 1/2 mile every other day.0 -
Walking does work! I have been walking since November 1, 2017 and have lost 117.2 pounds. I only have 53 to go.2
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Walking does work! I have been walking since November 1, 2017 and have lost 117.2 pounds. I only have 53 to go.1
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Walking works for me. I lost 195 pounds in 2 years by walking and CICO. I'm still walking and climbing stairs. Been in maintenance since September.1
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I have lost over 40 pounds since January by mostly walking. It does work. I eat back about 200 to 250 of my calories from doing so.1
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I get 30K steps a day, and most of that is purposeful exercise. There isn't anyone who's going to tell me that doesn't count. It adds a significant amount of calories to my TDEE.
I'm old, short, and already at a good weight for my height. I'd just like to lose a few vanity pounds. I'd be on poverty calories if it weren't for walking. Thanks to walking, I can eat 1800 calories a day and lose weight.
I used to run, but my arthritis got the better of me for a while. I might pick it up again, but I'll always supplement it with walking. Walking is also my stress relief. I've replaced anxiety eating with anxiety walking!9 -
My mum attends a local slimming class. This week the leader said that walking does not help u lose weight, no.matter how far or how fast you Walk!
I, personally can't agree with this. My main exercise is walking. I walk 5-7km most days at a fast pace.
According to map my walk...I burn anything between 270-400 kcal on those walks.
How can that not help with weight loss? If I don't walk ...for various reasons...I don't see as much weightt loss that week.
CICO seems lost on this lady!
Maybe I'm wrong....what do.ye think ???
I think the "leader" is an idiot who likes to be loud and the center of attention more than they like being right.2 -
Sparkeysworld wrote: »JaydedMiss wrote: »Sparkeysworld wrote: »JaydedMiss wrote: »Sparkeysworld wrote: »My mum attends a local slimming class. This week the leader said that walking does not help u lose weight, no.matter how far or how fast you Walk!
I, personally can't agree with this. My main exercise is walking. I walk 5-7km most days at a fast pace.
According to map my walk...I burn anything between 270-400 kcal on those walks.
How can that not help with weight loss? If I don't walk ...for various reasons...I don't see as much weightt loss that week.
CICO seems lost on this lady!
Maybe I'm wrong....what do.ye think ???
Ridiculas!
How can walking not aid weight loss?
Walking around the house maybe, but the distances you are doing, certainly.
The only way this wouldn't work as well is if you were adding the 'walking' calories back into MFP.
My cardio consists solely of walking on the treadmill, on maximum incline for 30m at a suggested calorie rate of 400-500.
This linked with a calorie deficit from diet and the weight just falls off.
Ill bite. I wont pretend to be all high and mighty and pretend i didnt do the exact same thing. I walked very long distances -10-20 miles a day most days and still do- And admittedly i did not eat back majority of my calories. I was on 1200-1500 my entire 110lb loss. Granted i felt fine and i still do im in the minority on that. And i paid for it by becoming skinny fat with minimal muscle and have been working way harder thn i would have had to since.
To the point, Yes walking 100% helps you lose weight it increases your deficit and gets you moving. Of course its even obvious to the OP it works. BUT it is still your body moving it is exercise and not eating back atleast a portion of your exercise calories when using long distance walking as exercise will come back and bite you in the *kitten*, Whether it be a binge, Or muscle loss, malnourishment signs like hair loss, Hormonal issues like acne, Or for females even period loss.
Yes in the moment weight "falling off" is exciting and awesome, But weight should not "fall off" and we all know that lol. No matter how exciting it seems at the time speedy weight loss comes with its side effects.
Summed up- Walk away but dont for a second think its not exercise, And dont be afraid to fuel your exercise. MFP numbers dont include exercise at all
Hi,
This is me last year, and the year before, trust me, I know exactly what I'm what I'm doing with both my diet and activity levels (I hope that didn't sound condescending, because I didn't mean it to be that way).
so your pictures make it okay to you to tell people not to bother eating back exercise calories to make weight "fall off" ?
Why would you eat back the calories?
It makes the effort put into the walk pointless.
