Diet plays a major role in weight loss, said registered dietitian Sarah Rueven, MS, CDN, founder of Rooted Wellness. In addition to walking, you should also be mindful of what you are eating in order to lose weight. "We tend to overestimate how many calories we burn during a workout and underestimate how many calories we are eating. When we are taking in more calories than we are burning, weight loss is not going to happen," explained Sarah.
The average person burns about 100 calories for every mile walked, explained registered dietitian Lauren Harris-Pincus, MS, RDN, which is equal to a large apple in food terms. "In order to lose weight, no matter what type of diet you follow, you must create a caloric deficit," Harris-Pincus said. When we exercise, we often have increased hunger or feel that we deserve a food reward for the effort, so just be mindful of that.