Quick Answer
To lose 2 pounds per week, most experts recommend taking 10,000 to 12,000 steps per day along with following a reduced calorie diet. Taking 10,000 steps per day can burn around 500 calories, which creates a calorie deficit needed for 2 pounds of weight loss when combined with dietary changes.
How Many Calories To Cut To Lose 2 Pounds Per Week
To lose 1 pound of fat, you need to have a calorie deficit of 3,500 calories over the course of a week. This is because 1 pound of fat contains approximately 3,500 calories.
To lose 2 pounds per week, you need a weekly calorie deficit of 7,000 calories (2 * 3,500 calories).
If you cut 500 calories from your diet each day, you will have a daily calorie deficit of 500 calories. Over 7 days, this creates a 3,500 weekly calorie deficit (500 calories * 7 days = 3,500 calories).
To get a total weekly deficit of 7,000 calories for 2 pounds of weight loss, you also need to burn an extra 3,500 calories through increased exercise.
This is where adding steps comes into play.
How Many Calories Walking 10,000 Steps Burns
The number of calories burned by walking 10,000 steps depends on your weight.
Here’s a rough estimate of how many calories a person will burn by walking 10,000 steps per day based on their weight:
| Weight | Calories Burned Per 10,000 Steps |
|---|---|
| 100 lbs | 300-350 calories |
| 150 lbs | 450-500 calories |
| 200 lbs | 550-650 calories |
As you can see, for most people, walking 10,000 steps will burn around 500 calories.
When combined with cutting 500 calories from your diet each day, walking 10,000 steps will create the daily 1,000 calorie deficit needed to lose 2 pounds per week.
How Fast To Walk 10,000 Steps
To reach 10,000 steps per day, most people need to walk between 4-5 miles. This distance can be covered in 60-90 minutes for most individuals.
A brisk walking pace of 3 to 4 miles per hour is recommended when aiming for 10,000 daily steps. At this brisk pace, you can walk a mile in 15-20 minutes.
Here are some general timeframes needed to complete 10,000 steps at different paces:
– 4 mph pace: 60 minutes
– 3.5 mph pace: 75 minutes
– 3 mph pace: 90 minutes
– 2.5 mph pace: 2 hours
Of course, the actual time needed will vary based on your stride length. But in general, maintaining a brisk pace will help you reach 10,000 steps in 1-1.5 hours of dedicated walking time.
Benefits of Walking 10,000 Steps Per Day
Here are some of the main benefits of hitting 10,000 steps per day:
– Promotes weight loss by creating a calorie deficit
– Lower risk of obesity, heart disease, diabetes and other chronic illnesses
– Strengthens bones and muscles, especially in the legs and hips
– Improves balance and coordination
– Boosts energy levels and mood
– Increased lifespan
In addition to physical health benefits, getting in your daily steps helps form a healthy habit. It also provides daily structure and accountability.
Tips to Walk 10,000 Steps Per Day
Here are some tips to help you work up to 10,000 steps daily:
– Get a fitness tracker to monitor your steps and stay motivated.
– Start low and gradually increase your steps each week until you reach 10,000. Don’t jump into the highest step count right away.
– Break up stepping sessions into smaller chunks throughout the day rather than one long walk. For example, 3,000 steps in the morning, 3,000 midday, and 4,000 in the evening.
– Find ways to sneak in extra steps, like pacing while on phone calls or taking the stairs whenever you can.
– Schedule walking meetings rather than sitting meetings when possible.
– Park your car further from your destination so you have to walk further.
– Recruit an accountability partner or walking group to help you stay on track.
– Make sure to get proper walking shoes and comfortable clothes to prevent injury or chafing.
– Listen to upbeat music, podcasts or audiobooks to make your walks more enjoyable.
How Long It Takes to See Results from 10,000 Steps
How quickly you’ll see results from consistently hitting 10,000 steps per day depends on several factors:
– Your starting weight and fitness level – People who are more overweight may see initial results faster. Those who are leaner may need more time.
– Your calorie deficit – The larger your daily calorie deficit from diet and exercise, the faster the weight loss.
– Your consistency – You need to stick with 10,000 steps almost every day to see continued results. Inconsistent step counts will slow your progress.
In general, most people begin to notice some weight loss within 1-2 weeks of consistently hitting 10,000+ steps daily along with an appropriate calorie deficit. You may drop 2-3 pounds in the first couple weeks.
Over time, losing 2 pounds per week can result in major weight loss. In 6 months you could lose 50+ pounds just by walking and eating in a calorie deficit!
But keep in mind that weight loss will begin to plateau over time as your body adapts. So you may need to increase your step count after a few months to keep seeing 2 pounds per week of loss.
Caution About Extreme Calorie Cutting
While a 500-1,000 calorie daily deficit is recommended for healthy weight loss, cutting calories too extremely can backfire.
Women should not eat below 1200 calories daily, while men should stay over 1500 calories. Going below these levels can cause nutritional deficiencies, fatigue, and other issues. It can also slow your metabolism.
