Walking outside

AsrarHussain

Alright guys,

What are your thoughts on walking outside ?, I do my cardio indoors because of convenience, I train weights and then do the cardio after to save time.

The weather is cold, so that puts me off the cardio outside as well.

RuNaRoUnDaFiEld

I love walking outside and do a minimum of 5 miles most days.

You just wrap up.

spiriteagle99

I much prefer being outside. The view keeps changing. I love being aware of the changing seasons, flowers and green trees in the spring and summer, autumn color, snow and icicles in the winter, stars and moon year around. Walking in winter is nice because it's so easy to bundle up. I have a warm coat, gloves and hat and I'm fine, no matter the weather. We have a large dog who gets walked twice a day, rain or shine, below freezing or hot and humid. I am so grateful to have him because there is no excuse not to go out. I love our walks.

watts6151

Today’s cardio

GOT_Obsessed

Walking outside is the best. I sleep so much better when I have been for a fresh walk. Minus 40 is not uncommon here and that won't stop me!

Westschmeis

Always walk outside, down to -20 below zero, so only a few days per year not outside. All those layers require more calories, in my theory! heh

lorrpb

Love it! But it can get hard to get your rear out the door on cold or rainy days. That's the hardest part, the walk itself is always much better than I anticipated.

NorthCascades

It's great to have the scenery changing constantly, fresh air in your face, the sky over your head, gardens and peoples' dogs and just moving around. If it's nasty out, knowing there's a hot shower and dry clothes at home can make all the difference.

sbrown6

i love it and its my main source of exercise. My lunch time walks are the best cuz they get me out of the building and break up my day which makes it go by so much faster.

Machka9

I used to walk and cycle to work or university at -40C/F.

So ... how cold is it where you are?

texasfit78

I love it I usually average between 3-6 miles each morning before work anyone can add me

ttreit

I love walking outside but joined a gym because if it's too hot or too cold or too slippery I don't always have the willpower to do it. With the gym I have no excuse and being around the people working out motivates me. I'll still go for walks outside too but for me the gym made it so I have no excuse.

JaydedMiss

Ever take a night time walk in light drizzling rain/snow along a quiet street with beautiful dim light appreciating the little stuff and the feel of the cold and the beautiful drifting snow/rain in puddles. Its so relaxing and then going home to a nice hot shower. Wouldnt give it up.

Alatariel75

I love hiking on cold, drizzly days. Particularly in foresty/rainforest areas.

GOT_Obsessed

JaydedMiss wrote: »

Ever take a night time walk in light drizzling rain/snow along a quiet street with beautiful dim light appreciating the little stuff and the feel of the cold and the beautiful drifting snow/rain in puddles. Its so relaxing and then going home to a nice hot shower. Wouldnt give it up.

I would never walk at night here. (I don't live in a great area.) I would fear getting beaten up or attacked and those thoughts would not be enjoyable. But your option sounds really nice.

Alatariel75

_barefoot_ wrote: »

I like walking outside because the fresh air and you can't just quit .
When I am on a treadmill I am likely to quit but if your a miles away from home you can't just stop and quit you have no choice you must keep going.

Same thing with on a bike.

That's a really good point. Treadmill, you get bored and want to quit - you can. Walking outside, you get bored and want to quit - you have to walk back, first!

JaydedMiss

_barefoot_ wrote: »

I like walking outside because the fresh air and you can't just quit .
When I am on a treadmill I am likely to quit but if your a miles away from home you can't just stop and quit you have no choice you must keep going.

Same thing with on a bike.

Not sure why i wasnt smart enough to mention this lol, I take advantage of it by walking as far as i can pretending i dont then have to turn around and walk back, Then walk back xD Im WAY to lazy to ever fool myself that id walk very far on a treadmill lol

canadianlbs

_barefoot_ wrote: »

When I am on a treadmill I am likely to quit

so true. although in my case i'll (occasionally) run on a treadmill but never on real pavement. dunno why. cycling though, is something i do irl and i've found that i just-can't when it's an exercise bike. absolutely no motivation and no way for me to fool myself that i'm 'going' anywhere. for some reason i like that feeling when i'm on a treadmill. probably prefer never to strand myself too far from home or something, when there is running involved.

op, i can definitely see doing it all while you're in the place that is set up for doing it. i'm not really equipped to comment since i never 'do' cardio in any intentional way. i cycle pretty much everywhere so that lets me off the hook, but i suspect if it was on my weekly checklist then i'd be doing the same thing as you.

