How much if a difference will walking to work make?

[satans worm]

Ok, normally I endure a 2hr door to door commute to work from Suffolk to London, however I have taken on an international assignment to Bratislava for a year where my flat is just 3.5km from work.

Now I could take a tram which costs buttons and I will be in work in no time, or I can walk, as I have been, which takes 35minutes (crossing the road can be treacherous so takes time!)
Thing is i am over weight and need to shift a few pounds, well, stone actually (6ft and almost 16st)

So the question is, will a walk every morning and evening of 3.5km each way make much of a difference to my weight loss effort?
Or is it just a case of a small impact and that I still need to make some drastic changes?

Edited by satans worm on Wednesday 13th October 08:26

[Huntsman]

It wont happen fast but it will make a difference in the long run I reckon.

[LMC]

I reckon it'll make a difference to your overall fitness, especially if you do it briskly and don't just dawdle. I doubt it'll do much for the weight. I walk 3 golf courses a week most weeks, and I'm still a fat fook

[GT03ROB]

LMC said:

I reckon it'll make a difference to your overall fitness, especially if you do it briskly and don't just dawdle. I doubt it'll do much for the weight. I walk 3 golf courses a week most weeks, and I'm still a fat fook

Yeah but thats because of the 19th!

Seriously I think you will notice a difference if you do it briskly. Twice a day 5 times a week is a lot of exercise if you've been doing very little to date. It will take a bit of time.

[Gusanita]

I agree that it will make a difference to your fitness, but it won't do a difference to your weight if you eat more to compensate for the walking. Walk briskly and eat healthily and there will be a gradual difference.

[satans worm]

I guess slow and steady is the best way to lose it anyway.
I have changed my eating habits for breakfast, instead of missing it or having buttered toast/pretzel/sausage sandwich I am eating what appears to be bird seed but apparently it is pro biotic muesli from Marks and Spencer (they have a branch that sells some food in Bratislava yay!!).
Lunch im still trying to work out, currently i'm buying some kind of a ham and cheese roll (contents vary, language a bit of a barrier at the mo, i just point in the shop to buy!), but open to change, however choice of food outlets is not quite the same as London (one of my larger understatements !)
Evening meal, I guess will be pasta with chicken in an arribiata sauce or chicken and rice really not sure yet, but as im cooking for 1 it must be quick, easy and not giving me loads of washing up!
I've only been here for 2 weeks so I have not found my routine yet, and i figure I should look to start a healthy one rather than getting in the habit of eating 1 eur pizza on the way home every night
So any suggestions on the food front welcome.
I do not drink that much so no gains from cutting out the alchol.

[satans worm]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

not sure the girls in the office would appreciate that in the morning

[Morba]

depends on your diet. you wont be burning that many kcals tbh.

[Wacky Racer]

LMC said:

I reckon it'll make a difference to your overall fitness, especially if you do it briskly and don't just dawdle. I doubt it'll do much for the weight. I walk 3 golf courses a week most weeks, and I'm still a fat fook

Golf:- How to spoil a good walk.......

[LMC]

Wacky Racer said:

LMC said:

I reckon it'll make a difference to your overall fitness, especially if you do it briskly and don't just dawdle. I doubt it'll do much for the weight. I walk 3 golf courses a week most weeks, and I'm still a fat fook

Golf:- How to spoil a good walk.......

About 99% of the time I'd agree with you

[okgo]

Morba said:

depends on your diet. you wont be burning that many kcals tbh.

You'll be burning nearly as many as you would if you ran it.

[Morba]

okgo said:

Morba said:

depends on your diet. you wont be burning that many kcals tbh.

You'll be burning nearly as many as you would if you ran it.

And almost as many as if you drove to Spain and back. What relevance that is though I don't know...

[okgo]

Morba said:

okgo said:

Morba said:

depends on your diet. you wont be burning that many kcals tbh.

You'll be burning nearly as many as you would if you ran it.

And almost as many as if you drove to Spain and back. What relevance that is though I don't know...

I thought you were implying that by walking he won't be burning as many cals as running, which is true, but its not that much different.

[MacGee]

If I were to walk to work I'd have to set off 2 hours earlier and thus arrive home at about 8pm....nope..not going to happen. I do see several guys cycling the route everyday. That would be fine if you had changing facilities/showers...not me. Will stick to diet and gym for fitness..

[BigAlinEmbra]

I had one of those gps monitor apps on my iphone and it reckoned walking back the 2 miles from my work in half an hour was about 180 cals.
So maybe half a pound a week if you're lucky?

I've been walking home every day since the office move 3 months ago and shifted FA.
You'll feel better for it though, so as long as it's a nice walk then go for it I say.

Bet you'll have cracked and got the tram in the morning by the second week.

[Ordinary_Chap]

You'll not achieve much in all honesty.

The best ways to make changes are also the most difficult.

Good diet and hard work if you want to see results.

[Stevenj214]

Ordinary_Chap said:

You'll not achieve much in all honesty.

The best ways to make changes are also the most difficult.

Except maybe a stone or two loss over a year and enhanced fitness?

The best way to make changes are sustainable long term and not necessarily hard.

OP - walk to work and stick with the healthy eating. The changes won't be instantaneous but they will come.

[XG332]

You will wear your shoes out quicker, so I would drive.

[Morba]

Stevenj214 said:

Ordinary_Chap said:

You'll not achieve much in all honesty.

The best ways to make changes are also the most difficult.

Except maybe a stone or two loss over a year and enhanced fitness?

The best way to make changes are sustainable long term and not necessarily hard.

OP - walk to work and stick with the healthy eating. The changes won't be instantaneous but they will come.

I'd rather spend the 90 - 120 mins a day doing some good weights and cardio and preparing good food than walking. Much more productive

[Ordinary_Chap]

Stevenj214 said:

Ordinary_Chap said:

You'll not achieve much in all honesty.

The best ways to make changes are also the most difficult.

Except maybe a stone or two loss over a year and enhanced fitness?

The best way to make changes are sustainable long term and not necessarily hard.

OP - walk to work and stick with the healthy eating. The changes won't be instantaneous but they will come.

I'd suggest a stone or two is more than a little optimistic.

He would be far better using that time to train 3 times a week or more rather than for us to suggest he will make good changes from walking each day, which is leading him down a path of failure like you're suggesting.