walking can make more of a difference than you think

zebasschick

i am currently 144 pounds, but in 2015, i reached the same weight. the difference is in 2015, i had lot more muscle in my legs, which you could see when i wore shorts, and a lot less fat left on my belly, hips and elsewhere. so what happened?

during the pandemic, i did my best to keep up my exercise cycling (at low resistance due to previous injury) and other exercise, but eventually i noticed my leg strength was getting less and less. the only thing that changed was my multiple trips to various stores with my son every week. he'd pick me up and whoosh us off to ross, target, ralph's, sometimes craft stores or multiple targets, bed bath and more. he's taller than i, and he walks fast, so i was jamming for probably 8 to 10 hours of walking per week with these trips - at minimum, 6 hours of walking across 3 days. during lockdown, that stopped.

my leg muscles are so small under the fat, although as i've been doing step exercise and walking on stairs, they are gradually getting stronger - a year ago, i couldn't get out of a chair without pushing up against the arms. now i don't need to, but before the pandemic i never needed to.

never overlook how much good weigh-bearing (baring) exercises like walking can do for you!

springlering62

Walking was a gateway drug, I mean exercise, for me.

mrmota70

Same here. I still fall back to walking on occasion when old injuries flare up.

tulips_and_tea

Agree 100%! I'm an avid walker. Sometimes I speed walk, sometimes I hike, but regardless of the pace, walking is still the best and most enjoyable exercise for me. I do lift regularly for strength and because it's good for me, but I enjoy walking (out in nature!) much more.