Walking Vital Part of Healthy Weight Loss Programs

When combined with a rigorous, daily exercise routine, healthy weight loss programs are more effective. When there were times in the ancient past of extreme famine, the human body's natural defense was to conserve and ration out any necessary fuel stored. This ancient mechanism was simply designed to keep people alive longer.

But today's obesity problem is a sign that those ancient mechanisms may have gone awry. Folks have developed bad habits with food in the massive amounts consumed and the types of processed food consumed. Instant weight loss schemes and fad celebrity diets are not going to fix this problem.

Healthy Weight Loss Programs Include Exercise

There is no way some of these advertised instant weight loss plans are going to deliver what they're promising. Fast and easy weight loss programs are simply non-existent. The only way a person is going to lose weight is to commit to and stick with a strict eating plan that includes lots of whole, raw foods, some fat, very little carbs, and almost no sugar.

Losing pounds is all about burning more calories than a person consumes. Yes, it's really that simple. Easy? No. Simple? Of course it is. Healthy weight loss programs are based in eating better and exercising more. Can changing eating habits alone result in lost weight? Sure, but that diet is going to be so restrictive. Besides, there are so many other benefits to exercise.

If You're Going to Lose Weight, It Will Require More Than Just Walking

OK, the math proves the theory. Here's the equation for maximum weight loss: There are 3,500 calories in a single pound of fat. To lose one pound of fat in a week's time, there has to be 500 more calories burned every day than the total number of calories taken in. Walking normally, about 3 to 4 miles per hour for 30 minutes burns about 150 calories.

In order to burn off 500 calories, a person would have to walk briskly for about 90 minutes each day. That's doable if you have 90 spare minutes every day. If not, a more rigorous exercise routine will be required to burn off those calories every day. Walking will burn calories, but it;s going to take some serious effort. Increasing the speed can also increase more calories in a shorter amount of time.

So, if you're really serious about adding walking only as an exercise option along with your existing weight loss plan, you may want to set aside ample time in order to accomplish this. Perhaps it would be better to walk three times per day, about 30 minutes each time. Maybe walk once in the morning, once at lunch, and then once in the evening.