You know that burning more calories, usually through exercise, is one of the best ways to support your weight loss plan. But you might wonder if your daily walk helps you expend enough energy. Would running help you burn more calories, and therefore prompt more weight loss? But what if you hate running? Should you try it anyway?

The answers to these questions depend upon a few factors unique to your situation. To answer your first question, yes, running does burn more calories in a shorter period of time. For example, a person who weighs 165 pounds can burn about 300 calories by walking for an hour. By contrast, that same person would burn 300 calories in only 24 minutes if they choose running (at a slow to moderate pace) as their mode of exercise.

In that case, your schedule might be the deciding factor. If you don’t have a hour to spare, a shorter and more vigorous workout might be a good choice for you.

On the other hand, there are several good reasons to stick with walking. For one thing, some people who suffer joint pain will find that running exacerbates the problem. This is especially true for people with ankle or knee problems.

Your enjoyment of exercise is another factor to consider. If you try running and realize you hate it, you will begin to dread your daily workout (even if it’s only for 20 minutes or so). It’s always better to engage in exercise that you enjoy, rather than something you resent, because you’re more likely to stick with it in the long run. When it comes to a weight loss plan, sustained effort over the long term is much more important than more extreme but short term efforts.

So when it comes to running versus walking, the choice should come down to what’s best for your lifestyle. If you have any other questions about exercise or your weight loss plan, give us a call and we’ll be happy to help.