What is walking ‘really’ going to do for you?

Have you ever thought that your 30 minute walk just wasn’t enough? Think again. Below is a depiction of your daily energy expenditure (often confused with your metabolic rate - they are not the same) without and with 30 minutes of physical activity.

In essence, a 30 minute walk increases your daily energy expenditure by more than 25%  Keep in mind that the the orange color represents any activity beyond sitting.

Add to this the long list of physical and mental health benefits and suddenly walking seems a lot more effective for weight loss.

The next time you consider skipping your walk think of these graphs and how great it makes you feel. It will help tip your decision scale in the walking direction even when your schedule, energy level or mood is telling you otherwise.

Note: Digestion does indeed require energy but eating to increase digestion is not an advisable weight loss strategy!