If you’re looking for a way to lose weight, you’ve probably heard of the popular New Year’s Resolution of walking 30 minutes a day, which has been referred to as a “mini-cleaning” or “mini-breakthrough”.
While the idea behind walking is undoubtedly beneficial, many people wonder if they will actually lose weight if they adopt this particular habit. Will I Lose Weight If I Walk 3 Miles a Day?
Short-Term Weight Loss
As soon as you begin this habit, you will notice that your weight drops significantly due to the thermogenic effect that movement has on your body. Walking is often prescribed for people with type 2 diabetes, as it helps increase their body’s temperature, making it easier for them to utilize insulin.
While short term, this is indeed a beneficial effect. After all, you can’t eat when your body is not producing enough energy and causing you to gain weight. However, in order to achieve long-term weight loss, you will need to do more than walk. You will need to set a goal, and you will need to be willing to make some changes to your lifestyle.
Long-Term Weight Loss
Walking is only one part of the equation and it is certainly the most beneficial. Indeed, as we mentioned earlier, it has already helped many people with their weight problems. But in order to achieve the best results, you will need to do more than walk. You will need to make some changes to your diet and your activity level.
The general guidelines for short-term weight loss state that you should eat plenty of vegetables and fruits, and decrease your intake of processed food. You should also increase your water intake, as excessive weight loss can cause you to dehydrate. Finally, you should aim to walk at least three times a week and gradually increase your daily walk to between 10 and 20 minutes.
In terms of diet, it is important to note that while most people think of diets when it comes to losing weight, a healthy diet and ample physical activity are really the only way to go. This is because while diets can be extremely useful in initially losing weight, overeating will ultimately cause you to gain the weight back. Furthermore, many people who lose weight on a diet find that it is extremely difficult to keep it off, as the food they enjoy eating is often not available to them. This often leads to them going back to their old ways and gaining the weight back.
Along these same lines, it is extremely important to continue to exercise whether you are on a diet or not. As we mentioned, movement increases the amount of energy your body generates, allowing you to naturally lose weight. Thus, even if you don’t feel like you need to lose weight at that particular moment, it is essential that you exercise regularly.
How Does Walking Help Lose Weight?
When you walk, your body generates a number of hormones, including endorphins and serotonin. Both of these are naturally occurring chemicals that act to make you feel happy. Thus, it is often said that exercise is good for your mental as well as your physical health.
Serotonin is responsible for making you feel content and relaxed, while endorphins act as your body’s natural painkiller. Therefore, when you walk, your body produces these chemicals, which help to make you feel better temporarily. But what exactly happens physically?
When you exercise, you increase your body’s temperature, which in turn causes your body to produce more heat. This is why when you begin exercising, your weight naturally drops significantly, due to the fact that more calories are needed to maintain a higher body temperature.
Walking is essential in terms of weight loss and it can help to shed off that extra weight, whether you want to or not. But if you want to lose weight permanently, you will need to change a number of things about your routine. If you need help getting started, simply ask the staff at your local health clinic for advice or read a few books on the subject.