sirant
New member
Eating is a big part of it...
You could walk for 3 hours a day, everyday and never lose a pound. Or you could walk 5 minutes a day and lose 2 per week..... In my experience any exercise you do is helpful, but if you are not careful with the diet you can sabotage your own best efforts. Before joining this group I was doing 30 minutes of aerobics, 30 minutes of walking and some manner of weight training every single day, 7 days a week. On top of that I would do various sports and extra exercises several times a week. But I didn't lose a frickin pound. Now that I have control over my diet it doesnt matter what exercises I do, I lose weight.
As for which exercise is best for losing weight, thats easy. I have said it many times before and I will say it again. The most successful exercise for losing weight is the one you enjoy and can do on a regular basis. Walking is a great one, its what got me started.
sirant
You could walk for 3 hours a day, everyday and never lose a pound. Or you could walk 5 minutes a day and lose 2 per week..... In my experience any exercise you do is helpful, but if you are not careful with the diet you can sabotage your own best efforts. Before joining this group I was doing 30 minutes of aerobics, 30 minutes of walking and some manner of weight training every single day, 7 days a week. On top of that I would do various sports and extra exercises several times a week. But I didn't lose a frickin pound. Now that I have control over my diet it doesnt matter what exercises I do, I lose weight.
As for which exercise is best for losing weight, thats easy. I have said it many times before and I will say it again. The most successful exercise for losing weight is the one you enjoy and can do on a regular basis. Walking is a great one, its what got me started.
sirant
smisen
New member
How much weight you'll lose from walking depends on a lot of other factors. To start with, any amount of walking that you can stick with regularly is going to be best. To get the best results, you might want to cut your calorie consumption a bit, most people tend to eat between 1300-1800 when trying to lose weight. Good luck!
both actually - 30 minutes walking a 17 minute mile is going to burn a lot more calories than 30 minutes walking a 30 minute mile will...
you can use sites like (there's a bunch of similar sites) to calculate your distance... then just time how long you're walking for..
lace_mayhem
New member
I have days when I just do the brisk walk, and then I have days where I walk for 2 mins and jog for 1 min and I just do that for about 30 mins.
Another thing I like to do on the treadmill (after my warm up) I increase the elevation every minute, then decrease every minute. I find that challenging, and then I just finish up with a brisk pace until I've met my time.
Lace
Another thing I like to do on the treadmill (after my warm up) I increase the elevation every minute, then decrease every minute. I find that challenging, and then I just finish up with a brisk pace until I've met my time.
Lace
Paroxysm1
New member
I'm going to be walking a lot.
"Fat burning exercises are the slow, aerobic, long duration types of exercise that involve most of the major muscle groups. Your body will burn a higher percentage of calories from fat with lower intensity cardio exercises.
...
To burn fat effectively, exercise at a moderate pace for a longer period of time. The residual effect of this type of aerobic exercise gives you the most benefits.
These aerobic fat burning exercises increase your metabolism which means you'll burn calories long after you exercise. People who exercise on a regular basis develop more fat burning enzymes than people who don't exercise at all.
By doing just twenty minutes of fat burning exercises you get those fat burning enzymes working. So if you are just starting out, exercise for at least twenty minutes and work up from there as your fitness level improves. Try to set 3 days a week as your goal to workout and work up to 5 days as you become more fit."
This says that when walking, I should try to walk for a LONG period of time, at a moderate pace. I have read and heard that it's best to do intervals of walking and jogging because these boosts your metabolism...
So should the MAJORITY of my walking be at a moderate pace, combined with a few intervals of jogging?
"Fat burning exercises are the slow, aerobic, long duration types of exercise that involve most of the major muscle groups. Your body will burn a higher percentage of calories from fat with lower intensity cardio exercises.
...
To burn fat effectively, exercise at a moderate pace for a longer period of time. The residual effect of this type of aerobic exercise gives you the most benefits.
These aerobic fat burning exercises increase your metabolism which means you'll burn calories long after you exercise. People who exercise on a regular basis develop more fat burning enzymes than people who don't exercise at all.
By doing just twenty minutes of fat burning exercises you get those fat burning enzymes working. So if you are just starting out, exercise for at least twenty minutes and work up from there as your fitness level improves. Try to set 3 days a week as your goal to workout and work up to 5 days as you become more fit."
