Walking is all I can do

Wills820

Hi Exercisers,

I'm a 26 y/o active female, lost 25 lbs. 6+ years ago and have gained a bit but some muscle and some I just needed to gain back to return to "normal" life. However now I'm on the higher end of where I'm comfortable but am facing a lot of medical issues. In the last month or so I've had a lot of testing done, some of which has kept me completely sedentary and some of which has left me being unable to do strenuous activity, so I've been walking instead. Soon I'm going in for surgery which will have me out for at least a week, then maybe can return to light walking and ease in.

What are people's experience with walking when they can't fully exercise? Does it help? Worth it?

Thanks!

jacksonpt

Walking can be a great activity, but I guess it depends on what you're trying to accomplish.

williams969

Walking is fantastic exercise! Especially since it's winter by me (I don't want to run on ice), my cardio is 100% walking. Will it burn the same calories as Zumba or elliptical? Well, duh, no. But it all adds up, and it's good for your heart (as long as you're medically cleared, of course).

queenliz99

Walking is great form of exercise and can give you extra eating calories for the day. It's something that you can do for the rest of your life. Walking is for heart health and calorie deficit is for weight loss.

cwolfman13

In RE to weight control, your consumption is going to have a far more profound impact than what exercise you do. Walking is an outstanding low impact exercise activity. You're going to be limited on your fitness progression, but it's great exercise. Millions and millions of healthy people do nothing but walk.

Wills820

Thank you all! I realize that I'm going to lose my muscle tone, but in reality I just want to maintain my weight (or even lose some) and fit comfortably into my pants at the end.

GaleHawkins

If you keep walking why to do you think you will lose your muscle tone?

PeachyCarol

Walking is great! I can't do anything high impact because of my medical issues, and I started walking with a cane in August and have now progressed to the point where I can walk up to 3 miles at a good clip. I'm working harder to progress even further. Building stamina is another one of my goals.

The thing with walking is that you can always change things up as your fitness increases to keep challenging yourself. You can work speed intervals, you can increase your distance, you can find different routes that include hills. If you're on a treadmill you can increase the speed and/or the incline.

Walking is better than being sedentary, that's for sure.

Kagemori

I rather enjoy a nice brisk walk. I don't always get the chance to do a heavy work out but I always make time to go on a walk atleast once a day (especially since I have a dog) While walking doesn't always burn a large amount of calories, trust me when I say It does add up in the end, and its always better to be moving a little bit rather than to do nothing at all.

GaleHawkins

Kagemori wrote: »

I rather enjoy a nice brisk walk. I don't always get the chance to do a heavy work out but I always make time to go on a walk atleast once a day (especially since I have a dog) While walking doesn't always burn a large amount of calories, trust me when I say It does add up in the end, and its always better to be moving a little bit rather than to do nothing at all.

When I get home even if it is 1am the dog and I walk 1/4 mile which is down a very step hill and back up. It is a small road down to a state highway and carry a flashlight but seldom is anyone on the road. When I first started it took me forever because I had to stop so often to rest. Like you and the others walking is also and does not carry the same health risk of some gym programs and the price is right and the dog loves a late run. She will chase the deer but has never caught one.