Walking for Weight Loss

I've been walking daily, for several months. Combining sensible eating with daily walking, I've lost over 30 pounds. My current goal is to lose 1 pound a week, in 2006.
As of today, I weigh 230 lbs. @ 5'7" tall, so you can see I still have a great deal to lose. But, I've found the formula for a healthier life, and I couldn't be happier!

I was walking for 30min , my dietician told me to amp it up ...I am power walking and have moved past my platue....I would highly reccomend walking to start with...and move onto power or even race walking

Walking is an excellent practical exercise - I walk at least three times per week for at least 30 min. It also relieves stress and gets me outside when the weather is nice.

http://www.antiagingatlanta.com

i usually walk for about 20 mins to get my body warmed up... then go into jogging mode for another 20 mins.

I love to vary my exercise, but there are a few things I really enjoy- running outdoors is fun, when the weather is cool. I really dread it half the time but once I'm out there doing it, I feel like I'm accomplishing something. Each time I finish my 1.5- 2 miles, it's like I get points for being a strong person. I also really enjoy yoga, and the elliptal, as well as my personal favorite, my Crunch! Fat-Burning Dance Party DVD (highly reccommend it!). But even with all that, I love walking and hiking. In the winter, I'll powerwalk in the skywalks or at the mall with my grandma or aunt. It's fun and moderate enough not to dread!

I love to walk, especially outdoors. I used to run but developed plantar fasciitis and had to ratchet down the pounding on my feet. Now my feet are finally healed but I'm still walking, it is more relaxing than running and I use my time to contemplate issues in my life and recover from the stresses of the day. Ironically, when I'm the most stressed I usually neglect to take the time to exercise, but I'm going to try to break that counter-productive habit. Walk away, everybody!!

I started walking about 3 weeks ago. I walk 5-6 days a week and I walk 1.5-2.5 miles per day. It takes me anywhere from almost an hr to an hr and a 1/2 to do my walk. I've lost 3 lbs so far. I have a VERY logn way to go....I'm 5'0" and as of today weigh 230 lbs. I'm want to loose 100 lbs but my goal right now is much smaller....30 lbs hopefully by the summer. Being so heavy walking works best for me because I have a bad back and left knee so there is no harsh impact and I can walk at a slow pace and eventually I hope to make it faster.

Angie, you have made an excellent and positive change in your life.

I am having very positive results with my weight, by walking daily.A year ago at this time, I weighed 278, on a 5'7" frame. I now weigh 227, and am still losing.

I keep a web diary on my progress. It helps keep me motivated, and gives me opportunity to share things I've learned.

Drop by and visit, or visit my website which is about prayer and health improvement too. www.brothervern.bravehost.com is the url.

But wheter you do or don't visit, keep on walking!

Walking is good exercise. Everyone seems to be forgetting about anaerobic (weights) exercise and mainly focus on aerobic (walking, running, etc). If you are already walking you should also do a few days of weightlifting. This doesn't mean powerlifting to look like Arnold, just enough to tone and maybe build a little muscle. Muscle is the biggest fat burner. The more muscle you build and have the more calories you burn naturally everyday. Combine that with walking and proper eating habits (not diet) and you will see the fat leaving your body quicker than just walking alone.

not just walking,every kind of move is important.If you eat alot but move you won't get obese.Think of people building pyramids.I am sure they ate high calorie food but moved alot.I am sure it wasn't easy to carry those stones and build the pyramids especially under the hot sun.

hi,
i'm 14 years old, i'm 5'2 and weigh about 125lb. i know i'm not huge or anything i just want to tone up a bit over the summer. Do you think i could lose like 10 pounds by in like 2 months if i walk three miles a day and play dance dance revolution till i burn 1000 calories?
thanks

Hi Everyone,

I started dieting mainly on shakes in Nov 2004. Since then I have lost 20pounds. After 6 months I reached a plateau and didn't lose a bit for 3 months. I got depressed because of this and stopped dieting. 3 weeks ago I decided to get back into healthy eating and decided to start walking to incease my metabolism so I could break the plateau. It worked. I managed to lose 6 punds in 3 weeks and I walk 3 times a day for 30 minutes. I highly recommend walking to my friends now and to everyone who would care to listen. happy walking!