This says that when walking, I should try to walk for a LONG period of time, at a moderate pace. I have read and heard that it's best to do intervals of walking and jogging because these boosts your metabolism...
So should the MAJORITY of my walking be at a moderate pace, combined with a few intervals of jogging?
For one thing I believe the quote you used is from Michael Thurmond"s 6 Week Body Makeover Diet which has gotten mixed reviews from the fitness community. For one reason a lot of personal trainers do not believe that exercising moderately for only 20 miniutes 3 times a week is the best way to lose weight fast.But of course it is better than nothing. Interval training is said to be the most effective way to burn calories doing cardio. The articles that I have read in magazines such as Shape and Muscle and Fitness have said that you need to do intense intervals. On a treadmill that would be at least a 6 for the high part of your interval. A lot of programs that I have seen in these magazines say to start at a walking pace of about 3-4 MPH for 3 minutes then do 2 minutes of running (if you can't run jog until you can) at a 6 MPH (or what you can do). Repeat the intervals until you do about 40 minutes. Try to work your way up to 60 minutes.
Another reason they are not fond of his diet plan is that it is extremely low in calories (around 1000-1100 a day). If you reduce your calorie intake to this point your metabolism will actually slow down. You need to eat frequent small meals throughout the day for the most effective weight loss. The more often you eat the more your metabolism will speed up. I remember from seeing him on Extreme Makeover that he also believes in eating small meals frequently but the calories should not be that low. I believe this site has calculators to figure out how many calories your body needs to function efficiently and still lose weight. If not just do a Google search and you will find just such a calculator. Most of the healthy weight loss programs that I have read about suggest not going below 1200 calories to lose weight and that is if you are not active. Good Luck!
Another reason they are not fond of his diet plan is that it is extremely low in calories (around 1000-1100 a day). If you reduce your calorie intake to this point your metabolism will actually slow down. You need to eat frequent small meals throughout the day for the most effective weight loss. The more often you eat the more your metabolism will speed up. I remember from seeing him on Extreme Makeover that he also believes in eating small meals frequently but the calories should not be that low. I believe this site has calculators to figure out how many calories your body needs to function efficiently and still lose weight. If not just do a Google search and you will find just such a calculator. Most of the healthy weight loss programs that I have read about suggest not going below 1200 calories to lose weight and that is if you are not active. Good Luck!
iamfire1
New member
Walking tall, walking smart (doi!)
Well! Chalk this one up to a grave lack of common sense.
Ever since 12/06, I've been doing my adored 2.4 circle walk. This walk goes up and down two hills/valleys and is a rather decent jaunt.
Now, a brief detour - this morning, I was examining myself in the mirror at the gym locker room, and it dawned on me - golly, I slouch! Not always, not every moment, but yes indeed, my back wants to imitate curves where curves should not be!
And then it dawned on me even more - whenever I do my circle walk, I don't really pay attention to posture. So! This evening, I made a point to walk straight and walk tall and let me tell you, do my thighs and rear feel the difference!
I'm normally darned super at researching everything imaginable, but it never really did occur to me to research 'how' to walk when out for exercise. I mean, gee, walking is walking, isn't it? Sigh....obviously not.
I had promised my kids I'd do DDR with them when I returned but Mommy knows enough when to take a break. Calgon, take me away!
Enjoy,
Barbara
Well! Chalk this one up to a grave lack of common sense.
Ever since 12/06, I've been doing my adored 2.4 circle walk. This walk goes up and down two hills/valleys and is a rather decent jaunt.
Now, a brief detour - this morning, I was examining myself in the mirror at the gym locker room, and it dawned on me - golly, I slouch! Not always, not every moment, but yes indeed, my back wants to imitate curves where curves should not be!
And then it dawned on me even more - whenever I do my circle walk, I don't really pay attention to posture. So! This evening, I made a point to walk straight and walk tall and let me tell you, do my thighs and rear feel the difference!
I'm normally darned super at researching everything imaginable, but it never really did occur to me to research 'how' to walk when out for exercise. I mean, gee, walking is walking, isn't it? Sigh....obviously not.
I had promised my kids I'd do DDR with them when I returned but Mommy knows enough when to take a break. Calgon, take me away!
