Walking for weight loss then . . . .what do you suggest?

SereneRose

Hey.

Basically I plan to use walking (brisk and light jogging) as my main tool in my weight loss quest so how many times should I aim to walk in a week? How long? And what typical results will I achieve in what time frame? I'll be incorporating some aerobic dvds in on days I don't walk too. I want to use the walking to drop the majority of my weight first (say 50lbs) so I can do more intense workouts like Insanity and P90X to tone and sculpt.

I've seen alot of people on here are really into Insanity and I'd love to try it and have looked at videos on youtube, basically they look "insane" and I already know that I cannot do half the stuff on it, push ups, planks etc as I'm not fit enough.
Can you suggest any similar workout dvds that give a great cardio burn for a person who is carrying alot of weight (241lbs) but will still give noticeable results.

Btw I already own 30DS, BFBM & NMTZ< not tried this one yet tho.

Thanks everyone

Jdismybug1

Definately keep up the 30ds, I heard that there are amazing results. I would say walk 30 to 45 mins a day, 5 or 6 days a week,drink a lot of water,and try to push yourself to walk or jog longer or faster every week, bring some headphones, great music, and you will have a blast!

dmest

I love walking, it's one of my favorite exercises but I would also suggest adding in some strength training videos now, instead of waiting until you've lost a little weight. Building muscle will help you lose weight faster. If you're fearful that the workouts will be too hard, you can start with some of the 10 minute strength workouts and work your way up to the tougher longer workouts. Good luck to you!

kelceyjean12011

i take my son with me on walks about 5 times a week....alot of inclines is good too...i'd say walk for about 45 mins to 60 mins...that way you get a pretty decent workout. if you use comcast, they have alot of good workout videos on demand

cmduncan

I suggest the Couch 2 5K program. It's a run/walk program that really helps you get fit. I was heavier than you when I started (260ish - I try to forget) and I've dropped 15 pounds in 5 weeks. It's only 3 days a week so you could easily work in some of your DVDs on the light days - or do one in addition as C25K is usually 25-35 minutes.
Check it out. http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml?cmp=18-1 or http://www.facebook.com/C25Kplan?sk=info

natskedat

I LOVE THIS APPROACH!!!

Walking is amazing exercise for beginners! Keeping your heartrate in the low end of the aerobic zone will help you shed weight safely and effectively, and you'll also be building your endurance!

Light swimming and easy cycling are also great activities. I'd recommend aerobic work 4 times a week, no more than 45 minutes to start. As you get stronger and lighter, try to increase the intensity. Keep strength training to 2-3 times a week. If you feel fatigued, exhausted, or burned out, don't be afraid to cut back. More is not necessarily better.

Use your heart rate as your guide. Try to keep your heart in the 55-65% range to begin. As you get healthier, you'll be able to do more at a higher heart rate.

Best of luck! The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

gatorflyer

I would say that a majority of my weight loss has been attributed to walking. I started out walking less than a mile, and am now up to over 7 miles. As far as how often and when to do it, on weekends I usually do a 3-4 mile walk one day and a 6-7 mile walk the next. During the week, I usually walk twice during lunch, between 3-3.5 miles. I also do some swimming during the week during lunch and at night I'll alternate between doing Bob Harper's weight loss yoga and cardio exercises DVDs and elliptical and stationary bike exercises.

OnionCookie

We are very near the same age (I'm 27) and height (I'm 5'2) so I thought I'd chime in. XD

Leslie Sansone, Walk Away the Pounds! They are simple and still make you sweat. I started out with those and just moving more day by day. Then I branched up to harder workouts. I would say you have a good plan in place and with a healthy diet you should be able to drop a bit. Remember to vary the workouts otherwise you'll plateau.

I started out at 230 With the Walking videos and walking outside, then I branched up to tae-bo (as much as I could until I did the entire thing. Then I went to TurboFire and Walking. Now I'm at Level 1 shred and walking with tae-bo mixed in on days. Not ready for level two yet.

Remember to always challenge yourself (within reason of course). You are so much stronger than you think.

