As a runner, I will readily admit that walking is one of the most (if not THE most) effective exercises to burn calories. Sure, intense aerobic exercises expend more energy per minute, but those are much more difficult and they are sometimes more dangerous to sustain. You can lose a significant amount of weight just by simply walking.
- Low impact.
- Easily done.
- Whole body.
- Just listen to music.
- Phone a friend.
- Enjoy the views.
- Share someone's company.
An hour long walk is roughly 3 miles. This burns about 300 calories. Walking at least 10,000 steps a day and eating at a calorie deficit has me down 40 pounds since last November. It's not a magic bullet, but it does offer me an excellent advantage in terms of "calories out" for the day.