| Walking for Weight Control
One of the most common reasons why people
begin a walking program is to help them lose weight. That’s terrific because
regular walking combined with a healthy, reduced-calorie
eating plan can be
very effective at shedding pounds and keeping the weight off.
Initially however, the math does look
somewhat discouraging. Walking a mile burns about 100 calories, no matter
how fast or slow you go. A pound of fat contains 3500 calories. You would
therefore have to walk about 35 miles to burn a pound of fat.
But, if you walk 2 ½ miles a day and cut back
250 calories a day, you will lose a pound of fat a week. In 10 weeks, you’ll
be down about 10 pounds. And it will stay off!
If weight loss is your goal, the key to
remember is “walk as long as you can, as often as you can.”
Consistent diet and exercise will work, but
it takes time. Don’t let unrealistic expectations cause you to become
discouraged. Stick to your program... walk! |
