Walking For Weight Loss: How many calories does it burn?

Walking not only benefits you but it also benefits the Earth.  By learning to walk rather than driving a car you are doing your part to help the environment by not releasing toxins into the air, which hurts the long-term stability of the planet. A short four-mile trip you take walking keeps about fifteen pounds of pollutants out of the air we breathe.


Walking also saves you money on gas and other expenses associated with your vehicle. Every time you start your car it costs you about five cents considering current gas prices. Needless to say driving anywhere adds to this enormously. Yet, most people still use their vehicles to make short trips, which could easily be made by walking. If you can even make the simple choice to walk once a week when you would normally drive you will go a long way toward making a difference both in your pocket book as well as in your life.


Walking is also a stress reducer. Stress has been proven to contribute more than any other factor to the reduction of longetivity. Walking can help reduce that stress and increase your longetivity.

One of the primary reasons people decide to walk is to lose pounds.


There are some simple formulas you can use to determine how many calories are being burned according to your weight and how fast you are walking.

3.0 miles/hour (20-minute mile): Burns .027 calories/pound/minute.

3.5 miles/hour (17 minute mile): Burns .033 calories/pound/minute.

4.0 miles/hour (15 minute mile): Burns .042 calories/pound/minute.

4.5 miles/hour (13 minute mile): Burns .047 calories/pound/minute.

Take the number of calories/pound/minute you burn and multiply it by your weight and then by the number of minutes you walk.


For example, if you weigh 150 pounds and walk a 20-minute mile for 60 minutes, you multiply 150 by .027, then multiple the result (4.5) by 60. You burn 270 calories.


It is important that when you do walk that you walk at a moderate pace. Walking will do you no good if it is so leisurely that you exert no effort. A good walk should leave you moderately perspired. This ensures that you are working at an ideal intensity.


Walking is a habit like anything else.  If you can create a habit of walking everyday it will contribute to a new and healthy you in the long term.
 
 
About the Author
Ray Kelly is an Exercise Scientist with 15 years experience in the health and fitness industry. Sign up for his free 7 Day Weight Loss Course at Free Weight Loss Programs or http://www.free-online-health.com

Article Source: http://www.simplysearch4it.com/article/14837.html
 

If you wish to add the above article to your website or newsletters then please include the "Article Source: http://www.simplysearch4it.com/article/14837.html" as shown above and make it hyperlinked.

Some other articles by Ray Kelly

Blood Pressure and Medications If you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, chances are you will be prescribed some kind of medication. However, you should be aware of the fact ... Heart Disease Facts It is estimated that approximately 7% of the population has some form of heart disease or damage to their heart. ... Simple Steps To Good Nutrition Though the importance of good nutrition has been elevated in recent years, a vast number of people continue to neglect ... Fitness Tips For The Working Mother Working mothers face tremendous challenges when it comes to exercise. They can find themselves short on time, energy, and stamina. New mothers, in particular, may find it difficult to attend to their own fitness ... Inexpensive Ways To Exercise For Weight Loss! Perhaps you're a student, trying to make it on a student budget. Or, you're a stay-at-home mother with little cash to spare. Or you're just getting started in your ... Healthy Relationships Create A Healthy Life! Is your relationship with your significant other, mother, father, or friend making you sick?  Believe it or not, there's scientific ...