Walking not good exercise
sozirny
Posts: 7 Member
I was told by a friend that my waling 5k a day is not good exercise that I should try an elliptical or some other type of cardio machine. Its not like I go for a stroll I am walking at a 3.8-4.0 pace outside up hills. Am I wrong to think my walking will get me to my goals?
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Replies
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Many people here, myself included, will tell you that walking is a great exercise, and that it can help you to lose weight. You may burn more calories on an elliptical, but there is nothing wrong with walking.0
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Walking is a GREAT exercise!0
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Walking can definitely be great exercise. You have good speed and you are taking hills....that's all good. An elliptical may be more efficient (more calories per minute)....but the key to consistency is something you enjoy doing. I would hate an elliptical.0
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But it should not be your only exercise; you should be doing weights too.0
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I walk everyday anywhere between 2.5-5 miles. I started the elliptical this week only because I can go further, faster on my lunch break, and it also burns more calories than walking. Even still, I still walk at night. I find it to be a great exercise, plus you have the added bonus of clearing your mind!
Keep up the great success! Sometimes friends say things that might be discouraging without realizing it. Do what feels right to you and what you enjoy. The weight and inches will come off, though it might be at a bit of a slower pace. Walking 5k and enjoying it is better than doing an elliptical for 3k if you hate it. Chances are you won't be motivated to get on the elliptical if you don't like it.
Good luck on your goals!0 -
You can make it to your goals without exercising at all, so don't listen to your friend. Walking is perfectly fine. Someone with more intense fitness related goals might not think it is "good enough" but you are you and they are they.0
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Walking can definitely be great exercise. You have good speed and you are taking hills....that's all good. An elliptical may be more efficient (more calories per minute)....but the key to consistency is something you enjoy doing. I would hate an elliptical.
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Walking is good for you. Slap the teeth out of anyone telling you differently.0
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It depends on what your goals are. If you're looking to just lose weight, technically there's no need to exercise, just eat at a calorie deficit. If you're looking to improve cardiovascular and physical fitness, walking is fantastic. As mentioned, it's best to mix in some strength training, as well as different cardio for cross training but if walking suits you, that's cool.
I'm a big fan of walking too but I do try to do some sort of strength training at least once a week. I also mix it up by doing running intervals and/or incorporating big hills.
When people give me their opinions about stuff like this, I either smile and nod or challenge them with my own questions.
In this situation, I'd say something like "Huh... Well, I get a great workout from my walks - where did you hear that?"0 -
Walking is a great exercise for weight loss. It's easy to do, low-impact, low stress, and aids in creating the calorie deficit that is necessary drop body weight.
Ask yourself what you think might be easier to do... Let's say your maintenance calories are 2,000.
Option A: Diet Only. Eat 1500 calories every day, or less, and don't exercise. Net calorie deficit each day of -500. You'll be hungry, tired and irritable while losing weight. You also will lose muscle. You will not gain any muscle, and you will not be toned when you reach your goal weight. You'll also want to binge, which will kill your week. When you reach your goal weight you will not have developed any healthy exercise habits.
Option B: Eat 1900 calories a day, or slightly less, but burn 400 calories through walking. Net calorie deficit per day of -500. Same as before. You'll be fuller, because you are eating more food that your body needs to sustain itself. You're exercising, so you gain all the health benefits of moving your body more, and you develop healthy exercise habits that can transition beyond your goal weight. Your muscles won't atrophy as much because you're exercising. You'll be less irritable, less hungry and less prone to binges. Also, because you're making exercise a regular part of your daily life, this becomes something you can easily transition to after you've reached your goal weight. And because your calories, from 1900 to 2,000, would be easier to transition to maintenance when you reach your goals, without overeating.
So yes, you can technically lose weight without exercise. But it's proven to be a road to failure. So exercise. Walk. Lift weights. Do it.0 -
Walking ftw!
Great exercise, lots of fresh air, saying good day to all who pass your path.0 -
Walking is great exercise, especially if you're elevating your heart rate. And I'm pretty sure you are with that kind of pace on hills.0
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If your walking at a slow snails pace then no. You need to get your heart pumping a bit. I would say 3.8 - 4.0 would do it unless you are in super good shape.0
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Am I wrong to think my walking will get me to my goals?
What are your goals?0 -
I walk everyday and not even as much as you and I have lost weight so don't let anyone tell you any differently0
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I fast walk everywhere! Walking is my main exercise and I love it! Get your heart rate going, get a bit of a sweat on and keepnwalking, don't listen to your friend!0
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Walking is fine, in fact the other day I skipped the gym and went shopping instead. I spent so much time walking around the stores downtown then I ended up burning more calories than I would have at the gym (I was wearing my calorie tracker thing so I know for a fact)0
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Walking is a healthy form of exercise. At some point, your body may need to shake things up a bit to continue the weight loss. When that happens, add other forms of exercise into the mix.