Hey Nat,

You can definitely lose weight by walking and playing DDR. That's what I'm doing, in fact! The trick is, you have to burn more calories than you eat. Counting calories is pretty boring for some people, but it gives you an idea of how much exercise you need.

Certainly, walking is a good way to lose weight. But I disagree that Pilates no good for weight loss. I perform Pilates Exercises some years and I can tell, that excessive fat really quickly burns out. Plus, improves a posture and back muscles become more stronger. It is very important at inactive work.

IS IT POSSIBLE TO LOSE 3-3 1/2 STONE IN 6 MONTHS?

Walking helps us shift your attitude toward health, fitness, and weight loss. After a walk, we feel invigorated and happy.

Walking is a decent exercise, but only if you're either a total beginner or very obese. You should plan on growing out of it as soon as possible. One nice thing you can do is take a treadmill, set it to 15% incline, and walk at 2-3 mph. The elliptical works too. I don't walk for exercise because I can burn more calories going 4 times a week for 36 minutes on the elliptical or treadmill than I could walking fast (4 mph) for an hour every day.

Stanley: Yes, weight training is good, but you really should be training as hard as possible. You have to understand, without steroids, you will not get bulky. Even if you had great genetics and a perfect diet, it would still be unlikely. Women especially have to move heaven and earth to even gain a pound of muscle after the initial puffing up you get from any resistance training. Train as heavy as you can.

Pilates is inferior to smart weight training. Not the "smart" part though. However, for a beginner, it might make a decent "orientation" to weight lifting. Nothing will build a strong core quite like the deadlift. However, if you do it with bad form, you may find out why it's called the deadlift.

Im 5'5 and weigh 183 lbs i have been walking for 4 months now daily on the treadmill at 3.5 mph for 30 minutes and i have not lost any weight. very frustrating im about to give up.

Oops, I just realized I made a spelling error in my last post. There's a sentence in there that should be 'Note the "smart" part though.' How embarrassing.

Linda: Then you're not doing enough. Start eating natural foods instead of processed foods, if you're not doing it already. Instead of walking, try jogging. If 30 minutes isn't enough, bump it up to 45. If the results aren't coming, you either need to eat better or exercise harder. However, for most people the problem is diet, so I would look at what you're eating first.

I find it very difficult to jog my knees start cramping up and when i try to increase the speed to 4.mph same thing its like i have to run to keep up and i just cant do it for 30 minutes. I will start walking for 60 minutes at 3.5 mph and hopefully i will see results

Linda: Just remember to look at your diet too. You could try an elliptical machine. Also, if you aren't lifting weights, start soon. I actually find it to be better for fat loss.

I was wondering, how much weight can I lose by doing 7 miles on an elliptical @ 12% incline and with a 6% resistance if I'm doing it 5x a week. I also am on a vegetable, and liquid diet. Everything I consume is low sodium. I also take a flaxseed supplement and add a scoop of whey protein to my water ONLY prepared oatmeal. I meet with my personal trainer 2x a week for strength and resistance training @ 1 hr. sessions. I weigh 200 lbs and I expect to be 130 lbs by January. Is it possible? What is your opinion?

Marisa: No opinion about it. 70 lbs of fat can be potentially lost in 35 weeks, which is about 8 months. Now, if you don't care if what you're losing is fat, you can lose it much faster by losing water and muscle. However, this is detrimental to both your metabolism and your health. While it is possible to lose the weight in 35 weeks, I would count on it being a year project if I were you. Pick a diet you like, because you're going to be on it for quite a while.

Thanks Ryan for the info. I do play around with incline and resistance. I work out 5-6 days a week. I rest on sundays. Now, if I go a day without going to the gym, I get really irritable and feel overwhelming guilt. And then I eat. I don't know why, but I'll snack on pasta, or a PIECE of bread. I also use RedLine. It's a fat thermogenic. I take one every morning and I can work out for hours. How else would I be able to do 7-8 miles on an elliptical a day? But seriously. I appreciate the advice/opinion. My main concern is that it is certain I will lose 70 lbs by Jan. 1st. Once I achieve this I will cut back on the workout, my diet will be better since I'll be eating some carbs, and I will work out 3x a week for maintenance. I'm very stubborn. Once I start working out, I can't stop.

