Is Walking and Dieting enough to Lose Weight?
 |
| Is Walking and Dieting enough to Lose Weight | @healthbiztips photo credit: Tyler Nix @jtylernix @unsplash |
@healthbiztips by Arlene Gentallan | health blog
It is a universal knowledge that exercise combined with a proper diet is the best way to lose weight, however, what if you're not into a rigorous exercise program (not even running) and the only physical activity compatible with your health or mindset is walking, will this be enough to lose those extra belly fat?
Yes, walking and dieting can potentially slim down a person. Let's delve into this.
First and foremost, when a person walks, calories are burned. For example, a person weighing about 110 lbs (50 kg) and strolls at 3.5 mph, burns approximately 100 calories in 30 minutes. This might not seem much in a single session, but taken into account the cumulative effect it has, say taking the stairs instead of the elevator or walking to a certain place instead of commuting, then in the long run, it all adds up.
Of course, the amount of energy the body spends is strongly determined by factors such as the weight of the person, the duration of the walk, the pace, and whether the individual is moving up an inclined plane such as climbing up flights of stairs. That is, the faster a person walks, the longer the duration, and the heavier their weight, the more calories they burn. Moreover, walking upward on an elevated ground, such as a stairs or a mountain considerably requires more calorie expenditure.
Another important consideration is that since walking is a low intensity exercise, it is highly compatible with certain people like those suffering from arthritis because this form of physical activity doesn't put as much stress to the joints and muscle, and also among diabetics since it does not tremendously impact sugar level. One key intervention to manage these diseases is to shed off those extra pounds.
As a rule of thumb, in order to lose weight, you have to burn more calories than you take in, so the importance of proper dieting and not overeating is equally essential. After all, it is from the foods and drinks that we consume that we obtain calories in the first place.
Is walking and dieting enough to lose weight?
This is quite a tricky question. You see, the success of a weight loss initiative using the combination of walking and dieting relies heavily on the person adapting such strategy. If the person walks everyday for hours but tends to overeat, in which case, he ends up eating more than what he burns, then it will inevitably result in weight gain. On the other hand, if he instead, burns more calories in his walk than what he is taking in, then that is the only time he will lose weight.