So focus first on reducing processed foods, sugary items, and unhealthy fats. Get your calorie deficit mostly from step counts rather than extreme diet cuts.
Other Types of Exercise to Pair with Walking
While walking is an excellent exercise for weight loss, you can accelerate results by pairing it with other calorie-burning activities.
Here are some great options to complement a walking regimen:
– Jogging or running – Burns more calories per mile.
– Swimming – Non-impact cardio that works your whole body.
– Strength training – Building muscle boosts metabolism. Focus on legs, glutes, back & core.
– Yoga – Improves flexibility, strength and balance.
– Cycling – Low-impact cardio alternative to walking.
– Bodyweight exercises – Pushups, squats, planks, etc. build functional strength.
– Interval training – Alternating intense spurts with recovery periods torches calories.
Aim to incorporate 1-3 strength or cardio sessions in addition to your daily 10K steps. But listen to your body and don’t overdo it, especially when first getting started.
Risks of Overtraining
While exercise is crucial for weight loss, overdoing it can be counterproductive.
Too much high-intensity exercise without proper recovery can increase your risk for:
– Injury – Overuse injuries like stress fractures or muscle strains.
– Burnout – Physical and mental exhaustion that causes you to skip workouts.
– Immune suppression – Excessive exercise can make you prone to sickness.
– Muscle loss – Cortisol and protein breakdown can occur from overtraining.
– Hormone dysfunction – Can disrupt crucial hormones needed for health.
– Heart damage – Strenuous endurance exercise over time can increase cardiac risk.
That’s why it’s important to ramp up your exercise workload gradually. Avoid increasing your steps or workouts by more than 10% per week.
Listen to warning signs from your body and be willing to take rest days when needed. Quality sleep and nutrition will help support your recovery.
Safety Tips for Walking 10,000 Steps Per Day
Walking 10,000+ steps per day is generally very safe for most healthy adults. But here are some tips to make sure you avoid injury:
– Warm up muscles before longer walks with dynamic stretches.
– Cool down slowly and stretch after finishing walks.
– Invest in proper walking shoes replaced every 300-500 miles. Get fitted at a specialty running store.
– Walk on softer surfaces whenever possible, like tracks, trails or treadmills.
– Slow pace on downhill sections to avoid pounding feet and knees.
– Stay hydrated and fuel up with snacks like bananas or energy chews during longer walks.
– Listen to your body and take rest days whenever overly sore or fatigued.
– See a physical therapist or sports medicine doctor if you develop chronic pain.
– Avoid walking outdoors on extremely hot, cold, or poor air quality days.
10,000 Steps Per Day Weight Loss Results
Here are some real-world examples of weight loss results from committing to 10,000 steps daily:
James, 42, lost 18 pounds after 3 months of walking 10,000 steps per day along with reducing his nightly beer intake and eliminating fast food. He started at 205 pounds and dropped to 187 pounds.
Michelle, 27, lost 8 pounds in 5 weeks by parking farther from work, taking the stairs, walking her dog daily, and reaching 10,000+ steps per day. She cut sugary coffee drinks and late night snacks.
Mark, 36, struggled with 225 pounds on his 5’11 frame. In 4 months he lost 30 pounds by walking 10,000 steps daily and reducing portions at dinner. His wife joined him on walks after work which also helped with motivation.
As you can see, hitting 10,000 steps every day can result in steady weight loss over time when paired with calorie-reducing dietary changes. Results may vary based on your consistency, intensity, and starting weight. But walking is one of the most foolproof ways to drop pounds.
Maintaining Weight Loss Long Term
The biggest challenge with weight loss for most people is keeping the weight off long term.
Here are some tips to maintain your results from 10,000 daily steps after reaching your weight loss goal:
– Find an activity you genuinely enjoy so it doesn’t feel like a chore. This could be hiking, running, dance classes, etc.
– Invest in home gym equipment like treadmills or ellipticals for convenience on busy days.
– Track your weight weekly rather than daily or monthly so you can catch any creeping gains.
– Periodically increase step target, like to 12,000 or 15,000 to prevent plateaus.
– Join walking groups or sign up for charity 5Ks and 10Ks to keep motivated.
– Make movement a family habit by involving kids and spouse in active hobbies.
– Practice maintenance calories of eating slightly above weight loss intake levels.
– Continue tracking food and planning indulgences for holidays, vacations, etc.
The Bottom Line
Shooting for 10,000 steps per day is a simple and effective approach for losing 2 pounds weekly when paired with a reduced calorie diet.
Aim for a brisk walking pace that gets your heart rate elevated. Break up steps throughout your day for consistency. And incorporate other strength training and cardio several days per week.
Stick with 10,000 steps as a regular habit, not just a short term goal, for ongoing weight control and health benefits. But listen to your body and be willing to take rest as needed to prevent overtraining.
With persistence and consistency, the steps will add up week after week to get you closer to your weight loss goals!
