I spend some effort managing my weight. One of the things I do, that most people can also do, is walk. Walking can buy you a free lunch, calorie-wise. Here’s the deal…
First off, it’s useful to know that the average walking speed for an adult is 3.1 miles in an hour, and that walking one mile burns pretty much the same number of calories that running one does. That’s because the physics for “work” basically boil down to moving mass through distance, without any factor for how quickly one does that. So walk, don’t run. Gives your body more time to deal with the waste toxins produced by your muscles, which is definitely a win.
A rule of thumb for walking one mile is that it will burn about 100 calories for a 180-pound person, or 65 calories per mile for a 120-pound person. So, if you weigh 180 pounds, walking ten miles burns 1,000 calories, which might be a nice lunch, for instance. And since we know the average walking speed is 3.1 miles per hour, we also know it’ll take you about three and a half hours to walk ten miles.
Something else useful to know if you live in a town or a city is how long a trip around a block is. A standard city block is 
More generally, what I suggest you do is measure your block, or whatever path you like to walk, using a GPS. Find out how many feet that is; then divide 52,800 by that number, and that’ll tell you just how much walking you’ll have to do on it to get to 1,000 calories.
Also be sure to take your weight into consideration; all my numbers were derived for a 180 pound person. If you weigh less, you won’t burn as many calories, or you’ll have to walk further. If you weigh more, you will burn more, or you won’t have to walk as far. If you want to burn a different number of calories… well, you’ve got some math to do.
Once you’ve done the math, though, this is a nice way to work on your health and your weight and get to eat more in the bargain. A few hours in the morning, some great music in your earbuds, and… a free lunch. So much for TANSTAFL.
#1 by Rick Roush on January 15, 2018 - 9:57 am
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Ben,
Walking increases your chances of breaking a hip. It also increases your chances of being shot, depending on where you’re walking. And, it also increases your chances of being arrested, depending on who you are.
If you sit at home and do nothing, your body will burn as many as 1500 calories per day, and you will stay safe.
If you want to save calories, I suggest eating foods high in fats and sugars, and storing the extra calories as belly fat. This is a very natural way to save calories. Avoid the headache of doing all that math. Just eat, and store!
Rick (I felt bad than no one commented, so this is my contribution)
#2 by admin on January 15, 2018 - 10:53 am
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> Walking increases your chances of breaking a hip
Not walking increases it too, as you’ll get weaker and weaker and less able to navigate safely. Unless you have some other replacement for it.
> It also increases your chances of being shot, depending on where you’re walking.
Not here. This is a pretty safe area, unless you’re a hunter. In which case, seems only fair there’s some risk of being shot. After all, the animals can’t shoot back. “Hunter shot while hunting” stories just make me laugh.
> If you sit at home and do nothing, your body will burn as many as 1500 calories per day, and you will stay safe.
When I’m out walking, I can’t be slipping in the bathtub.
My love of food and natural preference for chair-bound activities generally agrees with you. But my genetic tendency to “store” doesn’t.
> If you want to save calories, I suggest eating foods high in fats and sugars, and storing the extra calories as belly fat. This is a very natural way to save calories. Avoid the headache of doing all that math. Just eat, and store!
When I was teaching martial arts I was very active 5 days a week and comparably still as a stone the other two, and my weight was perfectly under control.
Then I tore my abdominal muscles rather severely about ten years ago in a way that wasn’t repairable — uninsurable back then, and way too costly to fix out of pocket. Now I’m insured (gee, thanks Obama / ACA) but the surgeons simply refuse to do it, regardless of insurance, because I’m at high risk of death on the surgical table. Them and their stats. I said I would sign a waiver, but no.
All of which put a complete end to my martial arts undertakings, and to my easy control over my weight at the same time.
And… man-o-man do I love eating. I never figured I’d make it to 60; having got here, I’m well into the “every day is a gift” phase of life, and really don’t worry about dieting or my eating habits killing me. But I do walk, at least when the weather isn’t ridiculously cold as it has been recently. I kind of like walking. I take my camera and I snoop on birds and flowers and stray cats and the like, and Deb and I talk somewhat more when we walk, which is something I also deeply enjoy.
> I felt bad than no one commented
Well thanks for that.
#3 by Rick Roush on January 16, 2018 - 7:31 am
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I totally agree with you, and we have much in common. I was a runner for years, doing six miles every day, no matter what the weather. One advantage is that it was always done on company time – I got paid for running! Ok, many times customer would comment on why I sounded winded on a phone call, lol…
I stopped running because I got lazy, I guess. I retired, and over the last eight years gained 30 lbs. My health is still good at 70, but I can sure feel the extra weight.
It is nice to walk with my wife and talk. We have a beautiful park close by that has a marked running/walking trail that is three miles through the woods. But the weather is cold here too and my wife is a sissy when it comes to cold weather, and I won’t walk alone.
I used to lift weights after a run, and was in really good shape. About 20 years ago, my shoulders started acting up, arthritis they said. It hurt so bad it kept me up nights. I had to stop lifting.
So now with no exercise, I’m enjoying life and keeping my fingers crossed that my health holds out. All the older people in my family never exercised a day in their lives, and live into their 90′s. Some fat, some skinny, but long-lived all.