Enjoy,
Barbara
S
SweatPea
Guest
Barbara, I have done DDR with my kids too - but now they are getting older..sigh. But I should still get it out once in awhile.
Nasseny, I've never heard that. But it does make sense to stand tall while walking.
As for standing tall, I always do, cause I'm short! Ha! I think taller people slouch more than short ones do (at least in my family it is that way.)
Nasseny, I've never heard that. But it does make sense to stand tall while walking.
As for standing tall, I always do, cause I'm short! Ha! I think taller people slouch more than short ones do (at least in my family it is that way.)
Question about calories burned/walking
It has been said that on average we burn 100 calories for every mile that we walk.
I'm wondering this however. Are the 100 calories burned in addition to the calories that we burn from metabolism, or do the 100 calories that we burn include metabolism (i.e. total calories burned)?
Because what is really relevant is the calories burned in addition, not total calories. This can be deceiving sometimes when you want to figure out how many calories that you burn in an hour, or per mile.
It has been said that on average we burn 100 calories for every mile that we walk.
I'm wondering this however. Are the 100 calories burned in addition to the calories that we burn from metabolism, or do the 100 calories that we burn include metabolism (i.e. total calories burned)?
Because what is really relevant is the calories burned in addition, not total calories. This can be deceiving sometimes when you want to figure out how many calories that you burn in an hour, or per mile.
ExercisePhysio
Guest
In addition.
Michael
Michael
Will I lose weight walking 1.5 hrs/day?
Just wondering; I am 18 years old, 6ft2 and weigh 184 pounds. I'm not overweight (borderline though) and I definitely should be slimmer.
Right now I walk to the Gym everyday. The walking (there and back) is at a standard pace and accumulates to 90 minutes. At the gym, I use the weight machines for half an hour.
My diet is pretty healthy. I take vitamin tablets every day and I eat fruit, nuts, wholemeal bread and soup. Sometimes I eat cereal (rarely) and I eat salad on some days.
Am I doing everything right? I could use some advice/input. Thanks.
Just wondering; I am 18 years old, 6ft2 and weigh 184 pounds. I'm not overweight (borderline though) and I definitely should be slimmer.
Right now I walk to the Gym everyday. The walking (there and back) is at a standard pace and accumulates to 90 minutes. At the gym, I use the weight machines for half an hour.
My diet is pretty healthy. I take vitamin tablets every day and I eat fruit, nuts, wholemeal bread and soup. Sometimes I eat cereal (rarely) and I eat salad on some days.
Am I doing everything right? I could use some advice/input. Thanks.
i'd read around the stickied threads in the exercise forum for more insight into what your weight workouts should look like...
Losing weight is really a matter a using more calories than you take in... so I would keep track of your calories using a site like or one ofhte other 100s of free sites on the web...
If you can change up your walking pace, you might get some more bang for your calorie buck --
Losing weight is really a matter a using more calories than you take in... so I would keep track of your calories using a site like or one ofhte other 100s of free sites on the web...
If you can change up your walking pace, you might get some more bang for your calorie buck --
happy_girl
New member
Hey girl,
It sounds like you're doing awesome! The wholegrain products are so much better for you than non-complex carbohydrates.
Are you just starting this exercise program? If so, walking is an excellent gateway to losing weight. I might also recommend adding in some exercise with weights. If you have a gym, is there someone there who can show you how to use them (that's important). Whereas a lot of women think weight work will bulk them up, proof is to the contrary. You will begin to replace fat with muscle, and muscle burns a lot more calories even while resting than fat does. So, by increasing your muscle content, you will increasing you metabolic rate (burning more calories just sitting there).
It's so great that you're paying attention to being healthy though!
It sounds like you're doing awesome! The wholegrain products are so much better for you than non-complex carbohydrates.
Are you just starting this exercise program? If so, walking is an excellent gateway to losing weight. I might also recommend adding in some exercise with weights. If you have a gym, is there someone there who can show you how to use them (that's important). Whereas a lot of women think weight work will bulk them up, proof is to the contrary. You will begin to replace fat with muscle, and muscle burns a lot more calories even while resting than fat does. So, by increasing your muscle content, you will increasing you metabolic rate (burning more calories just sitting there).
It's so great that you're paying attention to being healthy though!