It's like setting the calorie deficit to -500 and eating 500 over.
And you were 'skinny fat' because you were under eating in the first place.
TDEE is calculated not just on stats but activity levels also, walking 10-20 miles a day on 1000-1200 calories you should have probably been on somewhere ball park 2700+.
Anyway I'm not here to argue, you have every right to your opinion as am I.
Regards
Why would you eat back the calories? You would eat exercise calories back because that is how this site is designed. Large deficits help you lose weight faster, but aggressive dieting is often at the expense of existing lean muscle mass. Do you want weight loss OR do you want to target fat loss?
A 500 calorie deficit is provided BEFORE exercise (if you are using MFP numbers)......so exercise for 500 calories and eating 500 calories less is a 1,000 calorie deficit.
Skinny-fat comes from aggressive dieting......digging the hole deeper still through exercise. Exercise is great, but your body needs fuel (as in food) or your body will catabolize lean muscle mass.
TDEE is a calculator that includes exercise. MFP uses NEAT (non-exercise activity thermogensis).
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GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »I get 30K steps a day, and most of that is purposeful exercise. There isn't anyone who's going to tell me that doesn't count. It adds a significant amount of calories to my TDEE.
I'm old, short, and already at a good weight for my height. I'd just like to lose a few vanity pounds. I'd be on poverty calories if it weren't for walking. Thanks to walking, I can eat 1800 calories a day and lose weight.
I used to run, but my arthritis got the better of me for a while. I might pick it up again, but I'll always supplement it with walking. Walking is also my stress relief. I've replaced anxiety eating with anxiety walking!
Man. I'm happy if I get 10-12. I'd love to get 30. Is most of it walking? How much of it comes from your job and cardio?0 -
I aim to walk 90 minutes to 2 hours daily. It gives me more calories to play with so I'm less hungry. I've dropped 103 lbs and 85% of my cardio just comes from those walks.5
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GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »I get 30K steps a day, and most of that is purposeful exercise. There isn't anyone who's going to tell me that doesn't count. It adds a significant amount of calories to my TDEE.
I'm old, short, and already at a good weight for my height. I'd just like to lose a few vanity pounds. I'd be on poverty calories if it weren't for walking. Thanks to walking, I can eat 1800 calories a day and lose weight.
I used to run, but my arthritis got the better of me for a while. I might pick it up again, but I'll always supplement it with walking. Walking is also my stress relief. I've replaced anxiety eating with anxiety walking!
Man. I'm happy if I get 10-12. I'd love to get 30. Is most of it walking? How much of it comes from your job and cardio?
I don't have a job. I'm still homeschooling one of my kids, so that's my job. I don't do any cardio except for the brisk walking (I have a home treadmill).
I also lift weights every other day, so that amounts to 3-4 days a week.
While I don't mind walking on the treadmill, I really do hate running on it. I will probably pick running back up once the weather finally shifts again here on the east coast, so that will be a little cardio. But to be honest, there's not much difference in my walking and running pace. I'm a really, really slow runner and a pretty fast walker.0 -
Sparkeysworld wrote: »My mum attends a local slimming class. This week the leader said that walking does not help u lose weight, no.matter how far or how fast you Walk!
I, personally can't agree with this. My main exercise is walking. I walk 5-7km most days at a fast pace.
According to map my walk...I burn anything between 270-400 kcal on those walks.
How can that not help with weight loss? If I don't walk ...for various reasons...I don't see as much weightt loss that week.
CICO seems lost on this lady!
Maybe I'm wrong....what do.ye think ???
Ridiculas!
How can walking not aid weight loss?
Walking around the house maybe, but the distances you are doing, certainly.
The only way this wouldn't work as well is if you were adding the 'walking' calories back into MFP.
My cardio consists solely of walking on the treadmill, on maximum incline for 30m at a suggested calorie rate of 400-500.
This linked with a calorie deficit from diet and the weight just falls off.
Hmm, I am bigger so can't walk as fast but I burn that amount in an hour of walking according to my garmin. I just started walking on the treadmill and enjoy it.1
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