Which is better to build muscle: running or walking?

There is some truth in the axiom you heard; “if you walk you lose fat but if you run you gain muscle” but it doesn’t apply to the abdominals as much as it does to the legs. It takes an over load on the muscles to cause them to gain and running will give your leg muscles more of an over load than walking but both walking and running will help you lose/use fat. However, there is no such thing as “spot reduction”. When your body loses fat it loses it all over. If you do abdominal exercises it will strengthen and build your abdominal muscles but it will take more than abdominal exercises to lose fat in your belly, unless of course you want to do 500 to 1000 sit ups a day. That’ll work! But then who wants to be another Jack Lalane.

I agree with filletofspam. You really won’t be working your abdomianals by running or walking. The only muscle your likely to gain would be in your calves and thighs. Try doing excercises like sit-ups or if you have access to a gym go there and, I’m not entirely sure what the machine is called, do leg-ups where you stand up with your arms on the machine and lift your legs with your abdominal muscles. Good Luck! ~Alanna

running is a better