Walking vs. Joggin

[abbeyrd1]

As far as burning fat/or calories- which is better- walking or running? I know that walking is easier on your joints and all, but which excercise would be more effective for burning fat or calories? Maybe even alternating between the two is better yet? Like walking to warm up, jog for a short interval, continue with a brisk walk, jog again if I'm up to it? Anybody have good info on this topic?


Abbey

[Lyssie]

Running burns more calories than walking until you get up to something like, 5mph walking, at which point you burn more calories by walking. Of course, this is faster than some people run. You can always switch walking/running into a HIIT type of thing, and then you would be both walking and running in the same workout. Hope this helps.

[ceemarie]

Interval training can be a fantastic way to get into shape and burn calories. Best to always mix up your exercise so that you don't get bored.

[JimboK]

I alternate to allow a longer sustained cardio workout. With my current state of fitness, I might be able to sustain a jog for 5 minutes on level terrain. I can go for 1 to 1.5 hours if I mix the two, with about 30% of that jogging,

To keep it simple and enjoyable: Walk until you feel like jogging, jog until you feel like walking.

[heavenly rose08]

hi abbey,well i personally do both when i am on my treadmill and i do notice that i do burn more calories when i run,but since i still have alot of weight to lose i can not run for long periods of time,but i still manage to burn 400 to 500 hundred calories in an hour just by power walking.

[DLS]

I have heard that the combo is the best thing. I've heard it's better on flat terrain but I keep my treadmill on in incline of 5 most of the time to burn extra calories. My neighborhood is also hilly so that helps on family walks.

[Fayeza]

you burn 100 calories for each mile you run or walk. Of course you burn them faster running.

[Lyssie]

Actually, that's not true.

I have been searching for the link, and will continue to... but, that was a common misconception that was proved false (I subscribe to Runner's World, I'm not a *huge* nerd). Since when you're running, you're actually basically jumping with each step while propelling yourself forward instead of just propelling forward, you're burning more calories (I thought it was about 30-40% more, but I could be completely off) by running. It also showed the normal type of "people who weigh less burn less per mile" types of things as well.

Like I said above, the point where this becomes not true, is when you get to a pace with walking where your body is forced to do movements to compensate for something that it is not used to doing, or could be considered "unnatural"... then you start burning more calories at that speed than you do with running at that speed. Of course, if I could walk at that speed, I think I wouldn't need to run...

Okay, here is the link: How Many Calories Are You Really Burning? | From Runner's World

[Fayeza]

Thanks for correcting me. that was really interesting.