Is walking "enough" to lose weight? I'm so discouraged!
I know this depends on height and weight, but I get so discouraged sometimes because I see a light of people really into fitness talk about how walking "isn't exercise" and "isn't enough to lose weight" and yadda yadda yadda. Walking is my go-to exercise daily because my treadmill is the most convenient for me.
I'm 5'5 and about 200 pounds(19 years old) and honestly walking at 2.4 on the treadmill for half an hour is enough to get my heart pounding and get me working up a good sweat. I don't feel like I'm slacking, like I do push my limits, but then I see somebody saying how you should be doing this and that and I start to feel like maybe I am slacking somehow, even if I'm tired as a dog after my walking.
I probably really shouldn't let what other people say get to me so much but what do you guys think? Can walking be enough to lose weight? I should mention I don't mean a little dawdle, I mean brisk walking but not yet jogging. I really feel the workout, but people always say it isn't enough!
Edit: I do mean "in addition to dieting." Sorry for not being clear. Dur!
I started with much less than a brisk walk. I was nearly bedbound, and my first exercise was just trying to get a few more steps in than the day before (using a pedometer and recording each days steps).
Food is often ( if not usually) the main component of weight loss, because increasing exercise often increases appetite so if you're literally "just walking" and not restricting food intake, you may not lose, or could even gain.
As long as you're eating less, walking will not inhibit weight loss.
I started with much less than a brisk walk. I was nearly bedbound, and my first exercise was just trying to get a few more steps in than the day before (using a pedometer and recording each days steps).
Food is often ( if not usually) the main component of weight loss, because increasing exercise often increases appetite so if you're literally "just walking" and not restricting food intake, you may not lose, or could even gain.
As long as you're eating less, walking will not inhibit weight loss.
I see what you're saying, and yeah, I definitely am watching what I'm eating too. I guess you are really your best own judge on that then. No one else can tell you you aren't feeling a work-out, right? And you don't feel it if it isn't a work-out. If that makes sense.
I just feel frustrated because I don't feel like I can work harder than the exercise routine I'm already doing and people kind of scoff at it.
I focus on the calories I consume for weight loss and exercise as a tool to help in my overall goals to lose weight and tone up. IMO the exercise you choose should be the one you'll be more likely to stick with. If you like the treadmill and walking in general then that's a very good choice for you! Maybe there are more intense workouts out there in which you'll lose faster BUT if you don't stick with them then they are not serving their purpose, nor are they doing you any good. I love to walk! I try to shake it up by trying different parks, different inclines, and adjusting my speed. You can always adjust the speeds, incline, and the amount of time you spend on it.
Tons of people have lost weight by walking as their only fitness.
We can't judge ourselves by others, though ofcourse it isn't always easy not to.
I started walking and its hard right now but I know as I keep up with it I'll get better, farther, faster. As long as you are honest with yourself and pushing yourself, I think its all good
Until my orthopedic surgeon told me not to walk for fitness (almost no cartilage behind my kneecap), I was doing a lot of walking as part of weight loss.
For me, walking was improving my fitness. In my case, I could get my heart rate up walking like you are walking. I wear a HRM while walking. Basically, if walking didn't raise my heart rate much above what it normally is while just walking around the house then I wouldn't see that as giving me much fitness benefit. On the other hand, as someone starting out who was out of shape, walking did raise my heart rate and so I felt it was improving fitness. As I got more fit, it would raise my heart rate less and I had to either walk faster or walk on incline, etc.
Walking for weight loss -- Well it depends. You will burn some calories while walking that are beyond your normal calories you would burn just sitting around. How much you burn will depend. I found that most walks burned me an extra 200 or 300 calories over my basal metabolic rate. That is certainly nice to see, but it wouldn't make up for eating too much.
That is, I mostly rely on my calorie intake for weight loss. I count my calories and that is where most of my calorie deficit comes from.
If I'm eating 2500 calories in a day and I'm burning 2000 calories (with walking) then I will gain weight even though I've been doing walking.
you've lost 35 pounds so I think you are doing something right.
everybody has an opinion about how to lose weight. smile, nod, and keep doing what you are doing.
My main form of exercise has been walking. I love it. When I first started I could barely walk twenty minutes without my knees hurting and my heart pounding. The only other thing I've ever done is Curves.
you've lost 35 pounds so I think you are doing something right.
everybody has an opinion about how to lose weight. smile, nod, and keep doing what you are doing.
I just realized I didn't mention "in addition to dieting." I appreciate all of the feedback you guys, and seagirl, that advice is great!
My original question was that if walking would be sufficient to pair with diet to have a working "diet and exercise." You guys are right though, different for everybody.
My Dr just told me the other day to start walking to lose weight...of course to cut calories as well, but he said it is a good, free way that almost anyone can do to some degree to get the heart rate up. i have become so sedentary that i can only walk for about 5 mins a day at this point, but those 5 mins make my heart rate go up, i sweat, and with my cals lowered i know it will help with the weight loss as well as just all out health. He did say however that that body gets very used to exercise and that if you dont push further or change it up that you wont burn as many cals. For me, i am just going to try to get to where i can walk for a half hour at first...then i may try some of the Walk away the pound videos...i have friends that those have really helped..... good luck on your journey
For me, I started walking on a treadmill 30 minutes a day and diet was the biggest factor for the first 30 pounds. Then my body got stubborn and started plateauing every 5-10 pounds. Diet wouldn't kick it, I ramped up exercise and broke through. For me diet only took me so far. I didn't reach the next level until I exercised more. I use exercise now to build muscle ( helps burn fat) and to tone up. I use cardio almost more for stress relief and cardiovascular health . At this point walking does little for me. I have to run, do weights and a variety of activities. It just feels good to do it. I still watch my diet for weight though. But really, people always tell you that you are doing something wrong. You don't exercise enough, you exercise too much, blah blah blah :-) follow the cues your body is giving you. Research what you should be doing on your own. I have a trainer so I usually get good advice from him that works for me as long as I follow it. We can all tell you what worked for us but it may or may not be right for you. Sounds like you are on the right track for now, It may change later and then you can determine the next step that works for your body.
Of course it's good exercise. Who's scoffing at your exercise? Are you sure they're scoffing at you? Or maybe they're pointing out that walking is not the right exercise for them? Because that's 2 different things. Only you know what's right for you so be confident about what you're doing. Not only is walking good exercise but it's something that is available to you all day long. Take every opportunity to go walking, park a little further away from Where are you? You need to be, walk the long way home, take the stairs instead of the escalator etc. walk or bike somewhere instead of driving. Soon enough that 30 min that has you huffing and puffing will be easy and you'll need to crank up the intensity. You're young, this will come very very soon.
thats what i do - walk/run (treadmill workout) and smart dieting. I also fast 24 hours 1 day a week.
PS. What i just read on this forum today was that 30 mins of cardio is just enough to maintain your weight. You should go for 40-90 mins in order to burn some stubborn fat. I know even 20 mins is better than nothing but still. Aim for 30 mins then more. I normally do 1 hour of 3.8 mph walk on treadmill. Then some mins to cool off before i am done. That is 4 miles each day for me.
Last edited by unwanted37lbs; 07-06-2014 at 07:53 AM.
Is walking "enough" to lose weight? I'm so discouraged!
I really feel the workout, but people always say it isn't enough!
I appreciate all of the feedback you guys, and seagirl, that advice is great!
