Walking 8 Miles: Calories Burned And How To Maximize The Effect

Walking is one of the most underrated exercises for weight loss. It seems too simple, too easy, and way too ordinary compared to more trendy workouts like high-intensity interval training or Pilates. But don’t be fooled by its simplicity. Walking is a powerful fitness tool that can torch a surprising number of calories, boost your metabolism, and kickstart your weight loss journey. An 8-mile walk, for instance, might not sound like much, but it’s an exercise powerhouse in disguise. Every stride you take is a step towards a healthier, fitter you. Not only does it burn calories, but it also strengthens your heart, improves circulation, and enhances your mood. Plus, it’s a low-impact activity that is gentle on your joints and can be done practically anywhere, anytime. In this blog, we’ll delve into the calorie-burning potential of an 8-mile walk and share some tips on how to maximize its effect on your health and fitness goals.

The Benefits Of Walking 8 Miles A Day

Walking is not just a mode of transportation, but a comprehensive exercise that can significantly enhance your overall health and well-being. By committing to an 8-mile walk daily, you’re setting yourself up for a plethora of benefits beyond weight loss. Here’s why:

Cardiovascular Health

Walking is a fantastic cardiovascular exercise. When you walk, your heart rate increases, which promotes the strengthening of your heart muscles and enhances blood circulation.

Regularly walking long distances can help reduce the risks of heart diseases and stroke by managing levels of harmful fats like LDL cholesterol while increasing beneficial HDL cholesterol (2).

Mental Health Boost

The mental health benefits of walking are often overlooked. Regular physical activity like walking triggers the release of endorphins, our body’s natural mood enhancers. This release can help manage stress, anxiety, and mild depression (3).

The rhythmic and repetitive nature of walking can have a meditative effect, promoting mental calmness and clarity.

Improved Sleep Patterns

Regular walkers often report better sleep patterns. The physical exertion from walking helps induce tiredness, allowing you to fall asleep faster and enjoy a deeper, more restful sleep (6).

Exposure to natural daylight can also help regulate your body’s internal “biological clock,” improving your overall sleep quality.

Joint Health And Bone Density

Walking is a low-impact exercise that is gentle on the joints, compared to other forms of exercise like running or jumping. It helps maintain joint flexibility and can alleviate symptoms of arthritis (1).

Additionally, walking is a weight-bearing exercise, meaning it can help increase bone density and reduce the risk of osteoporosis and fractures (1).

Read More: Running 2 Miles: Calories Burn While You Have Fun!

Enhanced Creativity And Memory

Walking, particularly in natural settings, can stimulate your brain and enhance your creativity. It provides a break from usual environments, offering new stimuli that can spark fresh ideas.

Some studies even suggest that regular walking can improve memory and cognitive function, slowing down cognitive decline as we age (4).

Immunity Boost

Regular moderate-intensity exercise, such as walking, can boost your immune system and contribute to overall disease prevention. It promotes good circulation, allowing the cells and substances of the immune system to move through the body freely and do their job more efficiently (1).

Walking 8 Miles A Day Calories Burned

Walking 8 miles per day can significantly contribute to your daily calorie burn. Depending on factors like your body weight and walking speed, you could possibly burn anywhere from 680 to 1,080 calories.

These numbers, however, are not set in stone. They can vary based on several variables such as your current weight, the pace at which you walk, the type of terrain you’re traversing, and even the weather conditions.

For example, if you weigh around 200 lbs, you could burn approximately 800 calories during an 8-mile walk. This calorie burn can increase if your route includes uphill walks or if you’re walking in hot weather, both of which demand more energy.

Here’s another example; the calories burned walking 8 miles at 4mph for a person weighing 150 lbs would be around 680 calories. If this same person were to walk 8 miles at 5mph, their calorie burn could increase to nearly 950 calories.

So, while the average calories burned walking 8 miles is substantial, consider the following factors to determine exactly how many calories you’ll burn on your own 8-mile 

Body Weight

As a rule of thumb, the more you weigh, the more calories you’ll burn during physical activity. This is because it takes more energy to move a larger body. This means a person who weighs more will typically burn more calories walking the same distance as someone who weighs less.

