Can walking help you lose weight?

Posted: Mar 10 in Lifestyle and Activity by Staff

While you can lose weight by walking or doing other types of exercise, combining exercise with a balanced diet is the easiest way to lose weight. But even something as simple as walking every day can help you lose more weight than dieting alone.

One pound of fat is equal to roughly 3,500 calories. That means that cutting 500 calories from your typical diet every day and maintaining your current level of activity would help you to lose about one pound a week. However, if you incorporate walking into your daily routine as well, you can increase that weight loss. Just 30 minutes of brisk walking would burn about 150 calories, which would be the equivalent to 1/3 of a pound per week. If you walk more quickly, you’ll burn more calories, especially since you get the most weight loss benefit from activity that’s of a moderately intense level. Ideally, you should try to build up gradually to a walking speed of 3 to 4 miles per hour.

Once you’ve reached your ideal weight, exercise is even more significant for weight maintenance. Even more than calorie restriction, consistent exercise will keep your weight off. As long as you burn more calories than you consume and walk or perform other consistent physical activity, you’ll be able to get and stay healthy!