When i run should i go by time or by distance?

[MrsMuscles]

I am going to start running on Sunday to help me loose weight. Do you think I should go by the amount of time or by the distance I run? Right now I walk for between 30 minutes to 40 minutes. I go at a fairly fast pace. I was thinking I should start running for about 5 minutes and then maybe just slow walk for about another 25 to make it half an hour.

This way I can build up my running abilities and then the next I go see if I can go run for 6 minutes and so on.

Or should I just measure my distance and increase it slowly?

[nasht5]

time

[Agnostic007]

My opinion based on what I've read.. steady state cardio for no longer than 30 minutes to avoid burning muscle. I do that along with days of interval training for 15-20 minutes. Opinions and experiences vary widely but that's what I go by these days. Lost 20 lbs since Jan 2 incorporating that into my diet and don't seem to have lost much muscle.