A Walk in the Park

Walking in Audubon Park is probably my favorite exercise activity.  Beautiful oak trees, gazebos, ponds, and spunky squirrels all add to the charm of the park.  One loop around the paved walking/jogging/biking path is 1.8 miles…  I usually go for 2-3 loops.   Unsure of the distance of your favorite walking path?  Generally, walking 20 minutes equals about 1 mile which burns about 100 Calories.  If you have a pedometer, 2,000 steps equals about 1 mile (depending on your stride). 

If weight loss is your goal, research shows the people who lose weight at a slower rate (~1-2 pounds per week) are more likely to maintain the weight loss.  How does one achieve a 1-2 pound per week weight loss by walking?

                10,000 steps  =  ~5 miles  = 500 Calories burned

500 Calories burned (in a 5 mile walk)  x 7 days  =  3,500 Calories burned

                 1 pound of body weight  =  ~3,500 Calories

So walk 5 miles every day to lose approximately 1 pound per week (assuming your diet is consistent).  Maybe you feel you don’t have an hour and forty minutes to devote to walking at the park every day… there are things you can do to boost up your walking activity throughout the day.  Of course there is the taking the stairs at work option… or the park far away from the entrance of the grocery store strategy… but how about walking to someone’s desk at work to talk instead of emailing or calling… or breaking your walk into 10-30 minute segments throughout the day. I suggest wearing a pedometer for a day to see if you are close to 10,000 steps.

What do you do to get in more activity throughout the day?

~Kasey