SimplyDeLish

Walking is great. My nutritionist says for me to aim for an average walk/jog of 6 mph for a half hour...I'm at 4.6 so I have a long way to go. Zumba is a good DVD - you'll hear alot about it on MFP that adds some more. If you have access to a gym, the eliptical and rowing machines are fab.

Good luck!

perlah

There are a few FREE Videos by Excercise TV that I enjoy doing. You use your body weight to do some strenght training or small set of dumbells. Here are some of the ones I enjoy adding to my walking routine.

10min Cardio Shape up: http://www.exercisetv.tv/workout-videos/cardio/cardio-shape-up-7758
10min Cardio Sculpting: http://www.exercisetv.tv/workout-videos/cardio/cardio-sculpting-7197
20min Strenght Interval: http://www.exercisetv.tv/workout-videos/cardio/strength-interval-4525

You can find more videos for free on their website. You can also access this channel on cable, an if you have that option on cable you can use some of Jillian Michaels and Jackie Warner too.

Enigmatica

Walking has always been my main form of exercise since I got serious about my weight. I started out with 30 minutes morning & night, and quickly determined that would NOT cut it for me. I lost most when I was doing 90 minutes morning AND night. I maintain easily and eat happily at about 120 - 150 minutes per day. My pace is a solid 3.5 mph. I've recently added some jogging in here and there, but accomplished 90 pound weight loss with just walking. Lots. Of. Walking.

dHowe4406

This is how I started with walking. I started walking after dinner every night. At first in was only a mile walk. Then when that was easy for me I move to a 2.25 mile walk. It takes me about 40 minutes to do and I do after each dinner still.

I go to the gym and run 4 days a week now. So days that I don't go I do a good 6 mile walk just to get out in the sun and listen to music. I also have a lot of time on my hands right now.

beesareyellow

Walking is my go to exercise and the majority of my weight loss is from counting calories and walking. I walk every day in the morning from 3 to 5 miles and in the evenings, after supper, my husband a I ALWAYS take an after dinner stroll to aid digestion. Usually in the morning it is an hour or more ( sometimes 90 minutes) and the evening is about 40 to 50 minutes. This is everyday, rain or shine

tamiesue2

My endurance was really low to, I walk seven days a week. I have a set route that I do that is a little over 2 miles long. At first my walk was slow but gradually I was able to kick it up a bit and I try to beat my time every day Today I was able to job a half mile of my route. Just remember that any activity is better than no activity.

SereneRose

Great advice. I'm looking forward to more walking now, only done it once so far for 75mins briskly and next day scale moved. Yay! So defo want to keep this up.

Do you use hrm watches to know how far you've walked?
For all who said this was your main form of exercise how long did it take you to get where you are with it?

Also for those who sent ideas of cable channels to work out from thanks but I'm in England and don't have access to those channels, don't even think I can get the Insanity/P90X dvds here anyway.

gurudrmw

I lost 50 pounds by using Leslie Sansone Walk At Home program and have kept it off for 1.5 years. I am hoping to lose another 10 pounds by monitoring calorie intake. I have been obese most of my life and exercise was/is hard for me. The reason I really like the WAH program is because it is so customizable, doable exercises in 1-2-3-4-5 miles increments so that you can pick and choose what you want to do. You can break up your workouts as needed throughout the day. I walk 4-5 miles a day, 6 days a week. I also do some light strength training (also Leslie Sansone) - an abs workout 2-3 times per week and use soft hand weights on a few of her workouts (specifically designed for weights). Because you move your body in all different directions, you can really see toning after consistent use. These may not be challenging enough for everyone but I work up a sweat everyday doing them!

Best wishes - just start slow and be consistent and you'll see great results!

mcrowe1016

Try to find some good hiking trails near you. I love taking walks in the middle of nature, and even though some of these hikes are longer than my normal routes, I hardly notice because of the beauty and constantly changing scenery.

It also makes me look forward to exercise.

BerryH

Walking is awesome. Try to keep it up at a rate where you're slightly out of breath, and you'll lose weight as fast as any of the higher impact exercises and be able to keep it up for much longer.

I second the vote for Leslie Sansone DVDs, walking-pace workouts that get you sweating just enough without hurting.