Understanding Calories Burned Walking
Precise calculations of the calories burned walking are not possible without some pretty sophisticated contraptions. Because of that, it is important to keep in mind that you are going to be getting an estimate of the calories burned while walking instead of trying to be precise. The same is true for calories burned during exercise, calories burned walking stairs and calories burned running. Each one takes careful scientific calculations which the average person does not have the capacity to know.
The Variables Figuring Calories Burned While Walking
There are three variables to calculating the calories burned while walking or calories burned walking stairs:
- Weight – You should weigh yourself. If you use kilograms, convert that into pounds for the purpose of estimating the number of calories you have burned.
- Determine your distance – Wearing a pedometer helps you measure your distance. You can also use your car’s odometer or walk a known distance such as a track.
- Speed and effort – These are the third variable. Effort is included because you may be walking slowly but there may be hills, declines, you may wear ankle weights or a heavy backpack or even walk faster at times than you do at others.
How many Calories are Burned Walking by the Average Person
Four calories are burned walking by the average person. This is based on the assumption that the average person weighs about 170 lbs for men and 150 lbs for women and the walk is paced at three mph. The heavier the person the more calories are going to be burned. The variables will vary from person to person as well as for the speed and distance walked. For example:
- A 190 lb man can walk four mph and will burn about 5 calories per minute.
- A 160 lb man can walk three mph and burn about three calories per minute.
Calories Burned During Exercise will Be Greater
The calories burned during exercise are naturally going to be greater than those burned while walking. This is because you exert more energy during exercise than you do walking at a normal pace. That means that calories burned running and calories burned jogging will also be greater due to the extra effort. The greater the activity, the more calories your body will burn. The same goes for the heavier you are performing the exercise, the more calories you will burn.
Using Online Calculators to Determine the Calories Burned Jogging
If you want a more accurate estimate of the calories burned jogging or the calories burned running, use an online calculator. There are a lot of websites that take your information such as your weight, the distance you walk, run or jog and even the activities you perform and calculate the calories burned with their formulas. These will give you an exact number but they should only be used as and educational guess and not for precise weight loss. They can be faulty and can sometimes contain different variables depending on the calculator.
Filed under Blog by on Nov 12th, 2009.
Leave a Comment