There is an age old argument about which physical activity burns the most calories. Though many would reflexively say running as a first response, there are some who believe they are burning the most calories walking – or that running and walking burn the same amount of calories. As with many things, the correct answer is that “it depends.”
The truth is that either running of walking to burn calories works well if you spend enough time doing it. If you spend 20 minutes walking and 20 minutes running, your run is going to give you the most burned calories. If you walk for 50 minutes and run for 20 minutes, then your calorie burn will be even. The lesson learned with this analogy is this: the more intensity you invest, the more calories you will burn. And intensity can be measures either in the type of activity or in the time invested in that activity.
Calorie burning is also based on muscle mass and which muscles you use when you exercise. Larger muscles use more energy (calories) and muscles in the legs are usually the largest in the human body. Those who have more muscle mass will also burn more calories. If your body composition is more fat mass, you will have a tougher time burning calories, though it will not be impossible to reach your fitness goals. Every body responds differently to exercise, so you should not be discouraged if an exercise partner seems to be shedding inches or pounds quicker than you do. The lessen is, that the fitter you get and the more muscle mass that achieve, the easier and faster is will be to burn calories exercising whatever that exercise is.
Most physicians and health organizations recommend exercising three times per week to maintain good health. This could be either walking to burn calories or running or anything else that enables you to maintain a heart rate of 60 to 90 percent of your maximum heart rate for around 20 minutes.
Make no mistake: you will burn calories walking. So, it is important to not just shrug off walking as a fruitless pursuit. In fact, if you stay consistent and you keep up a routine for a while, walking will bring you magnificent results. In fact, if you invest a lot more time, you can certainly set a record for burning the most calories walking – at least your own record, and that is what is most important. Your focus, though, should be on better overall health, and your weight goals will come automatically.
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