Looking to jump start your exercise plan? Walking to lose weight is a great way to kick your metabolism into gear while introducing your body gradually to exercise if you have not worked out in a while. Even if you work out already, walking adds more momentum and keeps your body in motion to keep your metabolism operating at its peak.
The actual number of calories you can burn by walking is dependent upon a variety of factors, including your weight, how fast you walk and how far you go. On average, if you walk about 2 miles at an average speed of 3 mph and weigh 150 pounds you will burn approximately 150 calories. To burn more, you can either walk further or walk faster.
By walking one more mile at the same speed you can burn another 80 calories or so. By walking the same distance, 2 miles, but increasing your speed to 4 mph (one mile in 15 minutes) you will burn another 20 or so calories. That’s 170 calories every 15 minutes at a brisk walking pace. This might sound like walking to lose weight is going to very hard or very time consuming. It really isn’t. If you can commit to a 20 minute walk every day or even every other day and do absolutely nothing else different, you will be burning enough calories to start losing pounds slowly, at the rate of about one a week. If you combine walking with a sound diet plan, you can be much more effective.
If you don’t think you are eating that much but you are having trouble losing weight, just get started on a twenty minute a day walking program and you will see an improvement.
Walking has more benefits than just losing weight. You might start out walking to lose weight but you will soon discover that you are walking to enjoy the flowers, walking to decrease your stress level and walking to get some special quiet time.
Walking is a very good way to relieve stress. It gives you time to think, and it is a great way to get peace and quiet. Leave your cell phone at home and enjoy some moments of solitude. Even as the seasons change, don’t be afraid to dress up in warm boots and a warm coat and take an umbrella with you. There is nothing quite so invigorating as walking outdoors in all weathers. The Queen of England is 91 years old, and still going strong as the monarch of Great Britain. What’s her secret? She loves to hike over her grounds in Windsor Castle in England and Balmoral Castle in Scotland. The rain doesn’t stop her and nor does the snow. I don’t think the Queen of England has ever lifted a dumbbell or tried a tango cha cha to a rap beat down at the local gym, but she walks regularly and she has remained very active. Which brings me to my next point.
There is more to walking than just walking to lose weight. Walking is recommended by chiropractors and doctors to keep your body in good health all around. Walking works your back, gluteals and abdominal muscles as well as your legs. It works your lungs and your heart. If you swing your arms when you walk you are using a good many of the muscles in your body. Walking undoes much of the tension and pain that is caused by sitting too long in front of the computer at work, or the T.V. at home. It keeps your body alive and active.
It is unfortunate that in today’s world it is easy to hop in your car, drive to work, sit in front of the computer, drive home, microwave something quick for dinner and then sit in front of the T.V. or your child’s soccer game, or an evening class, and then go to bed.
Your body was not made to do so much sitting still. It was made to move. Walking to lose weight might be the motivation to get started, but you will do so much more for yourself than that, if you start a walking regimen.