Many people think that walking is a lame form of exercise suited for people incapable of other vigorous and strenuous exercise forms. They think real men and women pump iron or join power aerobic classes. The reality is that these other exercise can cause injuries and harm if done incorrectly. Walking is one of the safest and easiest activities that anyone can do anywhere.
Whether you are traveling or at home, whether it is morning or evening you can always find a few minutes to walk and keep up with your exercise schedule. You don't need any equipment or partners, you don't need trainers or fitness experts to guide you. All you need are some sturdy walking shoes and weather appropriate attire to go for a long and peaceful walk.
Walking not only helps to keep you fit and toned, it can also help lose weight if done the right way. The calories burned depends on your weight, the distance walked and the speed of walking. The longer the distance you walk the more calories are burned. Speed is secondary for burning calories but it does increase your fitness levels.
First learn to walk long distances before you increase your speed. If you weigh 200 pounds you burn more calories than a 120 pound person walking the same distance and at same speed. A heavier person needs more energy to move the same distance than a lighter person.
Next, comes speed. If you walk at 4.6 miles per hour you burn 4.78 calories per minute. High speed walking utilizes more muscles and so the energy burned is more. When you speed-walk you use your arms and legs and the stride is that of a race walker.
If you want to burn more calories running or jogging is highly effective. This helps burn off 11.25 calories every minute. Running makes your body move both up and down as well as forwards. Running burns twice the amount of calories as walking. Also, in jogging you enjoy the benefits of "after burn". After burn is the effect of intense exercise which causes your metabolic rate to shoot up and even after you stop your body continues to burn calories at a higher level for a few minutes.
This is assuming you are going at a really brisk pace of beating a mile in 18 and half minutes or less. If your main aim is to lose weight through walking these calculations help you to walk or jog the right way. Start off by exercising long enough to burn at least 300-400 calorie per day.
To learn more about losing weight through calories burned by walking guide. Click here - http://guydz.com/calories-burned-walking/
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