Walking to Lose Weight
The simple yet effective practise of walking to lose weight is something I have covered in an earlier post, but I think it needs more looking at here as a viable and very enjoyable way of keeping your vitality levels up, moving that body and keeping the weight from increasing!
So what's so important about walking that it needs an extra post in this already well stuffed blog of mine?
An Almost Universal Exercise
The main reason I want to re-visit this aspect of health and weight is because it is an almost universal exercise that most people can do, excepting of course those who cannot through physical limitations. But for people who find it difficult or unsavory to undertake other forms of exercise, then walking is one that they can do and get a great deal of benefit from.
For anyone who is working with a diet to lose weight, this is an excellent addition to the overall strategy.
It doesn't mean you have to wear any special clothing, or schedule a routine of any kind, or even walk for a set amount of time or go a set distance. It all counts in the long run, although it's obvious that the more you do, the greater the benefits to your health and the more it will work in you favor to help you to not just keep your weight steady, but can even help you to lose any excess.
Managing Body Size
To maintain your body size and weight as it is, you can walk normally, take yourself off around the block, or walk to the local park, or to the shops or go to visit a friend or relative that lives nearby. It can be a few hundred yards or a mile or more, depending upon what you feel comfortable with.
If you need to go that bit further and lose some weight and burn calories to achieve it, then walking at a brisk pace and for longer is necessary. Again, the longer and farther you walk, the better in terms of your health, fitness levels and the all important final measure when you get on the scales at the end of the week.
Increasing the Pace
When you get used to walking more often and for greater distances every day, you can start to work on the way that you walk to get even more benefit from it. By this, I mean you can start to walk a little faster, with more determination and with more purpose.
This forces your body to work a little harder and rewards you with more calories being burned, which is after all what you desire. It fits in nicely with whatever kind of low calorie diet you have chosen to work with and gives you that extra boost you would not have had otherwise.
If you own a dog, then this is the perfect excuse to get out of the house and walk more often and for longer as your dog will appreciate the extra exercise as well as you! Walking a dog naturally makes you walk faster to keep up with him or her, which burns more energy too!
However you do it, walking for weight loss is an excellent means to that end and one that, if you haven't already, should be one that you actively explore as a viable means of maintaining your correct weight.
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Posted on Sun, 10 Jan 2010 in Exercise | 21 Comments
21 thoughts on "Walking to Lose Weight"
Mohd says:
The process of losing weight is a gradual process. It should be done over several months for proper weight loss that is effective. Yet the process of using a proper diet with exercise is worth effort you use to achieve your goals. You will be proud of the slimmer figure and healthier body when you complete the program.
Terry says:
Natural weight loss should always be gradual and measured to be most effective and long lasting, for sure. It simply makes sense to have a good diet coupled with taking regular exercise and that way you should never have problems
Angel says:
Walking is the perfect exercise for losing weight when other types are really not very suitable depending on your personal circumstances. This is a very good article on the subject ...and i love walking too!
Terry says:
Glad you love walking, it's one of the best things we can do!
Linda Hibbard says:
Try wearing wearable weights like “Body Togs” anatomically designed weighted sleeves worn on your arms & legs under your clothes. Put them on in the morning and you literally forget you have them on while increasing your calorie burn, muscle tone & bone density! Weighted vests work great too!
Terry says:
Sounds like a good idea if you want to increase the rate at which you burn calories while walking!
Sophie says:
I agree that walking is a good way to help lose some weight. Afterall, it burns calories as does any exercise. You don't burn calories as quickly as you do when you are running, but you are burning calories nevertheless.
I have never been ultra slim as I have always had a figure. I was a 14 in October and am about a 10ish now. Calorie counting is the only thing that has started to work for me - there is no easy way to lose weight, you have to eat less and exercise more.....and walking has been a big part of losing weight for me. When I get to work, I tend to walk up the stairs instead of taking the lift, and I try to walk more quickly from the tube station to my office as well.
If you are keeping a food and exercise diary, remember to note down the fact that you are doing walks as it is a proper exercise - even housework, mowing the lawn all count too. Sites like E-Diets and Weight Watchers enable you to record your exercise efforts quite easily as do free ones like Purple Weight Loss and KingCal.
Also, if you are really into walking, try picking up one of those pedometres to record how many steps you take in the day. Set targets for yourself and keep trying to beat them.
Terry says:
Getting a pedometer is a great idea Sophie, one I wrote about somewhere in the 100 weight loss tips series but I can't remember which one... too many posts to dig through!
Ten Gone says:
Walking is AWESOME. It's easy, anyone can do it, and there are so many ways to fit it into your day. I've gone as far as giving up driving, so I walk everywhere, as do my kids. We've definitely felt many benefits from it :)
Terry says:
Awesome is the word! I also walk almost everywhere these days as well as walking my dogs all over the place, so I know first hand what a beneficial way of keeping fit and maintaining a constant body weight it is.
Long Grove Dog Walker says:
You have such great pictures on your site. Its obvious that your such a big dog lover.
Detox says:
Very good article on walking for weight loss, which is something I enjoy doing as a regular daily activity myself. Your website is very informative in this respect, I get a lot from it, so keep up the good articles!
David says:
Good information, thanks for posting that. I have bookmarked your site and will come back to see what else you have to say. Losing weight is so challenging for me that the more information I have the better: there are so many ideas and people to learn from. Looking forward to coming back and learning some more to help make a difference to my body weight. David
Malcom says:
Hi and many thanks for a enlightening web site all about losing weight. I appreciate what you posted as it is quite useful to someone like me.
Walker says:
You made some good points there about the need for daily exercise and I agree that walking is one of the best exercises you can get for the least amount of effort. I did a search on this and found most people will agree with you. Walking really is a great way to stay fit and healthy while helping to keep those extra pounds at bay!
Terry says:
You're welcome Jenny, glad to be of help to you.
Jenny says:
It is nice to finally find an online slimming related web site where the blogger really knows what they are talking about. Thanks! It helped me a lot with my own attempts at losing weight using only natural methods.
Phil says:
I enjoy walking a lot so when I read this post I can totally identify with you and what you are about. This is a great form of exercise but more than that, its a great way to get fresh air into your lungs and see something of what is going on around your neighborhood too! Thanks for the post!
- Phil
clara colclasure says:
Hello!
My name is Clara and I am a wellness coach at ez2bfytonline.com. A big part of our population does not like exercise, yet love to walk. A couple key things to remember. Good nutrition, and exercise go hand in hand in ones overall wellness. A person can be physically fit, yet their body is malnourished, from lack of proper nutriton.
I help change lives each and every day by providing the proper tools to accomplish this. People get the Free information from me, We work together to put together a wellness plan, and Walking is the number one activity I encourage, whether one is trying to lose wieght, maintain weight or gain weight.
You have to ask yourself:
What is it I want to do? Lose, gain, or maintain
What have I tried in the past? Why didn't it work?
What is my main reason for wanting a change now?
Am I really serious about my wellness and Am I ready to get the education and Free coaching to reach my goals. Knowing that this time I have a Free Personal Wellness Coach to guide me.
There is a way to lose weight, keep it off and lose fat that even diet and exercise doesn't get off...You would like that now...wouldn't you?
To Your Success! Clara
Terry says:
Clara, thanks for the pep talk. Walking is such good exercise most people just don't realize it and how easy it is to stay healthy and fit!
Terry says:
That is so true, thanks for that Phil!