Running & Walking Burns Equal Calories
Did you know that you burn the same number of calories when you run a mile versus when you walk a mile? They’re not identical but they’re pretty close. Surprising right?
Well, before you get too excited, know this: running is a lot better for you. Why? It’s better because it works out your muscles harder, including your heart. When you work your muscles, they get stronger. When you work your heart, it gets stronger.
So, even though a leisurely walk will burn as many calories as a run, a run is much better for your heart. However, the best counter against this is to walk briskly! As long as you get your heart rate up, your heart is working harder and you gain some health benefits because of it.
2 People have left comments on this post
Feb 15, 2009 - 06:02:48I don’t believe this at all. If running “works out your muscles harder, including your heart”, how can walking burn as many calories? Plus, with running, you go a lot further in the same amount of time. That also means burning more calories.
They don’t mean that running 20 minutes is the same as walking 20 minutes. Running 2 miles, which could take 15 min, is equivalent to walking 2 miles, if that’s 30 minutes. Running is better only in the sense that it is better for your heart.