So, how does walking actually burn calories? Well, when you walk, your body uses energy to fuel your muscles, and that energy comes from the food you eat (or stored fat, if you're lucky!). The more you walk, the more energy your body needs, and the more calories you burn - simple, right? It's like a math equation - walking + energy = calorie burn.
But what about speed and distance? Do they really matter when it comes to burning calories? The answer is yes - the faster and farther you walk, the more calories you'll burn. For example, if you walk 5 miles at a brisk pace, you can burn up to 400 calories - that's like eating a whole pizza (just kidding, don't eat a whole pizza!).
And then there's the after-burn effect - when you walk, your body keeps burning calories even after you stop walking. This is because your body is still recovering from the exercise, and that recovery process requires energy. It's like a free gift - you get to burn calories even when you're not walking!