Lisa James
It may sound counter-intuitive, but it is true that by walking, you can lose weight. Of course, your first reaction might be to head straight for the treadmill or set of steps. But if you have ever walked a mile in your life, you know better. And the adage that you are what you eat holds: If you burn more calories than you take in, you will lose weight.
Walking, unlike other forms of exercise, burns calories without you having to exert effort. That’s great news for those who want to lose weight. But does walking help you shed pounds? Do the experts say that it does?
Walking is an excellent exercise because it can burn more calories throughout the day. As long as you can spare 10 minutes out of your busy schedule, you can regularly do this kind of exercise. So it will not be a difficult thing for you to stick with it and lose weight. Experts recommend walking for at least half an hour, three to five times a week.
However, there is one major drawback to this form of weight loss: you have to walk. Yes, walking can be a part of any weight loss program, but it has its advantages and disadvantages. Let us take a look at them now. For starters, you have to put forth some effort to burn up calories. This could mean extra stress and fatigue. In addition, since you are walking, especially during the cold days when it is cold outside, you may also expose yourself to several illnesses, such as colds and flu.
Can you really lose weight by walking? The answer is a resounding “yes!” If you go for a long walk in a nice natural environment, you will be burning lots of calories with other people or animals. Therefore, you will be burning up many calories, even when you are walking only a short distance. Also, your body will be gradually eliminating all the stored fats in your body. Thus, you will soon find yourself shedding those excess pounds.
However, if you choose to do this kind of weight loss program by going on a strict diet, you will not keep on burning up calories for very long. You will eventually reach a point wherein you will not burn up enough calories for your daily food requirements. Then, you will start gaining weight and finding it difficult to lose it back. It will also be quite hard for you to maintain your desired weight once you reached your ideal weight.
But, if you choose an option where you burn calories through cardiovascular exercises, you can be sure that you can indeed lose weight by walking a lot. In this type of program, your goal is to strengthen and improve your heart’s condition. Cardiovascular exercises help you burn up excess fats in your body and strengthen your heart, making your heart work much harder. Your respiration rate will also be increased, forcing your lungs to work more efficiently to get rid of those toxins and wastes that accumulate inside your lungs.
So, if you still have an unanswered question, “can you lose weight by walking?” then answer it right away. Then, get yourself into a walking program and see how it can change your life for the better. If you have any doubts about whether walking is good for you or not, consult your doctor first before starting any program.
