Weight Loss - Do Low Intensity Exercises Burn Calories?
Actually, it has been determined from a scientific point of view that low intensity
exercises such as walking can burn fat however, because you are exerting less energy you are also burning less calories. This may seem a little confusing but if you compare walking to jogging the latter needs more energy meaning more calories will be burned. If your using walking as a way to lose weight you will burn fat however, as a whole the total amount of body fat loss is less.
Just because you burn fat does not necessarily mean that you will lose weight. It is hard to measure this generically because there are so many different factors involved that can influence the outcome such as the total number of calories that can represent body fat and carbs together and the total number of burnt fat calories.
As you are using less energy performing a low intensity workout you will need to increase the amount of time to lose more calories. The key thing here is not the time but the total amount of calories you burn, and this should be your goal. For example, if you set yourself to burn off between 200 to 300 calories a day then do this by using a higher intensity exercise like jogging. With jogging you will lose more calories in the same amount time as if you were walking. In a way you are using your time more efficiently.
Do not get too fixated on the amount of fat calories that you burn as these will be replenished by the carbohydrates in the food that you eat. When you need energy for exercise your body will break down the fat stored in your body and turn it into carbohydrates. If you are burning off less fat calories compared to the amount of carb calories, the fat will eventually get utilised to replace the carbohydrates you have used up.
If you have only 20 minutes a day to spare for exercise then, for the same amount of time you will burn less calories if you walked at a moderate pace. By increasing your pace you will use the same 20 minutes more effectively by increasing the pace of your walking and you will use up more carbohydrates which the body will need by converting it from fat.
This does not mean low intensity exercises are not effective, they are. If you are not use to exercise then low intensive exercises such as walking for 20 to 30 minutes a day or a couple of times a week at a low to moderate pace is a great way to start. Doing this for a few months will build your stamina and prepare you physically for more intensive exercises. Before starting any exercise regime always consult your doctor for medical advice and a check up.