Nony_Mouse

Alatariel75 wrote: »

_barefoot_ wrote: »

I like walking outside because the fresh air and you can't just quit .
When I am on a treadmill I am likely to quit but if your a miles away from home you can't just stop and quit you have no choice you must keep going.

Same thing with on a bike.

That's a really good point. Treadmill, you get bored and want to quit - you can. Walking outside, you get bored and want to quit - you have to walk back, first!

I get bored even thinking about a treadmill. Srsly, would rather have hot pokers applied to my feet. Outside, always, preferably on a bush trail, or by my local river (which is conveniently only a km walk from my house).

Therealobi1

dress up warm and walk outside, but if you are ok with the cardio indoors it really doesnt mater
atleast you are still working out.

feisty_bucket

I go for a walk outside every day, no matter what. If it's cold? That's what clothes are for.
It's for general well-being, because outside is awesome. All that nature & stuff. You'd have to be in super-bad shape for it to qualify as "cardio" though. Walking is its own category of experience.

MsHarryWinston

feisty_bucket wrote: »

I go for a walk outside every day, no matter what. If it's cold? That's what clothes are for.
It's for general well-being, because outside is awesome. All that nature & stuff. You'd have to be in super-bad shape for it to qualify as "cardio" though. Walking is its own category of experience.

Ummmm, I burn about 800 calories walking around 8km every morning. And I’m not in “super-bad shape”. So yeah, I think I’m going to count that as cardio, thanks.
And no, when it’s down past -30 here I probably won’t be outside walking no matter how much clothes I have.
*eyeroll*

Your comment sounds crazy judgemental.

crackpotbaby

I am lucky enough to live in a beautiful sub tropical climate.

My local walks are through the bush:




A planned walk further afield (like an hours drive) is amazing rainforest like these pictures taken last week.

Walking outside for me does so much more for me than exercising on a treadmill.

girlinahat

walking outside is so much better for your health and mental well-being. I would NEVER go for a 'walk' on a treadmill, walking is a means to either get somewhere or explore the outdoors in a different way than running.

Dress appropriately, wrap up warm, and yes, that means you can still be outside in minus 35 degrees C (check windchill readings). In Scandinavia they put their babies to sleep outside. Cold weather is invigorating, and after a brisk walk in the cold there is nothing better than a pub lunch in front of a roaring fire.

Rosemary7391

Like many others, I don't have a car, so I walk outside any time I want to go anywhere. You just need the right clothes. If it's cold bundle up; if it's windy get a light waterproof jacket to keep it out. If it's icy get some clip on grips for a sturdy pair of shoes. If you really prefer walking on a treadmill then I guess do that, but I couldn't stand it!

MelissaPhippsFeagins

AsrarHussain wrote: »

Alright guys,

What are your thoughts on walking outside ?, I do my cardio indoors because of convenience, I train weights and then do the cardio after to save time.

The weather is cold, so that puts me off the cardio outside as well.

Every Monday-Friday I walk outside on my lunch, unless it's raining so hard I can't. Even in the snow, I will go outside.

KANGOOJUMPS

I do everything outside, starting at 4am..... even if it is minus 30 and a blizzard!, I love the fresh air and being outside. its so invigorating!

GOT_Obsessed

Another member mentioned this fun app (Walk to Mordor)

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/comment/40832928#Comment_40832928

I joined it.

stanmann571

Dressing for the weather is best.

Saturday it was below 30(unseasonably cold) and I still got about 1 mile in. unfortunately I hadn't expected the cold quite so soon, so some of my gear was still packed up. It's all out now.

rsclause

For me it has to be outside and usually at 5 am. Traffic is light so I dress for the weather put on my headphone, beacon and go. I don't know how it could apply for walkers but for runners visit Runner's World/ what to wear on the web. It lets you dial in your age temp and how you like to feel. It is spot on and eliminates that feeling at mile one where you think crap, I am way overdressed.

jjpptt2

Can you give me some context regarding your question.

I don't consider walking exercise, but I do enjoy being outdoors... so the pros and cons (for me) to walking outdoors are very different than those of exercising.