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Muscle Mass

Muscle tissue burns more calories than fat tissue, even at rest. Therefore, people with a greater muscle mass will generally burn more calories during their walk compared to those with less muscle mass.

Walking Speed

The pace at which you walk can also affect how many calories you burn. Walking faster increases your heart rate and causes your body to use more energy, resulting in more calories burned. However, it’s important to walk at a pace that feels comfortable and sustainable for you.

Terrain And Weather

The type of surface you’re walking on and the weather conditions can also influence calorie burn.

Walking uphill or on uneven surfaces requires more effort, thus burning more calories. Similarly, walking in hot weather can increase your calorie burn as your body works harder to cool itself down.

Walking 8 Miles A Day Weight Loss: How It Works

Walking 8 miles a day can be a transformative experience for your health and wellbeing.

One of the significant benefits of walking 8 miles a day is that it can aid in weight loss and overall fitness improvement (1). This is due to the substantial calorie burn that such a distance can provide.

While the exact number of calories burned will depend on factors like your weight and pace, you can expect to burn hundreds of calories on these daily walks. This calorie deficit can contribute significantly to weight loss, especially when combined with a low-calorie meal plan.

By ensuring you’re consuming fewer calories than you’re spending, you set the stage for effective weight loss.

However, it’s important to understand that weight loss isn’t instantaneous—it occurs in stages. Initially, your body may lose water weight, which can lead to a sudden drop in weight.

Following this, your body starts to burn stored fat for energy, leading to more gradual and sustainable weight loss.

Incorporating a technique known as power walking can further enhance the weight-loss benefits of your walks.

Power walking involves maintaining a brisk pace that gets your heart rate up higher than a leisurely stroll would. This technique can help you burn more calories and fat during your walks.

Remember, consistency is key. It might take a few weeks or even months to notice changes, but if you stick to your routine of walking 8 miles a day and following a low-calorie meal plan, you will likely see progress over time.

Read More: Walking 3 Miles: Calories Burned And Weight Loss Effect

Does 8-Mile Walk Reduce Belly Fat?

Walking 8 miles a day can indeed aid in reducing belly fat. While you can’t specifically target belly fat for loss – a concept known as spot reduction – walking is an effective way to decrease overall body fat, which includes belly fat.

Depending on your weight and the intensity of your walk, you can burn a significant amount of calories, contributing to a calorie deficit. A calorie deficit occurs when you burn more calories than you consume, and it’s necessary for weight loss.

To maximize belly fat loss from walking, it’s recommended to consistently hit at least 10,000 steps each day, which equals roughly 5 miles. Combining this with a balanced diet will further enhance weight loss and lead to a reduction in belly fat.

How To Walk 8 Miles A Day Efficiently

Below are some top tips for walking 8 miles a day efficiently:

Start Right With A Warm Up

Before you set off on your 8 miles, it’s essential to warm up properly. Start with five minutes of gentle walking, gradually increasing your pace.

Follow this with some dynamic stretches such as leg swings, arm circles, and torso twists. This helps prepare your body for the walk ahead and can help prevent injuries.

Gear Up

To ensure your walk is comfortable, make sure you’re wearing the right gear. This means investing in a good pair of walking shoes and making sure they fit properly.

You should also consider clothing options that are both weather appropriate and breathable as this can help improve performance. 

Pace Yourself

Maintaining a consistent pace during your 8-mile walk can help you get the most out of it. To do this, determine your target pace before setting off and try to stick to it as much as possible.

Here’s how to determine a good pace:

• Walk at a speed that feels comfortable and sustainable for you.
• Check your heart rate periodically to make sure it falls within the target range (this is typically between 50-80% of your maximum heart rate). 
• Use a pedometer or fitness tracker to help you monitor your pace. 

Maintain A Brisk Pace For Weight Loss

The speed at which you walk can influence how many calories you burn. Walking briskly can help you burn more calories compared to a leisurely pace. ‘Brisk’ means you can still talk but not sing, and you may be puffing slightly.

Include Some Jogging Or Running Intervals

Adding in short jogs or runs during your walk can help boost the number of calories burned and can increase your cardiovascular fitness. For instance, you might jog for a minute, then walk for two minutes, and repeat this pattern throughout your walk.

