Can I build muscle from walking, is that why I haven't lost weight?

Question

I have been walking 3.5 miles a day in my city. I walk up hills for maybe about 1.5 miles of my walk.

I have been doing this for about 2 weeks, I have also been dieting and eating all healthy foods and no sweets or junkfood!

For the past week I haven't lost any weight, but my clothes feel better.

Am I gaining muscle on my legs and thats why the scale is the same?

I didn't think you could really build muscle from walking, any advice?

Thanks!

I am burning more calories than I am eating, so I know I should be losing weight.

I am writing all my food down, so thats not the problem.

Answer 1

use a measuring tape and your clothes to measure your progress

you may have gained muscle and lost fat and that is why your scale is saying the same.

you are using your legs more, so you will gain muscle.

Answer 2

Hi Jenny!

You are almost there. Good for you on creating a calorie deficit.

You are right, muscle weighs more than fat, but i doubt it is being supplanted at the same rate. Also, you can build a little muscle walking if you were in pretty poor shape before starting your program.

I think the key to your body fat reduction is to stay at or below 1500 calories per day. Breaking up each meal into 300 calories about five times per day. This should be easy to do since it sounds like you are good calorie counter.

Be sure to continue to stay active and drink lots of water.

If you don't see weight loss pretty soon, I would be surprised. Keep in mind that menstrual cycles cause you to retain more water and weigh more, but it is water weight and releases the following week.

Stay the course and don't go over your daily limit. Once you hit 1500 you are done for the day.

I believe this answers your question, but if not, you may email me.

Good luck on your diet and fitness goals!

Trainer Gregg
[e-mail]
"You can achieve anything you set your mind on."

Answer 3

Muscle weighs considerably more than fat for the same volume. Its a simple equation calories in less than calories burned you lose storage fat. That coupled with the gain in muscle mass from exercise might very well result in a weight gain but clothes that fit. Walking is good exercise. Depending on your pace the aerobic benefit and calorie burning is not far from running. It is a lot lower impact and does not mess so much with your joints. If your walking regimen is at a good nearly aerobic pace try carrying hand weights. It will burn even more calories, condition and tone upper body and not increase your time required.

Answer 4

of course you can also make muscles by walking ... it depends on your physiology. Some people burn carbohydrates and some people burn fat. Are you in general a sportive person? by sport I mean do you have enough activities during the day normally? like what is your job? because when you start dieting usually after doing some extra activities such as walking or aerobics or any kind of activity which is not usuall for you your body will start to burn carbs up to 5 hours or more so you have to be care full what time you start to eat after your long walk ...
And of course you can not expect too loose pounds so fast, the first level is to loose inches ...

Answer 5

Yes, you are toning your leg and back muscles and burning more calories.

But, I 'hear your pain'. My wife and I walked 3-4 miles, 4-5 times a week, for over six months. Neither of us noticed a significant weight loss. We 'felt' somewhat healthier and perhaps had better stamina. But, neither of us felt it was an effective way to stay healthy.

Answer 6

Contrary to popular belief, you have to build a LOT of muscle to gain weight from it. It's highly unlikely you've gained enough muscle already to counteract your weight loss efforts. Also, it sometimes takes your body a couple weeks to get in the swing of things before it starts to lose weight.

Answer 7

YES! Take a look down at your calves. Bet they're pretty solid. You're toning your muscles and your clothes fit better because you are redistributing fat/muscle...but the scale doesn't change because your eating right and you're active. Add 8 glasses of water to your routine and you'll start to see even better results.

Answer 8

Yes you are loosing fat and gaining muscle
muscle weighs more than fat.
Jogging will help you lose weight faster by speeding up your metabolism
Drink green tea, 4 cups a day (no sugar)

I bet you are looking better

.

Answer 9

he metabolic powers particular foods have to make your physique burn far more body fat.” It is a way of rating foods, primarily based on “how a lot of calories your body is going to burn just breaking down the nutrients each and every time you consume a specific meals.”
Therefore, you are not alone in this battle.

Answer 10

give it some time. more muscle actually means that you will burn more fat with the same amount of work. you definitely have the right approach to losing weight and staying healthy if you arent crash dieting.