Fitness q & a
Author: Shape

q While trying to get fit and lose weight, I want to avoid getting injured. Which is better for me: running or fast walking? How long should I work out and how many days each week?

a "Running will burn more calories per minute, but you've got to walk before you can run," says exercise physiologist Reed Humphrey, Ph.D., P.T., a professor of physical therapy at Idaho State University in Pocatello. "There's a greater risk of injury if you start running without a good foundation."

Here are the calorie-burn stats for a 145-pound woman, walking for 30 minutes at:

* a 20-minute-per-mile pace burns about 114 calories.

* a 15-minute-mile pace burns 157 calories.

For a 145-pound woman, running for 30 minutes at:

* a 10-minute-mile pace burns about 348 calories.