Walking

[Kimberly_P]

Hey everyone, I was going to change up my routine a bit at the gym. I've heard weight lifting will help burn more fat faster but I was going to try just walking and doing nothing else but that. Does anyone in here stick to walking and does it help burn a lot of fat or does it depend on how long and how fast you do it?

[ladyinred]

Re: Walking

Weight lifting helps boost your metabolism because muscle burns more calories than fat. It will also give your body more definition as well as help build up your bones for your later years when osteoporosis can set in (I know you are a youngster yet, hee, but they say it's best to start building bone density early on).

I have tried just walking and it doesn't seem to work as well as when you add in some weight lifting a couple of times a week. Why don't you try the weights for a month or so and see how you feel about it? I really enjoy it and feel much stronger and more powerful when I do it.

[boonie stomper]

Re: Walking

I second the walking as the best for fat-burning.

LiR - do you think fat burns any calories?? LOL

[dreamof145]

Re: Walking

I've done my weight loss with a lot of walking. I started out with 1/2 mile a day, then increased it throughout the time with faster walking up to 4 miles a day. I purchased a pedometer and followed the surgeon general's recommendation to get 10,000 steps a day.

I later added 2 pound weights to tighten my upper arms and waist. I used the weights 4 x a week. Last year I bought an exercise ball and started doing those exercises 3 x a week. Because of a bad case of arthritis in my knees, I was unable to use the stair steppers and the weight machines at the gym, so I devised my own routine. I also did some yoga and more bending and stretching with my housework. This has been my exercise program and it has worked beautifully for me.

[ladyinred]

Re: Walking

Well, Boonie, I think carrying 50 lbs of anything around will burn a few calories. Carrying 50lbs of fat around counts as weight bearing exercise I'm sure. lol Wait a minute, that's not really funny.

[boonie stomper]

Re: Walking

(Jaw dropped) (I meant the fat cells themselves - which do not burn any more fuel than they require to perform the functions of fat storage and replication) Should I be laughing, LiR?

[ladyinred]

Re: Walking

No, don't laugh Boonie. Fat is not funny. But it is Friday, so that's worth laughing and being happy about.

Have we helped Kimberly at all here? Hee.

[Vic44139]

Re: Walking

I think power walking is fine. If you are going to hit the weights, I would stay away from free weights and only use machines in the beginning. Use low weight at higher reps. Most big gyms have a circut of these type of machines.

[not2late]

Re: Walking

You need both for a complete exercise program and to maximize your fat burning/.muscle building: aerobic (or the new term "cardio") exercises like walking or running and you need strength training (or 'resistance') exercises like weight lifting. Recently, they tossed stretching exercises into the mix.

[2big4mysize]

Re: Walking

try doing a power walk or HIIT walking. don't just stroll.

And you do need resistance training if you are going to be doing Atkins cause Dr Atkins said so.

[Blackdiamonds77]

Re: Walking

I used to work at a gym about 5 years ago, the head trainer/owner of the gym said that you really need to be at a speed of 4.0 or better to get the fat burning which is a power walk for most of us. I agree with the earlier post, strolling doesn't cut it. I just walked this morning warming up at a 3.5 speed for 5minutes then fluctuated between 4.0 & 4.2 for 30 minutes and did a 5 minute cool down. It was a GREAT workout for me, since I'm really just starting my walking regimine again. I eventually want to run after I build some stamina. If you have to work your way up to the 4.0 then that's fine, but you need to challenge yourself and break a good sweat.

[Lisa M]

Re: Walking

Hey, Kim-- I'm excited for you starting a new program. I walk on my treadmill and have been able to keep up a 3-3.5mph speed with an adjusting incline from 2.5 to 4...something to keep my legs guessing and resistance as well. I first started out at 20 minutes a day and have been able to go as long as 100 minutes...that's the highest my treadmill time will go. So far I can tell the inches are amazingly disappearing on my middle and legs because of all the sweat.

I wish you great success.

[2big4mysize]

Re: Walking

Oh and if you haven't seen it come join our treadmill treckies topic in the exercise challenges you set your own goals your own speed and time ands get to have our cool clickable little frllow in your siggy.

[Kimberly_P]

Re: Walking

Hey everyone, sorry it took me so long to respond back but now I have a good idea of what I should be doing. I talked with a trainer at the gym and he advised me to work my legs as hard as I can and I will definately start to see better results. Since I joined the gym I have been walking at a speed of between 3.0-3.5 everytime and I usually do it for 40 to 50 minutes then I go and lift for about and hour or so. I didn't know that in order to burn fat I should be walking at 4.0 or higher, yikes I think I'd fly off the treadmill! I will eventually start to run again, it used to be easy for me because I was a great softball player and that's all I ever did but now I can't even do it for 2 minutes it's so pathetic. Thanks again though for all of the great advice

[Kimberly_P]

Re: Walking

Ok so I tried walking at 4.0 for a few days and it's just not happening because I feel like I'm going to fly off the treadmill. The day after my shins and calfs hurt so bad I could hardly walk! I am however comfortable walking at a speed of 3.5 so my question is, will walking at this speed for a good 45-60 minutes help burn fat?