What is the difference between walking and running..

[OrmIrian]

in terms of getting and keeping fit?

Because I know quite a few people who seem to think that they will get fit and lose weight by going for several long walks in a week. I always thought that you needed to raise your pulse rate above a certain level so many times a week to improve your fitness. I rarely find my pulse rate increases when I walk. And I'm sure I read somewhere that the calories burned in walking for 20 mins isn't that much less than running.

But am I seriously wasting my effort running when a good walk would do the same. I've always walked everywhere and used, pre-DCs, to go for 10-12 mile walks most weekends. But I feel so much fitter now that I'm running regularly. Am I imagining it?

running can bugger up your back/knees feet?
But I'm sure its gets you fitter faster.

I reckon so too but I have no evidence

My back, knees and feet are fine so far. I did have endless inuries when I first started but not for the best part of a year.

Running doesn't bugger up your back and feet as long as you wear decent shoes and aren't doing long distances. It's very good for your bones infact. My knees are fine depsite surgery on one in my 20s and my back used to trouble me dreadfully but doesn't any longer. Running improves your core muscle strength.

Walking is good if you power walk, use your arms and incorporate some hills but it doesn't improve you cardiovascularly in the same way that a run will and it doesn't burn the same amount of calories. If you can run for around 40 minutes 3 or 4 times a week you are doing your health a huge amount of good.

There's no way you are wasting your time. Keep it up

raising heart rate = good for cardiovascular fitness, stamina etc.

walking still uses energy and I have heard it said that a long brisk walk is better for weight loss than a comparatively shorter run.

Thankyou jdsmrs!

I do manage 40 mins twice a week and a bit more on Sunday mornings. I do feel better for it, in fact it's addictive but I can't get anyone to run with - they've all hibernated or are going for walks!

here.

Makes sense to me.

The amount of energy used to travel 3 miles is the same whether you run or walk....the walk will just be a shorter duration.

OrmIrian - were do you live? I'm often short of someone to run with on a weekend too. You could join a running club. I run with a club on Tuesdays and thursdays - it's very motivating.

I would imagine that the aerobics group put more weight on because they were more likely to give up?

And I don't really worry about weight, just change in body shape.

I'm in Somerset themoon66. I have thought of joining a running group but I do really like the flexibilty of running when it suits me. I have very little time and it's all dependent on when DH gets home.

you need a sports bra for running and a normal bra will suffice for walking

Good point cbm!

About 4 weeks before Christmas I started taking my dog for long walks ever day. We're usually out for 45 min to an hour and we walk quite fast, covering approx 3.5 miles.

I've also cut down on chocolate and upped fruit intake and I've lost about 3 inches all over. I deliberately don't own scales as I get obsessive but I have regularly been measuring bust, waist, bum and thighs.

I'm also down to only one chin and have cheekbones again

Calories are the same per mile - but you don't raise you heart rate as high whilst walking and you probably need to walk for twice as long (time wise, distance the same) to lose the same amount of calories.

Running gets you 'fitter' cardiovascularly. Run for 5 minutes, walk for 5 minutes - which one gets you out of breath and your heart pounding.

There was a report out last year saying that most people think (incorrectly) that moderate exercise was as good for you as vigorous excercise. Probably due to misleading Government information - this 30 minutes 3 times a week business. A 30 minutes stroll 3 times a week ain't going to cut the mustard - or the weight - although if you're seriously overweight then it's a great place to start.

As time is an issue with me, I think that running is the best option. I haven't got time for regular long walks (vigorous or otherwise) these days.