Michael Raiti wrote:

> There was something I heard, I believe on NPR, a while back about the
> "Amish Diet".  The key to the diet was that if a person walked 10,000
> steps a day (5 miles) that it didn't matter what they ate, they would
> lose weight.


Walking is a low intensity exercise, and as such uses mainly fat as
fuel.  I.e., it uses mainly fat-burning slow-twitch muscle fibers.  But
it's still a good idea to throw in some high-intensity exercise, in
order to burn stored glycogen and improve insulin sensitivity.  Most
people will burn about 125 kcal per mile when walking, so five miles
comes to 625 kcal a day, and if one doesn't eat more that's bound to
make a difference.  But many people will find that a 5 mile walk
stimulates the appetite.

Todd Moody
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