How much do I need to walk to lose 20 pounds?
Emily Sparks
Published Jan 24, 2026
If you plan to lose 20 pounds by walking alone, try to burn at least 250 extra calories during your walk per day. For example, if you weigh 160 pounds you'd have to walk at least 40 minutes per day at a pace of 4 miles per hour to lose ½ pound per week.
How long should it take to lose 20 pounds?
Underpinning every truth in weight loss is consistency. Using our 20 pound example, you can expect to lose this weight in five months. Four if you're incredibly diligent. Two if you plan to gain 30 pounds back (read: crash diet and over-exercising).
How much do I need to walk everyday to lose weight?
People interested in walking for weight loss should consistently hit at least 10,000 steps each day. Some people may even want to increase their total number of steps beyond this amount.
How many miles should I walk a day to lose 10 pounds in a month?
"This means to lose 1 pound, you'll need to walk roughly 35 miles or 70,000 steps. Over the course of a week, this means targeting 10,000 steps a day," says Davis. At this rate, you could lose 10 pounds in 10 weeks. The more you weigh, the more calories you will burn.
Is it realistic to lose 20 pounds in a month?
It is possible to lose 20 lbs. of bodyfat in 30 days by optimizing any of three factors: exercise, diet, or drug/supplement regimen. I've seen the elite implementation of all three in working with professional athletes.
24 related questions foundCan I lose 20 pounds in 4 weeks?
One pound of fat is roughly 3,500 calories. If you do the math, you'll burn 20 pounds of fat in 4 weeks by not eating. But, while the answer to how much weight can I lose in 4 weeks is over 20 pounds, it is not a sustainable or healthy way to lose weight.
Is a 20 lb weight loss noticeable?
Honestly, it depends on your BMI and body type. Your height and weight plays a significant role here. However, on average, you would need to lose something in the range of 14 to 19 pounds to notice a difference in your weight.
Is walking 2 miles a day enough exercise?
Walking 2 miles a day is a great weight loss strategy, and it does wonders for your mental health, heart health and general well being. The best part is that unlike other popular workouts, this exercise is incredibly inexpensive to start and stick with.
Will walking 2 miles a day help lose belly fat?
Walking might not be the most strenuous form of exercise, but it is an effective way to get in shape and burn fat. While you can't spot-reduce fat, walking can help reduce overall fat (including belly fat), which, despite being one of the most dangerous types of fat, is also one of the easiest to lose.
Can I Lose 10 lbs in 4 weeks?
A healthy weight loss is 1 to 2 pounds per week. Aiming to lose 10 pounds in four weeks means you will need to lose on average of 2.5 pounds per week. Keep in mind that losing more than 2 pounds a week may mean that some of those pounds you're losing could include your precious muscle mass and water.
Is walking 1 hour a day enough to lose weight?
Walking can help you lose weight
Walking 1 hour each day can help you burn calories and, in turn, lose weight. In one study, 11 moderate-weight women lost an average of 17 pounds (7.7 kg), or 10% of their initial body weight, after 6 months of brisk daily walking ( 3 ).
Why is walking not helping me lose weight?
If you're walking every day and not seeing results, you're not burning enough calories on your walks to put you in to a caloric deficit, explained NASM-certified trainer and physical therapist Molly Canu.
Does walking Burn fat on thighs?
According to The Stroke Association, a brisk 30-minute walk daily helps in controlling high blood pressure and in reducing the chances of stroke by 27 per cent. More importantly, brisk walking can help you tone your legs and reduce thigh fat. Walking tones your calves, quads and hamstrings and lifts the glutes.
What does losing 20 lbs do for your body?
"Losing 20 pounds, even if it's as little as 5-10% of your body weight, can reduce obesity-related risks," says D'Angelo, "and not only that, but losing 20 pounds can also help your overall quality of life, increase your mood, improve your lung function, and reduce blood sugar levels."
How do I lose the last 20 pounds?
Here are 10 of the best ways to quickly and safely drop 20 pounds.
- Count Calories. ...
- Drink More Water. ...
- Increase Your Protein Intake. ...
- Cut Your Carb Consumption. ...
- Start Lifting Weights. ...
- Eat More Fiber. ...
- Set a Sleep Schedule. ...
- Stay Accountable.
Can I lose 20 pounds in 10 weeks?
A safe, effective weight loss rate that's sustainable is 1-2 pounds weekly, suggests the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. If your goal is losing 2 pounds weekly to drop 20 pounds in 10 weeks, aim to burn 1,000 more calories than you eat every day.
Is it better to walk faster or longer?
Researchers found that obese people who walk at a slower pace burn more calories than when they walk at their normal pace. In addition, walking at a slower, 2-mile-per-hour pace reduces the stress on their knee joints by up to 25% compared with walking at a brisk 3-mile-per-hour pace.
Is walking 4 miles a day good?
Conclusion. Walking four miles every day is a very effective form of moderate-intensity exercise that will help you to lose weight while boosting your cardio fitness, improving your energy levels, strengthening your muscles and bones, and reducing your risk of a number of age-related conditions.
Is walking 40 minutes a day enough to lose weight?
A brisk 40- to 45-minute walk can burn about 300 calories, depending on how much you weigh. At that rate, a typical 150-pound person who walks every day could potentially lose a little more than a pound every two weeks. "It won't take a person from 350 pounds to 120 pounds," Hill says.
Should I walk 7 days a week?
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommends adults perform moderate-intensity aerobic exercise such as a brisk walk a minimum of 30 minutes, five days per week (or a total of 2 hours, 30 minutes) to reduce the risk of disease later in life.
Should you walk everyday or take a day off?
Short answer: yes. “Rest days are important to prevent overuse injuries, and to allow for muscles and body to recover from the exercise,” Debra explained. “You are creating small tears in the muscles as you work them, so it is important to give them rest.
How many days a week should I walk to lose weight?
Breaking this down, a one-hour walk 4–5 days per week will be sufficient to achieve your weight-loss goals. Any additional time you spend exercising on top of this adds to your overall calorie burn and fitness level.
Where is the first place you lose weight on your body?
The first place men typically lose weight is the belly, while women tend to lose weight all over, but hold onto weight in their thighs and hips, Dr. Block explains.
How much weight is a pant size?
How much weight does it take to drop a size? The average amount of weight it takes to move from one dress size to another is about 10 to 15 pounds. Moving from a size 16 to a size 12 means dropping two sizes, so you would need to lose 20 to 30 pounds.
What are the stages of weight loss?
The 4 Phases of Weight Loss
- Phase -1 – GLYCOGEN DEPLETION. Glycogen Depletion: ...
- Phase -2 – FAT LOSS. This is the sweet spot for healthy weight loss. ...
- Phase -3 – PLATEAU. ...
- Phase -4 – METABOLIC RECOVERY. ...
- All the Phases of Weight Management: