Walking For
Weight Loss: How
many calories
does it burn?
by:
Ray Kelly
People who walk
daily have a
lesser incidence
of cancer, heart
disease, stroke,
diabetes and
other killer
diseases. Not
only does
walking make you
healthier but it
also burns
calories,
creates
psychological
well being,
increases
metabolism,
strengthens
muscles,
increases
flexibility,
improves
respiratory
function and
helps
concentration
and memory.
This should give
you plenty of
reasons to try
and walk a
little each and
every day.
Besides that,
simple physical
inactivity is
one of the
leading causes
of ill health.
Walking not only
benefits you but
it also benefits
the Earth. By
learning to walk
rather than
driving a car
you are doing
your part to
help the
environment by
not releasing
toxins into the
air, which hurts
the long-term
stability of the
planet. A short
four-mile trip
you take walking
keeps about
fifteen pounds
of pollutants
out of the air
we breathe.
Walking also
saves you money
on gas and other
expenses
associated with
your vehicle.
Every time you
start your car
it costs you
about five cents
considering
current gas
prices. Needless
to say driving
anywhere adds to
this enormously.
Yet, most people
still use their
vehicles to make
short trips,
which could
easily be made
by walking. If
you can even
make the simple
choice to walk
once a week when
you would
normally drive
you will go a
long way toward
making a
difference both
in your pocket
book as well as
in your life.
Walking is also
a stress
reducer. Stress
has been proven
to contribute
more than any
other factor to
the reduction of
longevity.
Walking can help
reduce that
stress and
increase your
longevity.
One of the
primary reasons
people decide to
walk is to lose
pounds.
There are some
simple formulas
you can use to
determine how
many calories
are being burned
according to
your weight and
how fast you are
walking.
-
3.0
miles/hour
(20-minute
mile): Burns
.027
calories/pound/minute.
-
3.5
miles/hour
(17 minute
mile): Burns
.033
calories/pound/minute.
-
4.0
miles/hour
(15 minute
mile): Burns
.042
calories/pound/minute.
-
4.5
miles/hour
(13 minute
mile): Burns
.047
calories/pound/minute.
Take the number
of
calories/pound/minute
you burn and
multiply it by
your weight and
then by the
number of
minutes you
walk.
For example, if
you weigh 150
pounds and walk
a 20-minute mile
for 60 minutes,
you multiply 150
by .027, then
multiple the
result (4.5) by
60. You burn 270
calories.
| Note: We
will be putting up an online calorie calculator shortly. So check back
soon |
It is important
that when you do
walk that you
walk at a
moderate pace.
Walking will do
you no good if
it is so
leisurely that
you exert no
effort. A good
walk should
leave you
moderately
perspired. This
ensures that you
are working at
an ideal
intensity.
Walking is a
habit like
anything else.
If you can
create a habit
of walking
everyday it will
contribute to a
new and healthy
you in the long
term.
