Will walking really make a difference?

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Replies

  • Angierae75
    Angierae75 Posts: 417 Member
    I've lost 15# so far doing nothing but walking and logging my food. (And I'm intentionally only losing 1# a week, I could have probably lost more if I'd been willing to eat less.)
  • lgoldfarb
    lgoldfarb Posts: 76 Member
    I take 2-3 short walks around the block during the work day. I started doing this when I quit smoking a month ago as a way to still go outside and not smoke. An unexpected side effect is that it also helps me get over a hunger craving. Not only good for the body, but the mind too.
  • tanyatabone9
    tanyatabone9 Posts: 39 Member
    I find the same with hunger cravings, actually. Especially those that come from feeling bored and unsettled (i.e., not really 'hunger' cravings).
  • susanrechter
    susanrechter Posts: 386 Member
    Walking is the best. It clears my mind, gets me outside in the fresh air and it's fun to monitor calories and distance with a pedometer!
  • cincysweetheart
    cincysweetheart Posts: 892 Member
    Yup! Walker here! It's been in the last 3 weeks that I finally started jogging intervals... So basically I lost over 100 pounds with walking being my major source of exercise.
  • danniinw
    danniinw Posts: 7
    Thanks again for all the positive encouragement everyone I'll keep it up. I'm getting to love my lunch time walks. I too quit smoking about 6 months ago so the walking is great for getting me out of the office.
  • avskk
    avskk Posts: 1,787 Member
    Walking worked a treat for me; it's still my favorite thing to do. I started with 15-20 minutes a day, enjoyed it, and got up to 3-5 miles a day (about an hour) with as many as 10 miles at the weekend. I lost weight faster even when I walked just a little bit, too. Put in some headphones, turn on Endomondo or something else if you enjoy tracking how far you've gone, and enjoy it!
  • markiend
    markiend Posts: 461 Member
    i use map my walk website to work out distances etc if you don't have something that monitors it all for you
  • bleanbeef
    bleanbeef Posts: 36 Member
    Yes! The end.
  • hamoncan
    hamoncan Posts: 148 Member
    Get up to walking 10 to 15K steps per day and it'll really help you melt away.
  • sitayaksha
    sitayaksha Posts: 10
    danniinw wrote: »
    I've started walking most day's during my lunch hour at work. I do about 2km and I'm usually walking for 25-30 minutes. Is this enough exercise? It seems too 'easy' but then I'm very unfit and it's about the only thing I can manage. Finding it hard to focus on the long term and being patient with results taking time.

    Any other walkers out there?

    I walk daily about 1-2 miles a day depending on the weather. And I asked my dr a few months ago what kind of exercises I should be doing to help loose weight and he told me to walk 2 miles a day, he said it was the best exercise. I still try to do easy exercises sometimes but it is hard for me but he walking does help me but it is different for everyone. Sometimes I do what Chris Powell teaches for walking which is called accelerators and walk for example 1 minute at a slow normal pace and then 1 minute at a faster rate. And switch them up every day to different times and speeds it helps as well.

  • ciacyrus29
    ciacyrus29 Posts: 109 Member
    Yes walking does help. I walk every morning and some evenings when I'm not in the gym. It does help.
  • bkerr30
    bkerr30 Posts: 131 Member
    I walk everywhere. Each way to and from work is 45-50 minutes and that is at an incredibly brisk pace. I do it everyday regardless of weather (and I live in Canada!). I am such a supporter of walking and really find it helps my mood too. I get to work HAPPY (unlike most of my co workers lol) keep it up and you will see progress!
  • Beanogirl
    Beanogirl Posts: 97 Member
    BFDeal wrote: »
    danniinw wrote: »
    It seems too 'easy' but then I'm very unfit and it's about the only thing I can manage
    I'll throw the BS flag. I started running when I was over 300lbs. I didn't have great success at longer distances until I lost quite a bit more but I'd say I managed a 5 minutes at a time before I had to walk. Look up the couch to 5k and give it a shot. Also there is weight lifting a.k.a. the best exercise in the world for unfit people. You do something for 10-15 seconds and rest for 1-2 minutes usually. I mean come on...

  • Beanogirl
    Beanogirl Posts: 97 Member
    Walking is wonderful & something we can all do to suit our abilities. Go for it! I I would rather be outside in the fresh air than walk on a treadmill in a gym.
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    danniinw wrote: »
    Thanks again for all the positive encouragement everyone I'll keep it up. I'm getting to love my lunch time walks. I too quit smoking about 6 months ago so the walking is great for getting me out of the office.

    Congratulations on stopping smoking. Concentrate on nice deep even breaths while you walk and it can only help your lungs heal faster from the smoking as well as all of the other benefits!

    I agree with the others, walking is one of the absolute best exercises. Push yourself to improve as you are able. Since you have a limited time frame, try increasing your speed. I like the idea of doing intervals. a couple of times during your walk, walk as fast as you can for a minute or two, then try to increase.

    I lost the first 65 lb mostly by walking with some water aerobics. With a foot problem, I have been transitioning into more lap swimming but still cherish the walk I am able to do. Can't wait for the ice and snow to go away so I can get out for more fresh air.

  • deksgrl
    deksgrl Posts: 7,237 Member
    Yes, I use Leslie Sansone videos because it can be done inside, and you can vary the intensity as someone else mentioned.
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