Whoa.. what? WALKING burns more fat than running?

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Replies

  • mrschappet
    mrschappet Posts: 488 Member
    It's all about the fat burning zone. Walking keeps you there longer but lower calories but more of those calories are fat. Running your heart rate is higher and you burn more calories but a % of those calories are fat is lower. That is why HIIT spurts is far superior than running or walking.

    THIS ^^^
  • odusgolp
    odusgolp Posts: 10,477 Member
    Is the Fat Burning Zone like the Danger Zone?

    Cause if it is, I think we should all have a sing along.
  • UsedToBeHusky
    UsedToBeHusky Posts: 15,228 Member
    Walking is exercise. Especially if you are intentionally walking for exercise. Eventually, though, it's not enough and you have to progress and create more challenge. I jog now. I also wear wrist weights from time to time. Eventually, I think I will work my way up to an all-out sprint.
  • GasMasterFlash
    GasMasterFlash Posts: 2,206 Member
    Imagine how much I burn when I'm just moving my bowels!
  • secretlobster
    secretlobster Posts: 3,566 Member
    I burn a lot of calories thinking about how boring running is
  • cPT_Helice
    cPT_Helice Posts: 403
    Same number of calories per mile whether you walk or run. But here's the thing. You can probably walk 2 miles in 30 minutes and run 3 or even more. So for 30 minutes of effort, you will burn more by running.

    This is a misconception. Do some research and you will see it's not true.
  • Chipmaniac
    Chipmaniac Posts: 642 Member
    Walking 5 miles in the "fat burning zone" : Burns calories X, takes a long time, little cardio-vascular benefit (healthier heart and lungs)
    Running/Walking with incline 5 miles in the "cardio zone" : Burns calories X, takes a shorter time, big cardio-vascular benefit

    In both cases you will burn roughly the same amount of calories but in the second case you will save time and be training your heart and lungs to be stronger. It's a no-brainer for me.

    Forget about "burning fat" and just concentrate on creating a calorie deficit. That's the way to lose weight and fat.
  • sheryllamb72
    sheryllamb72 Posts: 163 Member
    I can't run anymore, after having an operation a few years ago, but I walk a lot now. I try and walk for at least an hour every day, sometimes I walk for 2+ hours and do over 7 miles.

    Fat burning wise, running burns more fat quicker than walking, but it depends how long you can sustain your running for? Can you run for 2/3 hours straight, like you can when walking???

    Running has more impact on your joints, knees, ankles etc, whereas walking doesn't!

    So I think it's a personal choice as to the time restraints you have, the energy you have, the injurys associated with certain exercises.

    From being an ex-runner to now being a walker (normally over 4.4mph....I'm only 5.3 and have little legs...lol), I prefer walking........because I ca do it for longer and I haven't had any injury's to my knees or ankles, and I enjoy looking at the scenery around me while walking, without it being all bounced about when running!! Lol
  • cPT_Helice
    cPT_Helice Posts: 403
    Imagine how much I burn when I'm just moving my bowels!

    But you burn more if you do it while running than while walking.
  • UsedToBeHusky
    UsedToBeHusky Posts: 15,228 Member
    Is the Fat Burning Zone like the Danger Zone?

    Cause if it is, I think we should all have a sing along.

    You mentioned Danger Zone and for some reason that song 'The Twilight Zone' popped in my head instead. Not the theme song from the show, but the rock song.
  • d2footballJRC
    d2footballJRC Posts: 2,684 Member
    Imagine how much I burn when I'm just moving my bowels!

    Man, can you keep the trolling to the Chit Chat. That is pretty much one of the unwritten rules of respect ;-)

    Trolls =

    Chit Chat
    Misc
    Etc sections.
  • Peta22
    Peta22 Posts: 377 Member
    is "fat burning zone" a real thing? It always seems like the weight loss programs on cardio machines are way easier than anything else. Doest it make you burn more fat to do a hard workout? I dont understand

    This ^ ... I've often wondered how the whole 'fat burning zone' vs 'fitness' works in relation to weight management...

    Although, maybe I answered the question myself when I lost nothing after 3wks of 30DS??? :ohwell:
  • sheryllamb72
    sheryllamb72 Posts: 163 Member
    'scuse me folks...walker here!
    I can walk at a rate of 4 mph (sometimes 3.7), for 60 minutes (or longer).
    MY "running" I can only manage at 5 mph for 30 minutes(at best).

    I ALWAYS burn more when I walk~

    *like*
  • GasMasterFlash
    GasMasterFlash Posts: 2,206 Member
    Imagine how much I burn when I'm just moving my bowels!
    But you burn more if you do it while running than while walking.
    Burns more when I eat red chile too.
  • prov31jd
    prov31jd Posts: 153 Member
    http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-242-304-311-8402-0,00.html

    Loved this article. VERY interesting!
  • Peta22
    Peta22 Posts: 377 Member
    I burn a lot of calories thinking about how boring running is

    Lol... So true! :laugh:
  • dane11235813
    dane11235813 Posts: 682 Member
    please lock this thread down quick. there's so much bad info on here it's not even funny.
  • dunlunicor
    dunlunicor Posts: 189 Member
    Well, I'm more likely to walk at a decent pace for three hours than I am to jog, slowly, for 15 minutes. So it's about motivation, too. For me, walking burns more just because I don't despise it so much.
  • LilynEdensmom
    LilynEdensmom Posts: 612 Member
    I've lost 10 pounds and 90% of my work out is me walking while running and jogging burns more calories, walking burns some and is a great starting exercise, or if you are like me really really out of shape with a bad back.
  • Chipmaniac
    Chipmaniac Posts: 642 Member
    Same number of calories per mile whether you walk or run. But here's the thing. You can probably walk 2 miles in 30 minutes and run 3 or even more. So for 30 minutes of effort, you will burn more by running.

