Will I gain weight if I stop walking?

Author: Kari Bernhard II  |  Last update: Wednesday, November 12, 2025

Participants who got no exercise during the eight-month study gained an average of almost 2.5 pounds. But 73 percent of those who briskly walked 11 miles a week, or about 30 minutes a day, were able to maintain their weight or even lose a few pounds.

Do we gain weight after stopping walking?

The body often begins to gain weight after we stop engaging in physical activity. Why? First of all, energy consumption is significantly reduced, because we have nowhere to consume it, so this energy is deposited in the body, converted into adipose tissue.

Will I gain weight if I don't walk?

Skipping a day of exercise won't cause weight gain, but frequently missing workouts may impact your weight management efforts and make it harder to stay motivated. Experts recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise and two days of resistance exercises per week.

What happens if I stop walking?

Physical Health: Prolonged cessation of walking would lead to severe health issues, including muscle atrophy, obesity, cardiovascular problems, and decreased bone density. The human body is adapted for movement, and lack of physical activity would result in a rapid decline in overall fitness.

Does walking reduce weight gain?

Walking is simple, free and one of the easiest ways to get more active, lose weight and become healthier. Sometimes overlooked as a form of exercise, walking briskly can help you build stamina, burn excess calories and make your heart healthier.

Walking for Fat Loss

Does walking affect belly fat?

Can a person lose belly fat by walking? Regular aerobic exercise such as walking may be an effective way to lose belly fat. A 2014 study supports this and concluded that walking could help to burn body fat, including fat around the waist and within the abdominal cavity.

What happens if you walk 30 minutes a day for a month?

Just 30 minutes every day can increase cardiovascular fitness, strengthen bones, reduce excess body fat, and boost muscle power and endurance. It can also reduce your risk of developing conditions such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis and some cancers.

What are the side effects of not walking?

Physical inactivity puts adults at greater risk of cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and strokes, type 2 diabetes, dementia and cancers such as breast and colon. The study was undertaken by researchers from WHO together with academic colleagues and published in The Lancet Global Health journal.

Why is walking not good for weight loss?

Fat burning hormones need high intensity, and walking is low intensity exercise. Though a large percentage of calories burned is of fat, the total amount of fat burned is negligible. Added to this is that the moment you stop walking, the metabolism is back to base line and you stop burning calories.

Has anyone lost weight walking 10,000 steps a day?

After a family trip made me realise how much my weight was holding me back, I started following a low-carb diet, weighing my food with a scale, and walking at least 10,000 steps a day. I've now lost 80 pounds (5 stone and 10lbs, or 36kg) in under 11 months. I have been overweight most of my life.

Can walking slim you down?

Physical activity, such as walking, is important for weight control because it helps you burn calories. If you add 30 minutes of brisk walking to your daily habits, you could burn about 150 more calories a day. Of course, the more you walk and the quicker your pace, the more calories you'll burn.

Why am I gaining weight if I barely eat?

If you're asking yourself, “Why am I gaining weight when I barely eat,” several factors may be at play. Your body may be holding onto fat stores if your eating habits are inconsistent or restricted. Or, your weight gain may be the effect of a sedentary lifestyle, medical condition, or long-term stress.

How to flush out water weight?

  1. Exercise Regularly. Daily exercise provides several health benefits, including preventing water retention. ...
  2. Drink More Water. Drinking water to reduce water weight sounds counterintuitive, but it helps. ...
  3. Manage Salt Intake. ...
  4. Cut Carbs. ...
  5. Focus on Certain Foods and Herbs. ...
  6. Try Supplements. ...
  7. Up Your Caffeine Intake.

How much weight will I lose if I walk 15000 steps a day?

This could result in losing 2.5lbs a week! By upping your steps to 15,000, you are now burning another 1.5lbs a week. Can you imagine how much faster your weight loss journey will be? It's an absolute game changer, and you can easily up your step count at home over on YouTube.

How can I slim down?

Here's how to whittle down where it matters most.
  1. Try curbing carbs instead of fats. ...
  2. Think eating plan, not diet. ...
  3. Keep moving. ...
  4. Lift weights. ...
  5. Become a label reader. ...
  6. Move away from processed foods. ...
  7. Focus on the way your clothes fit more than reading a scale. ...
  8. Hang out with health-focused friends.

What happens to your muscles if you stop walking?

If you stop using your muscles, your body won't waste the energy it needs to take care of them. Instead, your body will start to break your muscles down, which causes them to decrease in size and strength. Disuse atrophy may affect you if you: Lead a sedentary lifestyle.

Why am I gaining weight since I started walking?

Working out can cause short-term weight gain as your muscle mass increases. Post-workout inflammation may cause temporary weight fluctuations. Workout plateaus, supplement use, and dietary changes can also stall your weight-loss efforts. Try not to obsess over the number on the scale.

Which exercise is best for weight loss?

7 Best Weight-loss Exercises
  1. Walking. Walking is an easy exercise suitable for beginners, requiring no special equipment. ...
  2. Jogging or running. Jogging and running differ primarily in speed. ...
  3. Cycling. Cycling is a low-impact exercise that places minimal stress on the knees. ...
  4. Weight Training. ...
  5. Swimming. ...
  6. Yoga. ...
  7. Pilates.

What happens to your body when you stop walking?

When we stop exercising, we see an increased risk for heart disease and other illnesses, damage to our joints, and adverse effects on our mental state. That's why it's so important to get moving again after an injury, illness, or surgery, even if you have to modify your activities and start slowly.

How many hours is considered sedentary?

Sedentary time was defined as any time awake spent sitting, reclining, or lying down, and using low amounts of energy. Sleeping and standing did not count as sedentary time. The average amount of sedentary time was 9.4 hours per day.

Will I gain weight if I stop working out?

Your Body Responds

After all, the muscles aren't working hard enough to burn away calories. This can lead to weight gain as soon as 14 days (or earlier) once you stop exercising, according to Men's Journal. Over time, those extra pounds can cause many problems throughout your body.

When will I notice weight loss from walking?

After 3-4 days of walking: you will notice the “better fit” or more room in your clothes! After 7 days of walking: real changes are happening! You have used body fat as energy (fat burning!) Muscles feel more toned!

Does walking tone your butt?

Yes—when it comes to building your glutes while walking, it's all about the incline. If you're on a treadmill, “anything above a five percent grade is going to target the glutes much more than a lower incline [or flat surface],” says Matty.

Is it better to walk in the morning or evening?

An evening walk can help you burn more calories overall, as your body uses more energy when you exercise after eating meals. It can also help you prevent overeating at night and reduce your blood sugar spikes after dinner.

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