For Those Who Gained some Summer Pounds

Since school and practice are o going to once again commence in less than a month it might be time for some people to take a look at themselves in a mirror and evaluate their shape. I know that because of my shoulder surgery recovery I have gained a few pounds, and am looking forward to a time when I am allowed to do more than 5 mile walks. Along these same lines I recently came across an older article related to burning calories. What follows is a summary of some points I found most interesting.

In discussing which activity burns more calories running or walking, many believe that the two burn the same amount. The article’s author, Amy Burfoot, is Runner’s World’s executive editor. She states that running burns more calories than walking at a pace slower than 5 mph (12 minute pace). Running burns more calories because running has a more dynamic motion. The act of basically jumping from one foot to the other uses more energy than walking at say 4 mph (15 minute pace). Burfoot also mentions that during a run you burn more calories because your body is required to take in more oxygen. However, walking at 5 mph (12 minute pace) is said to go against the natural motion of the human body. This awkward movement causes the body to work harder and thus require more energy and burn more calories.

To calculate how many calories you burn during a run Burfoot offers this formula for net calories burned/mile: 0.63 x your weight (lbs.). For walking at a rate slower than 5 mph the net calories burned/mile is equal to 0.30 x your weight (lbs.). Net calories burned/mile is used instead of total calories burned/mile to incorporate the amount of calories that would normally be burned due to the basal metabolic rate. Once again, walking faster that 5 mph would burn more than running.

However, there are some discrepancies with the formulas. The proportion of calories burned could be higher or lower depending on the terrain being ran on, how efficient a runner’s form is, the altitude of the run, etc.

To read the actual article check out http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-242-304-311-8402-0,00.html.

With this new found information get out there and train so you don’t look fat when practice comes around.