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Consider Power Walking

Power walking itself is a style of fast-paced, energetic walking that can be an effective tool for weight loss.

By maintaining a quick pace and employing techniques such as pumping your arms, engaging your core, and maintaining good posture, you can burn more calories than with regular walking.

Power walking isn’t just about walking faster. It’s about using specific techniques to maximize your stride and engage more muscles. Here are a few tips:

• Maintain good posture: Keep your back straight, look forward, and keep your shoulders relaxed.
• Arm action: Bend your arms at a 90-degree angle and pump them as you walk. This not only increases your speed but also burns more calories.
• Foot action: Land on your heel and roll through to push off on your toes. This gives you more power and engages your calf and thigh muscles.

Fuel Your Walk

Staying hydrated is crucial, especially for long walks. Carry a water bottle and take regular sips. If you’re walking for more than an hour, consider a sports drink to replace lost electrolytes.

Nutrition-wise, have a balanced meal with protein and complex carbs a few hours before your walk. For an energy boost during your walk, bring a healthy snack like a banana or a handful of nuts.

Break It Up

If walking 8 miles in one go feels daunting or if you have a busy schedule, consider breaking it up into smaller walks throughout the day. This can make the task seem more manageable and fit better into your daily routine.

Gradually Increase Your Distance

If you’re new to walking, start with a shorter distance and gradually increase it over time. This can help prevent injury and make the transition to walking 8 miles a day more manageable.

Choose Scenic Routes

Walking the same route every day can become monotonous. Choosing scenic routes can make your walks more enjoyable and motivate you to stick with your routine.

Find A Walking Buddy Or Group

Having someone to share your walks with can make them more enjoyable and motivate you to stick with it. Consider joining a local walking group or recruiting a friend or family member as your walking buddy.

Who Shouldn’t Walk 8 Miles A Day?

While walking is generally a low-impact and safe form of exercise, there are certain individuals who may need to take precautions or avoid walking long distances such as 8 miles a day. Here are a few examples:

Individuals With Certain Medical Conditions

People with certain health conditions like heart disease, severe arthritis, uncontrolled high blood pressure, and other serious chronic diseases should consult their doctor before starting any new exercise regimen, including long-distance walking (5).

People Recovering From Surgery Or Injury

If you’ve recently had surgery, particularly on your joints or legs, or if you’re recovering from a serious injury, walking 8 miles a day may not be advisable. Your body needs time to heal, and overexertion could lead to complications or prolonged recovery time.

Those New To Exercise

If you’re just starting out on your fitness journey, diving straight into an 8-mile daily walk may be too strenuous. It’s important to gradually increase your distance and intensity to prevent injuries.

Pregnant Women

While walking can be beneficial during pregnancy, walking 8 miles a day may be too strenuous for some pregnant women, especially in the later stages of pregnancy. It’s always best to consult a healthcare provider about what level of physical activity is appropriate during pregnancy.

Elderly Individuals

Older adults may find walking 8 miles a day challenging, especially if they have mobility issues or chronic health conditions. It’s important for older adults to stay active, but they should do so in a way that’s safe and appropriate for their fitness level.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is walking 8 miles a day good? – Yes, walking 8 miles a day can be beneficial for your overall health and fitness. It can help with weight loss, boost cardiovascular health, and strengthen your muscles.

Is Walking 8 Miles A Day Too Much?

Walking 8 miles a day may be too much for some people, especially those with medical conditions or those who are not used to exercising frequently. Before beginning any new exercise program it is important to consult with your doctor.  

How To Burn 3,500 Calories A Day?

To burn 3,500 calories in one day you may need to combine physical activity with dieting as well as reduce caloric intake from food sources such as sugary drinks and unhealthy snacks like chips and candy bars.

Some ways to burn large amounts of calories include running or jogging at high intensity (burning up to 600-900 kcal/hour), swimming laps (burning up to 600 kcal/hr), playing racquetball (burning 700-800 kcal/hr) or biking at greater than 15 mph (burning 800+ calories/hr).

The Bottom Line

Walking 8 miles a day can be an effective strategy for weight loss and improving overall health. By focusing on maintaining a brisk pace, employing power walking techniques, and making necessary lifestyle adjustments, you can maximize the calories burned and benefits gained from this activity.