Last Friday, a number of people who read my email entitled, “Does Walking Really Burn Fat?” became incensed. You might even say they felt righteous rage.
Here’s the line that set them off: “When it comes to the so-called fat burning potential of walking, I think you’re better off on the couch. Or sleeping.”
One wrote: “You’re retarded.”
Another wrote: “Bullshit. I’m calling you on this one.”
Yet another told me that anyone who looks the same physically after months or even years of walking has accomplished something great.
Well, not in my book.
Someone else wrote to tell me he’d lost 50 pounds from walking. And a friend of a friend of a friend said she knows two people who’ve lost weight from walking.
I’m in agreement with all of the above. Even the statement that “I’m retarded.”
But what I’m not in agreement with are those who wrote me to say, “How can you say that walking doesn’t burn CALORIES?”
My friend, I never said walking doesn’t burn calories. Everything you do or don’t do burns calories.
I said that walking doesn’t burn as much fat as sleeping. Or sitting on the couch. And I will support this statement with a reality all of you live each and every day – as well as some scientific evidence.
First, the reality each of us live everyday.
Before you go to bed each night, measure your weight and your waistline. Do the same thing when you get up in the morning.
Unless you’re a sleep eater, you’ll probably note that you dropped 1.5 to 2.0 pounds – or more. While sleeping. And if you measured
your waistline, it’s most likely less than before you went to bed.
This is a fact I became aware of as a high school freshman and had to make weight in order to compete in a specific weight class in wrestling.
Our coach taught us to go to bed 1.5 to 2.0 pounds above weight and that if we didn’t eat anything we’d be on target at the morning weigh-ins.
He did not tell us to walk all night in order to drop the last 1.5 to 2.0 lbs.
And he was right about the 1.5 to 2.0 pounds lost during sleep 100% of the time.
Okay, I realize this ‘reality’ won’t be good enough for most, so here’s some science.
In Dr. Al Sears book, P.A.C.E. , there is a graph on page 55 that shows what type of fuel your body burns while resting as opposed to that used during low intensity exercise (like walking).
Here’s the results:
What Does Your Body Use for Fuel?
Resting – Protein – 1-5% Carbs – 35% Fat – 60%
Low Intensity Exercise – Protein – 5-8% Carbs – 70% Fat – 15%
Now, the above does NOT mean I am against walking. I walk everyday. And I have a number of walking methods I use.
At the same time, I know of two very powerful ways to burn fat, other than sleeping or sitting on the couch.
The first is what I’m covering in my program, The Fastest Way Humanly Possible to Burn Fat.
The other method is something I will cover in the New Year.
Both methods are as different as night and day.
And both change your bodymind in ways you cannot fathom when you do nothing but read my words.
Now, you might be wondering how much fat you burn when you engage in moderate intensity exercise. The answer is 55% – still 5% less than resting.
Oh my.
And if you engage in high intensity exercise, you’re only burning 3% fat – and almost all the rest is from carbs. A whopping 95% to be precise.
Based upon this, you might think that resting and moderate intensity exercise are the keys to burning fat.
Not so fast, my friend. Not so fast.
Get my program and discover what really is The Fastest Way Humanly Possible to Burn Fat.
You’ll be stunned at the results you get.
Best,
Matt Furey