Once you start following a medical weight loss plan, choosing a form of exercise will be one of your first objectives. You probably know people who claim to have lost significant amounts of weight, simply by walking more every day. But how exactly does this work? And is the right form of exercise for your goals?

First of all, it really does not matter which type of exercise you perform, as long as you choose something and stick with it. The idea is to burn more calories through exercise than you consume through food.

If you choose walking, the American College of Sports Medicine recommends that you walk for 200 to 300 minutes per week. Essentially, a one-hour walk, four or five days per week, will help you achieve your goals. Walking for one hour at a moderate pace can help you burn about 224 calories. These estimates assume a weight of 150 pounds; if you weight more, you will burn more calories as you move your body.

As you might suspect, some forms of exercise do burn more calories. But many people who are following a medical weight loss plan will opt for walking simply because it’s something they can already do. You don’t have to learn a new type of activity, you don’t have to join a gym or sign up for a class, and you can walk just about anywhere. All you need are a comfortable pair of shoes. Walking can also double as a social activity, if you ask a friend to go with you. And that might help you to stick to your long-term exercise regimen a little better.

To learn more about creating a calorie deficit by eating the right foods and exercising the correct way, call us to schedule an appointment. We can explain in more detail how a medical weight loss plan works to help you achieve your health and lifestyle goals.