I was wondering if you can tell me if this is a good enough workout for a treadmill

5 mins 2.5mph
2 mins 3mph
6 mins 4mph
2 mins 3mph
7 mins 4 mph
2 mins 3mph
6 mins 4mph
2 mins 3mph
5 mins 4mph
3 mins 3mph
5 mins 2.5mph

Belinda: If it challenges you and gets your heart rate up enough, then it is perfectly fine. However, as you adapt to it, you'll have to increase your intensity.

Hi, I m 21 i weight over 300 pounds...I dnt look as heavy as I am tho. I have tried EVERYTHING!! to lose weight and nothing ill work. And when I get depressed about it i jus eat more and more. I mainly eat tv divvers or anything made in the microwave. Im gonna go on the eat 2 bowls of cereal a day diet. u kno lose 10 pounds n 2 weeks. And i was wonderin if i eat 2 bowls of cereal and try to eat sum vegitables wit my one meal and walk on the treadmill 3xa day 30 mins a day 5-6 days a week. Do u think ill have much progress? Im hopin to atleast lose 10 pounds by thanksgiving.

It is evident that the person who doesn't keep inactive will have low risk of CVDs so this proves your point that walking keeps you healthy.

I have been going to the gym for 4 weeks, now.
I am on the treadmill for 1 hour, at incline 15, and 3.2 speed. I than go to the weight for about 20 minutes and end on the bike, on fat burn mode for about 1-=15 minutes. I go to the gym 4-5 days a week, and have not lost any weight. I have always eated healthy, I love veggies and good food. I do not eat alot, I am 5'5" and weight 185 pounds. Can anyone tell me what the heck I'm doing wrong, or make any gym suggestions? Thanks

I began walking every morning for 90 minutes about 5 weeks ago, averaging 4.5 miles each day. I have gained 4 pounds even though my caloric intake has not changed.
My clothes fit better. Will I begin to lose weight soon?

Lynn, 4lb is such a small change it might be bloat or constipation even.

If you are still not losing, you could try cleaning up your diet (same calories but less processed food) and adding resistance work to your routine.

Lynn, what you are gaining is tonned muscle, which is great. It is importnat to lose body fat, which is what is happening to you.

I noticed that I lose more weight when I walk on the treadmill compared to working out on the elpitical. Does this happen to anyone? They say that walking is better at burning fat then the eliptical, what are other peoples comments on this?

Also, I only see results after every three weeks, is this normal?

Natalie, I haven't noticed a difference. Maybe you make more of an effort on the treadmill?

Linda,

I read somewhere that if you walk 2 miles a day at moderate pace for 6 days u should lose approx 2 lbs a week... yes diet may be a problem, but also have u checked with your dr to make sure that you don't have somethin like underactive thyroid or other problem that you don't know about?

good luck

karen

I walk on a treadmill 5 days a week at 13% incline at 4 mph for 1 hr. I have lost 27 pounds of fat and gained 6 pounds of muscle in 18 weeks. I have also lost 4 inches each off my hips, waist, and thighs. I think treadmill is waaayyy better.

I totally agree with the consensus. I have lost 170 pounds. Just plain walking coupled with sensible eating, a 70 /30 ratio, no more

I started using the treadmill a couple weeks ago along with weight watchers. I am doing five miles in the morning and five miles in the evening at 3.5 miles an hour at anywhere from 2.0 - 3.o incline. I really can't do too much faster than that due to Asthma.

I'm wondering approx. how much I can expect to lose a week walking this much and if maybe this is too much too soon. the only thing negative I've noticed is a hormonal change. is this normal?

Thanks

Hi,

I just purchased a treadmill....I am 5'1", 200 lbs., how long and how far and at what incline to lose the max. amount of weight? How much can be expected each week....HELP

Tammy, I think for weight loss, although exercise will help, your diet is also very important. As for the treadmill, I'd just walk on it without any incline or anything until you're fit enough to do 40m at a good speed. After that, I'd start doing some High-Intensity Interval Training. Just google "HIIT" or "fartlek" to read more about it.

One month ago I started walking for one hour everyday. Recently, I began walking on a treadmill at 3 mph with an incline of 6.0. I have gained weight and I'm becoming very discouraged. What's the deal?