How Many Steps Does It Take To Lose Weight & Is 10,000 Steps Enough?

Is walking 10,000 steps a day enough for fat loss? (Image via unsplash/Arek Adeoye)
Is walking 10,000 steps a day enough for fat loss? (Image via unsplash/Arek Adeoye)

Walking 10,000 steps a day is a great way to lose weight, improve your health and get fit.

There are many benefits to walking regularly: it's low-impact and easy on the joints, so you can do it as often as possible. So, how much walking do you need to lose weight? How many steps does it take to burn calories?

We will look into all the questions - and also explain why 10,000 steps may or may not be enough for your fat loss goals.


How Many Steps Do You Need To Lose Weight?

If you want to lose weight, burn a lot of calories, and have fun doing it, walking is the perfect exercise for you. You can get started by taking just 10,000 steps each day.

The exact number of calories burned in 10,000 steps depends on your weight and speed, but here's an example: A 140-pound person walking at a speed of 2 miles per hour will burn about 360 calories in one hour. While the number of calories burned in action is subjective to variable factors, walking is still a great workout.


Does Walking 10,000 Steps Burn Fat?

As you might expect, walking more steps will burn more calories. However, perhaps the better question is how many extra steps do you need to add to your daily routine in order to see results?

Walking 10,000 steps per day is a great goal for those looking to lose weight. That's because it’s just about five miles and burns about 1,500 calories per week if you walk that distance every day at a moderate pace. That’s enough energy burned each week to lose almost two pounds of fat.


Should You Walk After A Meal To Lose Weight?

If you're trying to lose weight and decided that walking is a great exercise option, you might be wondering whether or not it's a good idea to walk after meals.

While it's true that any amount of physical activity can help you lose weight, many experts recommend waiting one hour after eating before exercising. That allows the body time to digest food and process the nutrients properly so that your body gets maximum benefit from the calories burned during exercise.

If you do want to walk after eating, try waiting at least 30 minutes before hitting the pavement. That will give your digestive system enough time to get started on breaking down nutrients from what you just ate.


How To Count Your Steps For Weight Loss

If you want to lose weight, counting your steps can be a great way to keep track of how much you’re moving. Pedometers are easy-to-use tools that measure the number of steps you take in a day. You can use them as a motivator to get up and move around more.

You may have heard that 10,000 steps per day are the magic number for weight loss — and to some degree, it’s true. That has been recommended by several health organizations.

However, that isn't meant as an exact prescription or number goal — instead, it's just a guideline based on scientific evidence showing that people who walk at least 10,000 steps per day tend to weigh less than those who don't walk so much.


How Many Calories Burned In 10,000 Steps - And Is It Enough?

The number of calories you burn while walking depends on a variety of factors, including the pace at which you walk and the terrain over which you are walking. Walking on flat ground uses less energy than walking uphill or on uneven terrain; so, your speed affects how many calories you burn. The faster you walk, the more calories will be burned.

There's no universal standard for how many steps equal one mile; so, most pedometers estimate between 400-500 calories burned for every 10,000 steps of brisk walking.

The formula used by most pedometers is:

((Distance walked - Distance remaining)/(Distance walked))*1000=Total number of calories burned


How To Increase The Number Of Steps You Take Every Day Without Trying Too Hard

There are so many ways to increase your step count without really trying. If you have a sedentary job, try increasing your walking pace when you're on the phone or walking around the office.

If you travel for work or spend a lot of time in meetings, use this time to walk around and stretch. If you're at home with children who get their exercise in the playground or running around outside, set up an exercise regimen where they can earn extra screen time by having an active lifestyle.

If all else fails, and these are not options for you, there's one final way to increase your daily steps: do something fun. Whether it's going out with friends, taking a class like yoga or pilates (which often requires more movement than traditional classes), or doing something outdoors like hiking or biking — any activity that gets your heart pumping will help burn calories and earn more steps toward reaching your 10,000 per day goal.


Walking is a great way to lose weight and improve health

Walking is a great way to lose weight and improve your health - but does walking 10,000 steps actually do anything for you?

It's a common belief that walking 10,000 steps a day will help you burn enough calories to lose weight. So, what does that mean for you, and can you take advantage of that? Let's look at some facts about how much exercise is necessary to achieve your goals.

The number of steps recommended by experts varies from person to person. Some people may need more or less than others depending on their starting fitness levels and overall health.

However, there are some general guidelines that apply across the board: If you're overweight or obese, aim for at least eight hours of activity per week (or around 1-2 hours per day). Ideally though, if possible aim even higher than this recommendation.

If you're not overweight or obese but are trying to lose weight, then aim for 150 minutes per week (around 30 minutes per day).


Takeaway

So, to answer the question: How many steps does it take to lose weight? The answer is not as easy as you might think.

One reason is that there're so many variables involved in weight loss. However, if you’re looking for a general guideline of how many steps you should be taking each day, our recommendation would be around 10,000 steps per day.

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Edited by Bhargav
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