walking and running...equal?

okay, so over the holidays i put on roughly 10 lbs. also, when i went to visit my friends after xmas i noticed that my best friend had gotten significantly thinner and looked stunningly gorgeous (i'll admit i was a bit jealous).

both of these combined factors have given me some motivation to lose the weight im always so worried about (and try to drop those new lbs). but in my boredom-fueled search for the caloric expenditure of various exercises, i read that both walking and running for an equal distance will burn the same number of calories.

is this true?!?! i'd been under the impression that since running was more strenuous, it burned more calories.

i hate running, but i could walk all day long. the site said to multiply 62 by your body weight (in my case 62 x 1.4 for 140 lbs) and thats how many calories you burn per mile or something. so could i really burn 860 calories by walking 10 miles?

 

Apparently, it's not true.

See this site:
http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/1998-03/890999803.Bp.r.html


But it also seems that any effort can lead to weight loss, even housework.

 

Walking burns less calories per hour but running and walking can burn the same amount of calories, you'll just have to walk further.

I might also suggest building some muscle as muscle has a much, much higher metabolic resting rate than fatty tissue. (I.E. you'll burn more fat just sitting around).

Edit:

Diet is truely king when it comes to body composition changes, remember to eat right and work hard and you can achieve anything when it comes to being more fit.

 

Alright, don't try and push yourself. The reason many people fail at diet and exercise is they go in with unrealistic expectations, and then get depressed when it doesn't happen right away.

First off dieting doesn't work. Cutting calories you need will slow down your metabolism, you'll shock your body into demanding food, and you'll be miserable.

Instead, look at how many calories a day you need, and eat that many. It'll probably be around 1800 a day for you, maybe a little more, maybe a little less. You're still growing. Do not eat much less then this a day or your metabolism will slow and you'll be in for the diet hell millions of americans face after new years.

If at all possible, try to eat more smaller meals. spread that into 5 meals a day. A little fruit, a little veggies, mostly carbs and protein. No sugar, no alcohol, little salt.

Drink more water. It'll expediate your metabolism.

Don't try to lose the weight all at once. When you adopt a healthier eating and exercising routine, you'll have a more attractive body all around. Good soul, good food, and good exercise means a good body.

This parts important so listen up. Don't fight your natural build. People are healthier at different body weights. Aren't you nigh 6 feet tall? If anything, 140's a little on the slim side. If you were going to fight for me, you'd be 142 all year round. You're at a very healthy weight.

You're at an ideal weight. You're problem is your self image not your weight. I don't know why, you're a lovely young woman. My professional (and it is professional) opinion is to change your resolution to take some time out every day, meditate, and think about something you love about yourself. Good soul and good mind go with good bodies.

On to exercise. First off, cut that article off that said that walking and running burn equal calories. It's wrong, don't take health advice from idiots.

Slow and steady. Don't walk 10 miles to start off an exercise routine. And It's cold!

This is important. Start off exercising doing something you like. If it's something you can enjoy, you can do it every day, it can become part of your routine, and you can set yourself up with healthy habits.

If you like walking, walk, swimming swim, biking bike, pogo sticking...

Have one day a week where you rest. Try to join a gym. You're going to be combining areobic and anaroebic exercises.

Start off your exercise routine with streching. Consider yoga.

Then every day a week, you'll focus on different muscle groups. Example, Monday legs and shoulders, Tuesday, abs and arms, Wednesday, chest and legs, thursday ass and abs, Friday, shoulders and arms.

Everyday after your anerobic exercise, do your cardio. Your cardio is that thing you like. (walking, swimming, riding a bike)

Theres an exercise forum here which people will be glad to give you more proper thorough advice. If you do this to start a cycle of a more active, healthy, and more fulfilling life, you'll succeed.

If you do it to hit some arbitrary weight, which is unrealistic, even if you hit your goal you won't get much out of it. You're focus matters as much as the results.

Stay healthy.

 

YOU need to lose weight? Jesus

 

Honestly, dont let your mind think about dieting all the time. We all know what is and isnt healthy for our bodies, if you do the main basics like exercising enough, eating breakfast, and gettting your food groups in, you should be fine.

 

i can honestly say that thats the best diet/exercise advice i've ever had. and you even threw in a compliment! thank you!

...now i just have to find an exercise i really enjoy, and a place to do it. (dontcha just hate suburbia?)

 

No prob.

 

you have the tools already - your body

Can do tons of exercises with just your body
search my posts on the exercise forum

 

im not reading any of these posts. if you wanna burn what you burn running for 20-30 mins., you gotta walk an hour. Walking has benefits for the heart (for females at least) that running does not as well.

 

all exercise benefits the heart...

And I am going to disagree with body part training - you will get more benefit with full body training. Train the body as a whole

 

Dont make me dig out my mag. that explains how the heart benefits additionally from walkign longer distances in ways it does not from shorter but faster paced activity... seriously....

 

that said.. i would rather run. I have a lot of ummm...tension I need to burn off. Running is great.

 

the heart does not distinguish which type of exercise you do

It does not know you run or lift

 

Chris... typically, you are right but this article was convincing... I cant find it in this mag.- drinking and this stuff makes my eyes wacked out... so you "win" But I still know I read about it.. maybe that person is wrong, or not? There is conflicting reports about most things... but I'm telling you it's the duration...something about the LENGTH of walking they were referring to...

 

you shows the primary research data then...not some article

 

You shove your primary research date up your ass.

And love it.

 

My training has been all full body also. But I have different fitness goals then most. Most of my trainer buddys have sequestered muscle groups when training.

 

He's not French Lucky.

 

I'd rather train everything. Be like a machine, yo.

Damn.. I was looking forward to watching some ass shoving activity going on...