Walking may be one of the best forms of exercise you can take part in if you’re trying to lose weight. But how does walking help you lose weight? It depends on the walking that you’re doing and how much you’re doing of it. Still, studies show that walking helps with more than just burning calories — it can also help improve your blood pressure and glucose levels, cholesterol, and even mental health, making it a highly versatile form of exercise!
Physical Benefits of Walking
Walking is an excellent form of aerobic exercise that can lower blood pressure, boost your mood and even help you live longer. It’s also a perfect way to get in shape for more intense exercises like running and jogging, which burn off more calories than walking. Walking burns, on average, around 90 calories per mile compared to about 150 calories burned by running.
Mental Benefits of Walking
Walking has been shown to reduce stress, making it an excellent go-to exercise when feeling overwhelmed by work. It can also improve your mood, relieve anxiety, and lower feelings of depression, making it a perfect choice to alleviate these symptoms if you’re experiencing them due to physical or emotional changes. Not only that, but walking is an excellent source of vitamin D – meaning it helps fight seasonal affective disorder (SAD) during colder months.
Social Benefits of Walking
Another great reason to walk is its social aspects. Walking with a friend or family member can improve your mood and reduce stress, which helps you lose weight! If you live in an area where there are hills, try hiking up and down them with a group of friends—it will burn fat like crazy!
Safety Benefits of Walking
Research suggests that walking may be as effective as running at burning calories but with less risk of injury. If you’re concerned about exercising and want to lose weight, take a look at these top 10 health benefits of walking and explore why walking is an effective exercise for weight loss.
Exercises for Beginners
If you’re looking to lose weight, start with small steps. When it comes to exercise, take a cue from Goldilocks. Any exercise is better than no exercise at all. Start by walking around your neighborhood and focusing on speed rather than distance—alternate between walking fast and slow until you’ve found a comfortable pace.
Tips For Losing Weight While Walking
If you’re starting, walking is a great place to start. Walking gets your body moving and can help you lose weight over time. However, if you have a lot of weight to lose or are short on time, walking might not be enough—you’ll want to incorporate some other exercises into your routine. Here are a few to try.
Understanding Speed, Duration, and Intensity
How much is too much for walking and exercise in general? It depends on how you do it. For your fitness plan to be effective, walkers need to know how long they’re walking and how fast they’re moving. After all, 60 minutes of walking at an intense speed aren’t producing results like a 90-minute stroll at a slow pace. By understanding distance and intensity, you can determine your best plan for losing weight through exercise.
Final Words
What’s your walking routine like? Have you used it to shed pounds and maintain a healthy weight and need a good sleep, or do you walk more as a physical activity than a weight-loss tool? We’d love to hear your thoughts in our comment section below. Thank you for reading!