How long would I have to walk to burn off the calories in holiday treats?
The answer, of course, depends on how intensely you walk and exactly what you’ve indulged in. Most people, find that it takes more time to burn off holiday goodies than they realize. Holiday cookies, for example, often contain from 60 to 120 calories each. Sweet desserts, like apple pie, may contain from 200 to 400 calories or more. At a moderate three miles per hour, someone weighing 180 pounds might walk almost 20 minutes to burn the calories in just one cookie and at least 40 minutes to well over an hour for other energy-dense desserts. Because it takes less energy to move a lighter body than a heavier one, someone who weighs 150 pounds would need to walk longer to burn the same calories, about 23 minutes per cookie or 50 to 100 minutes for a typical dessert. Picking up the pace and walking at a brisk four miles an hour could reduce the time needed to burn those calories by 25 percent. In most cases, adding extra exercise to offset overeating doesn’t work as a long-term solution. Q:
