The Truth Behind Walking vs. Running for Weight Loss

That sweaty, tired feeling you get after a nice long jog can be extremely satisfying. But running isn’t necessarily better than walking when it comes to dropping numbers on the scale.

That’s because burning calories isn’t all there is to it. Running, along with other cardio exercises, allows you to burn calories from muscle and fat – resulting in an overall decrease of muscle mass. However, muscle mass is good to have when you’re trying to lose weight. That’s because muscles are metabolic and allow you to burn more calories. Walking, on the other hand, allows for your body to choose which calories to burn.

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Running also results in bigger food cravings. This is due to a hormone called cortisol, which your body produces when you run. It results in enhanced food cravings in order to compensate for the calories that were recently burned. As a result, you end up eating more calories than you lost! When you walk, your body decreases its level of cortisol, allowing for a more regulated calorie intake. At the same time, your body becomes more sensitive to insulin – which ends up helping with calorie burning during other exercises as well.

Something else to take into consideration when trying to lose weight is the negative impact running can have on your joints, especially your knees. Walking is proven to be an effective alternative – just be sure to maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle!

Are you a runner or a walker?

Source: Runner’s World

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