But to say that "walking is not good exercise" is just plain rediculous.0 -
When I first started this I reduced my calories (not drastically -I wasn't counting, but I was paying attention) I walked for 1 hour every day. At least. And I lost 40lbs in 3 months. The day I added in going to the gym I stopped losing.
It's way easier to lose weight by counting calories than by exercising. It just depends on your goals though as to what is going to work for you. Good luck!0 -
What are the goals that you're aiming for with the walking that you are doing??
What reason does your friend give for the cross trainer being better than walking!!!
Walking is great:)0 -
Walking is fantastic; anything that brings your heart rate up and gets you moving is great. Do what YOU like and makes you comfortable0
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Walking is great exercise, but I agree that there should be strength training included. Build up your muscles to burn fat quicker and more efficiently!0
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Walking is the easiest way to exercise but it takes longer to burn calories since it is low impact. I used to walk 2 hours a day when i didn't have a job, now I find it near impossible to walk 1 hour a day. I lost 40 lbs when i walked 2 hours a day and ate right.
Walking is great and relaxing no matter what pace you are at!0 -
Something is always better than nothing, but depending on your goals another form of exercise might help more. My 60+ year old mother lost weight walking to and from McDonald's every day for breakfast (3 miles total, with one of the lower calorie breakfast options). Her goal was just losing weight. Now I've been trying to con her into lifting because it helps prevent osteoporosis, which she is also worried about.0
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Walking really helps organize my thoughts and it is so good to be outside in nature. I go to the park and enjoy the sweet smell of summer flowers and pause by the river to contemplate sometimes.
So, while walking may not be the most vigorous exercise, it is definitely easy on the joints (I have a bad knee I threw out kickboxing years ago) and the benefit of fresh air and clarity in thought is a fantastic bonus.
I also second the advice on adding resistance training to your regimen. Weights build strong bones and lean muscle tone which helps support you in your daily activities and make clothes fit wonderfully. This is important for men and women of all ages, but especially when we get to our late 30s-early 40s.
If you'd like to try elliptical, go for it, but be cautious not to overdo the cardio. If you forgo the weights, you could become the proverbial skinny, fat person (looks great in clothes but little to no muscle tone---mostly soft, flabby skin!). Cardio is great for burning calories but also can burn muscle too.
Good luck to you & keep us posted on your progress!0 -
walking then slowly transitioning to jogging got me to
so if you enjoy it keep it up and track your calories in as well0 -
I was told by a friend that my waling 5k a day is not good exercise that I should try an elliptical or some other type of cardio machine. Its not like I go for a stroll I am walking at a 3.8-4.0 pace outside up hills. Am I wrong to think my walking will get me to my goals?
Any exercise is good exercise......you have to do what you like and can stick to. I exclusively walk these days and am fine.
As to your goals....that is more difficult to say, because you did not mention what your goals are. If it is weight loss, exercise is secondary after eating at a deficit. However for allover health any exercise is good exercise...:o).
Good Luck to you !0 -
Don't let anyone tell you that walking isn't exercise, especially at the pace you're keeping.
I started walking when I started mfp and lost 13 lbs in the 1st month. Then I hurt my foot and couldn't walk but the Dr. gave me the ok to do the elliptical with my boot. I only lost 2 lbs doing the elliptical because try as I may I could never stay on it more than 10-20 min before I felt dizzy. Now that my foot is better and I'm back to walking I've lost 2 lbs just this week. Walking's is by far my favorite exercise.0 -
I see a lot of anti-walking stuff all the time, and can't say I agree with it. I think its the perfect low intensity exercise so your body is hopefully burning its fat stores instead of its carb ones
Also, combined with a little strength training and some sprinting/ high intensity interval training, it would seem like a perfect combination for weight loss.
For what its worth, 1/4 of the weight loss you see in my ticker is from walking and the 3- 4 miles I typically walk every day. Anyway, I would walk whether I was seeking to lose weight or not, as I simply like it too much 0 -
haters gonna hate. You are doing something, it is a small step (pun intended) towards something bigger! Maybe in a few months you'll try jogging or "trotting" as I call it.
Some would probably call 911 because what I do is that horrendous looking but I assure them if I'm drooling and slobbering then I should be ok, if there's no moisture, I've likely dried up and died.
:bigsmile: :bigsmile: :bigsmile: :bigsmile: :bigsmile: :bigsmile: :bigsmile:
Keep up the good work0
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