    This is a misconception. Do some research and you will see it's not true.
    Which part? When you are talking about the gross amount of energy required to propel a person of weight X Y number of feet, that number is the same no matter how you do it. However, efficiency does come into play. For instance, a bicycle increases a human being's efficiency many fold.

    We have a gate designed for walking, thus running is less efficient and uses more calories per unit distance than walking, but I think the difference isn't huge. For laymen's purposes, they can be thought of as equivalent.
  • Elzecat
    Elzecat Posts: 2,916 Member
    No idea where your article came from since there was no citation, so without knowing whether it is a reputable source...I don't know whether the "claims" are true. I can only give my personal experience-- that I burn more calories running than I do walking, (having worn a heart rate monitor while walking and running to compare the numbers) but when I first started running I could only run for 15-30 seconds, I could walk for a lot longer...so I burned a lot more calories walking at that point.

    When I run, I burn on average 100 calories every 10 minutes, more if I am doing speedwork (high intensity interval drills). Walking...quite a bit less. I prefer running to walking. However, a lot of people on this thread have obviously seen some great success by "just" walking...why not try both and see what you think? :)
  • manda1002
    manda1002 Posts: 178 Member
    My husband always tells me that the best thing is to walk fast enough that you feel like you want to run. Then walk that fast for awhile, then run, then slow down to the fast walk again.

    Either way, getting off the couch and doing ANYTHING is better than sitting on the couch. Do what you find less boring.
  • faithstephenson
    faithstephenson Posts: 280 Member
    I do not run. My knees just can not handle it. I walk as quickly as I can sustain for an hour to an hour and a half. Right now, if I'm outside walking a long trail, that's about 3.75-4 mph. I walk and do other aerobic workouts, as well as weights in the past (no longer a gym member). I figure as many different kinds of workouts as you can reasonably do with regularity is a good idea. If you like to run, and you just want to know what will burn the most fat, then the example of the math is correct (60% of 100 cals<40% of 200 cals), so go with running. If you would rather walk and are afraid it will be pointless, it's not. Just push yourself reasonably, so you don't get injured and can be consistent.
  • Chiclet26
    Chiclet26 Posts: 16
    It's all about the fat burning zone. Walking keeps you there longer but lower calories but more of those calories are fat. Running your heart rate is higher and you burn more calories but a % of those calories are fat is lower. That is why HIIT spurts is far superior than running or walking.


    Exactly!
  • ErikaNichele
    ErikaNichele Posts: 46
    It's all about the fat burning zone. Walking keeps you there longer but lower calories but more of those calories are fat. Running your heart rate is higher and you burn more calories but a % of those calories are fat is lower. That is why HIIT spurts is far superior than running or walking.

    This is the answer right here ^^^^^. Also as you lose weight and get more fit it takes more activity to raise your heart rate. The heart rate of someone 250 lbs walking 3 mph may just be the same as someone 120 lbs running at 6 mph. it depends on your body type and what your target heart rate is...
  • Nigerianebony
    Nigerianebony Posts: 182 Member
    I think the term "Fat Burning Zone" should be eliminated. What we should be saying is "fat utilization rate. For me, at a running pace (about 150 bpm), fat/sugar ratio is 60/40. I burn 6 calories of fat for every 10 calories I burn. So if i was walking, I would have to probably walk for 4-6 hour to burn the same amount if i ran for one hour. Even at around 180 bpm, i burn about 4 calories to every 10 calories. You can train your body to utilize more fat. This is why marathon runners are lean. So if you decide to start running, your body will adjust to "ütilize more fat at a higher heart rate.
  • CoffeeNBooze
    CoffeeNBooze Posts: 966 Member
    Well, I burn way more walking to be honest and I don't have pain in my joints from running anymore. Walking is way more effective for me personally. It's infuriating to me some "expert" on mfp aka someone who doesn't know any more than anyone else does, would tell you you'd be wasting your time walking. Find what works for you. Longevity is also key.
  • Serah87
    Serah87 Posts: 5,481 Member
    I walk and lost 39 pounds!!!!
  • dawnagetsfit
    dawnagetsfit Posts: 81
    There's really different types of walking so by "walking" comparison alone, it's not very accurate.

    I can walk on my treadmill for 60 minutes with my HR at the beginning of my zone, not even break a sweat and only burn about 300 calories. This is "casual" walking (I do on my off days) and during this time I can carry on conversations and drink from my water bottle with ease.

    Or I can walk for 60 minutes with my HR at the top of my zone, unable to really drink or talk more than a few words, sweat dripping off me and burn more than double the amount of calories.

    It's not just about "walking", it about HOW you walk and where your HR is.

    Incline walking is also phenomenal - helps to get your HR up there, as opposed to just walking faster, and really gives your muscles an awesome workout.
  • secretlobster
    secretlobster Posts: 3,566 Member

    We have a gate designed for walking, thus running is less efficient and uses more calories per unit distance than walking, but I think the difference isn't huge. For laymen's purposes, they can be thought of as equivalent.

    It's "gait". And your point about efficiency is true, but it doesn't really come into play here. When you consider a ratio of calories burned over time, running wins hands down. When you are doing an activity that takes more effort, you burn more calories when the TIME you spend doing it remains constant.

    It has nothing to do with distance and everything to do with time.

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