Walking 30 min good exercise?

ArtsyBrainz

My question is if I walk 30 min everyday will that help me stay in shape? I just don’t want to be sitting around all day and eating. If I walk 30 min a day everyday would that be good enough exercise? I can’t do anything excessive due to medical reasons.

spiriteagle99

It's a good place to start. It won't burn many calories, but it will help keep your heart, lungs and muscles healthy.

ArtsyBrainz

Thanks! I’m trying to gain weight while also have small amount of exercise to stay in shape while I gain. That’s why I wanted to know if it would keep my body healthy while I’m gaining weight @spiriteagle99

lgfrie

Walking is great exercise! It was all I could do when I started dieting, because I was very out of shape. 5 minute walks led to 10 minutes, then 20 and then 30 and 45, and then I was able to start using exercise equipment. That process took a few months, and I was at the 5-10 minute level for quite a while.

We were designed to walk--it's the most natural thing you can do to get your body moving!

Any walking at all will bring health benefits, but walking more briskly will bring much more benefit, because it will get your heart rate up and have cardiovascular benefits. But even sauntering down the road slowly will be much better than not exercising.

middlehaitch

It depends what ‘in shape’ means to you.

If you are not used to walking 30 continuous min it will improve you cardiovascular performance, endurance, and circulation.

If you are used to a 30min walk it will maintain it, unless you improve on distance and speed.

It will help in muscle retention a little more than sitting on the couch.

If you purposefully walk engaging your glutes, abs, keeping your shoulders back and down, and pumping your arms your posture is likely to improve and will help a little more in muscle retention.

An activity like 30 min of walking will burn an extra few cals, but not many (I get about 40-60depending on the distance I cover). It won’t help to sculpt your body like weight training can, but using a walk to improve your posture can make you look a little taller, and a little slimmer.

So it all depends on what ‘in shape’ means to you.

Cheers, h.

ETA: just seen your clarification (and other post) that you are trying to gain and keep your body healthy.
Walking will certainly help as it is a low cal burn but keeps you active.

Another thing you could think of doing is a mild bodyweight routine on alternate days (walk one day body weight the next).
Nerdfitness has a very simple beginners routine that you could do. Do one or two sets of instead of the 3 it advises. It too would be a low calorie burn, but would help with the muscles of the upper body. h.

aries68mc

Of course it is! And it does burn calories, depending on your pace and distance. Not as much as more strenuous exercise, but it does. It's also good cardio.

ArtsyBrainz

Thanks! I can’t brisk walk though since I don’t want to lose weight just to say fit the best I can while I gain @Igfrie

ArtsyBrainz

Fit to me is to look less bloated ( flatter stomach ) and look and feel thinner. While gaining weight ofc. What exactly is bodyweight training?

@middlehaitch

Ooh, okay! Thanks! Will help with the above? ^

@aries68mc

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middlehaitch

ArtsyBrainz wrote: »

Fit to me is to look less bloated ( flatter stomach ) and look and feel thinner. While gaining weight ofc. What exactly is bodyweight training?

@middlehaitch

Ooh, okay! Thanks! Will help with the above? ^

@aries68mc

Here is the link to Nerdfitness it explains bodyweight training.
https://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/beginner-body-weight-workout-burn-fat-build-muscle/

One set would probably be good, and skip the jumping jacks.
If you can’t do all the moves, they have modified versions further down the page.

Cheers, h.

lynn_glenmont

If you're under medical care while you're trying to gain weight, you should really consult those professionals about what, if any, exercise is appropriate for you at this point.

Pipsqueak1965

I don't think its actually possible to do all of the things you want to at the same time! 'gain weight' 'look thinner' 'not do strenuous exercise'.

Hannahwalksfar

I think you need to be under professional advisement so they can work out a program for you

kshama2001

Another vote for consulting with your medical team.

ETA: I see from your thread in April that some doctors had refused to treat you - have you since been able to find care?

kshama2001

Pipsqueak1965 wrote: »

I don't think its actually possible to do all of the things you want to at the same time! 'not do strenuous exercise'.

Right, one can accomplish 'gain weight' and 'look thinner' with recomp but I've never seen that framed as 'not strenuous.'

JohnnytotheB

Yes. It's wonderful to walk. Enjoy!

kshama2001

@Emmapatterson1729 since you just mentioned on another thread you are a recovered anorexic I thought you might like to chime in here.

Emmapatterson1729

kshama2001 wrote: »

@Emmapatterson1729 since you just mentioned on another thread you are a recovered anorexic I thought you might like to chime in here.

The only thing I can add, is I lose weight walking. When starting a program (weight-loss and exercise), I always start by walking 25-30 minutes 3 days a week. I start strength training the same for toning (10-15 minutes) 1 lb hand weights. I still lose at a fairly steady rate and slowly tone muscles. I increase these as I get stronger.

To gain...Up calories! And eat back all the calories for walking! Walking is definitely exercise, especially when usually sedentary.

I believe MFP has settings in goals for gaining.

ArtsyBrainz

About my other thread I was sick than. I am actually WAY healthier than I was than. I got treatment for it and am working with a treatment team. They know about my exercise and support it. They just said I can do anything like running but walking is fine. I go on 30 min walks and I am still getting there. I do have weight to gain but I’m not that far off my goal. I’m not trying to lose weight, I just want to stay fit and start to shape myself in a healthier way while I gain the next few pounds back.

@middlehaitch
@lynn_glenmont
@Pipsqueak1965
@emmapatterson1729
@kshama2001
@JohnnytotheB
@Hannahwalksfar

collectingblues

ArtsyBrainz wrote: »

About my other thread I was sick than. I am actually WAY healthier than I was than. I got treatment for it and am working with a treatment team. They know about my exercise and support it. They just said I can do anything like running but walking is fine. I go on 30 min walks and I am still getting there. I do have weight to gain but I’m not that far off my goal. I’m not trying to lose weight, I just want to stay fit and start to shape myself in a healthier way while I gain the next few pounds back.

@middlehaitch
@lynn_glenmont
@Pipsqueak1965
@emmapatterson1729
@kshama2001
@JohnnytotheB
@Hannahwalksfar

Then ask *them* if 30 minutes every day will help you stay in shape.

kshama2001

ArtsyBrainz wrote: »

About my other thread I was sick than. I am actually WAY healthier than I was than. I got treatment for it and am working with a treatment team. They know about my exercise and support it. They just said I can do anything like running but walking is fine. I go on 30 min walks and I am still getting there. I do have weight to gain but I’m not that far off my goal. I’m not trying to lose weight, I just want to stay fit and start to shape myself in a healthier way while I gain the next few pounds back.

@middlehaitch
@lynn_glenmont
@Pipsqueak1965
@emmapatterson1729
@kshama2001
@JohnnytotheB
@Hannahwalksfar

Glad you got and are getting help! You should refer questions like this to them.

ArtsyBrainz

@collectingblues
@kshama2001

Thanks! Okay, I will!

SoCalBeachWifeMom

I think its a perfect start.