If you walk briskly you can definitely catch up to someone who’s jogging slowly. It’s only natural then for us to think that the argument on slow jogging vs fast walking as irrelevant.
However, they have some not-so-obvious differences that may actually affect your workout routine.
This article is for parents who are easing their way into jogging with their little one. It’s also for those who cannot run, whether by choice or circumstances. Read on as we explore how these two routines differ and how to best use them to get the most health benefits.
Slow Jogging VS Fast Walking: Their Differences
When it’s just a few weeks after delivering your baby, you really have no choice but to do walking exercises. Even if you are really determined to start being active again, your body will need to recover first. In fact, you should only attempt on running or doing more strenuous stroller workout routine after 6 months.
Fortunately, even before you’re past that 6th month, you can either walk briskly or jog slowly. Both are very effective in helping you to shed some of those baby fats in the early stages.
As was mentioned earlier, walking fast and jogging slowly can most likely be done at the same speed. However, that is where the similarities end. Their main difference is that walking is low-impact, compared to jogging or running.
When you’re jogging, no matter how slow, there is a fraction of a second when both feet are not touching the ground. The moment the other foot lands, it immediately receives all your body weight. The impact is significant as your all your body weight is transferred to one leg with considerable force. This is the same when you’re running, only more intense.
On the other hand, one foot is always touching the ground when you’re walking. Your body weight is gentry transferred between each foot, which helps to lower the risks of injuries in the long run (no pun intended). This is because your joints do not have to continuously bear the force of your weight while slow jogging.
Which Is Better For The Heart?
Both jogging and walking can greatly help improve your overall fitness. With all the carrying that you have to do with your baby, you really need to have these cardio exercises going. That doesn’t even consider the impending toddler activities.
An average person’s heart rate can increase up to around 120 to 130 beats per minute when running. When you’re jogging slowly or brisk walking, it can only get up to 100 beats. That difference of 20 beats is not that big actually. This is especially true if you end up wearing down your body most of the time after running.
However, since you’re actually lifting your body off the ground when slow jogging, it tends to be more demanding to your cardiovascular system. Your heart rate can rise faster than with walking.
Both walking and slow jogging can yield almost the same benefits when it comes to your heart, as opposed to running or fast jogging. For one, you will not get the same muscle pains the next day. If you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure during your pregnancy, running can be quite risky.
Do You Lose More Weight Running or Walking?
Lifting your body off the ground with every pace while running or jogging requires more energy than walking. The means you actually get to burn more calories. This is not the only factor to consider, though.
Which do you think can you do more consistently, running, jogging, or fast walking? As with any other workout routine, consistency is the key.
An article from Runner’s World tells us that when you run slow, you actually burn more calories than walking under 5 mph. To be honest, not a lot of people can actually walk that fast. However, you can still achieve that with slow jogging.
You will also need to consider your weight when deciding which of these activities you should do. You may burn more calories when you’re running, but it will also exert a lot of pressure on your joints. If you gained a lot of weight during pregnancy, it is advisable to start with walking.
Combination of Walking And Jogging
To get the most out of these 2 routines, it is better to combine them. Doing an interval workout, wherein you alternate between slow jogging and fast walking, can help burn those calories faster.
Even slow jogging can get you really tired easily after some time. This is especially true if you’re shedding more weight than you’re used to. On the other hand, walking all the time may not be as fulfilling. Your routine might up end up very boring, discouraging you to do it every day.
Try a shorter workout routine like slow jogging for 60 seconds and then alternating it with one to two minutes of walking. If you’re planning to bring your baby with you, make sure that you’re using a jogging stroller for both you and your child’s safety and convenience.
Here’s a great workout plan from Prevention.com, to help you get started. You can change this into something that will work better for you, but at least you get a clearer picture with this.
Wrapping It Up
With the truth behind slow jogging vs fast walking unveiled, you now have a choice to do either of them or just both. Whichever you decide to choose, you will definitely need a jogging stroller instead of a regular one.