Question:
What is better walking or jogging?
I am almost 7 months out open RNY (March 27th 2002). I have gone from 265lbs to 154lbs now. A total loss of 111 lbs. I have never been much into exercise but I have started walking about a mile a day/within that walk I might jog for a minute or so and hope to build up to more. I was wondering what is better for you walking or jogging? Also when doing this should I add ankle weights or hand weights? — Debbie S. (posted on October 22, 2002)
October 22, 2002
I always thought walking was best, it doesn't jar your body parts so much!!
just my opinion! post-op 02-27-02 down 144 pounds and over 91 inches..
— bikerchic
October 22, 2002
I don't think that you can say that either walking or jogging is
"better" for you. If you walk for a mile, or jog for a mile, you
will burn the same number of calories, but odviously if you jog you will
burn those calories more quickly. I don't think that ankle weights are a
good idea if you are jogging because that would put more strain on your
knees and ankles and could increase the risk of injury.
— Amber L.
October 22, 2002
My surgeon recommended walking above all other forms of exercise. It's
something that's easy to stick with. He also suggested the addition of
extra weights to aid in additional weight loss. I had been just carrying
3# dumb bells in in each hand when I walked. On my doc's suggestion I
added ankle weights and now carry an extra 18# of weight when I walk and
have finally broken a 4 month long plateau by doing this!
— LLinderman
October 22, 2002
The previous answers are correct, that jobgging is hard on a person's
joints, but also causes wrinkles(in case that is a concern). Walking is by
far the better choice, and you can do it anywhere!
— twenc
October 22, 2002
Jogging can be very hard on your knees. I think walking it a far better
choice. But jogging does burn more calories is a shorter amount of time.
— Sarah K.
October 22, 2002
Jogging is hard on the bod! If you are prone to osteoporosis it can be a
very bad thing - making you extremely suseptible to broken bones. It's
hard on the joints...even healthy joints that haven't spent years carrying
excess weight. It is a prime cause of shin splints, pulled muscles, and
neck pain. My chiro loves his jogging patients. He makes a lot of
adjusting their necks and shoulders because they get jarred so hard.
Similar to that of a car accident!
— [Deactivated Member]
October 22, 2002
Just my 2 cents on this topic...and I am sure I will be bashed for it BUT
here goes: when I first started exercising I could barely walk down and
back up my own stairs-gradually I walked more and more-one day it was four
telephone poles, 5 the next and so on. Eventually I was measuring miles and
one day I started jogging some of my walk. I jogged a little bit more each
day and have worked myself up to jogging 5 miles each morning (not weekends
though). Since I started jogging (verses walking) I noticed a complete
transition in my body shape-I gained massive muscle definition and shrunk
sizes like crazy-I also lost the "shelf" I had on my butt that
was like my stomach/hips/butt combo, and jogging for me got rid of all of
that and tightened everything up. Yes, it is hard on your joints/knees, but
do what works FOR YOU! My knees and ankles have never felt better, and
neither have I!
— Alli B.
October 22, 2002
I'm with Alli, jogging can be great exercise. I'm still learning to jog by
doing interval training (walking & jogging, alternated). I found I was
walking almost an hour per workout and not getting the kind of really good
workout I now get in half the time with the jogging mixed in. Like
jogging, walking can also hurt your joints if you overdo it, don't wear
good shoes, or develop some kind of foot or knee problem. If you can jog
even a little bit, I don't think it hurts to do it every now and then, just
to mix it up a bit. I still like walking too, but I don't count it as my
official exercise time anymore.
— Suzy C.
October 22, 2002
I've been a jogger for 25 years except for the 5 years after my
hysterectomy when I gained 100 pounds (thus the reason for my WLS one year
ago). Today my extra weight is all gone and I'm back to jogging again. So I
know what I'm talking about--I've studied running for years. Jogging is a
very good exercise as long as you have no biomechanical defects (knee,
ankle, foot problems) which would be aggravated by jogging. For people who
exercise every day strenuously, there is just no way to get your target
heart rate up to the aerobic fat burning level without breaking into an
extended jog. Just don't overdo it. Listen to your body and quit if it
starts to hurt. Wear good shoes and try to stay on softer surfaces. Cement
is the worst surface to run on. Choose asphalt, grass, dirt, trails to jog
on, and most of all HAVE FUN!
— artistmama
October 22, 2002
Hi, I had to laugh at the one response that jogging causes wrinkles!!!! I'v
never heard that one before. Anyway, I had my Open RNY 5/21/01 and started
slow jogging around 10 months post-op. 6 months later I am running 5 miles
a day and I compete in 5k road races regularly. This is what helps me keep
my weight down. I have been at goal for about 4 months. I think you should
do whatever feels right for you. I think if you are walking a good pace or
jogging its probably the same thing. Oh and I wouldn't EVER recommend
wearing leg weights while jogging. Too hard on the knees/ankles. Take care.
— Maureen P.
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