IS WALKING ENOUGH?

samandlucysmum

HAS ANYONE ELSE LOST THEIR WEIGHT JUST BY WALKING? IT IS THE ONLY EXERCISE I HAVE AVAILABLE REALLY, AS THE GYM IS TOO EXPENSIVE.
I TRY TO WALK AT LEAST 3 TIMES A WEEK, FOR 2 HOURS EACH TIME, IS IT ENOUGH THOUGH, OR SHOULD I BE PUSHING MYSELF MORE? I HAVE OVER 100LB TO LOSE.

:explode:
:grumble:

Kutazabuton

The more you walk the more stamina you will gain! Start adding more fruits and veggies to your diet and cut back on some of your portions and start sucking down the water. I would suggest you make water your drink of choice for everything thing. If you do not like water then add Crystal Lite to it and go that route. But I think your walking is working, it just takes time and you have to be patient with yourself.

musttry123

KEEP up the good work !!! Walking is better than sitting on the couch !! You can DO IT !! WOW .... 2 hours each time you walk ? thats awesome !! I use music w/ headphones and sing along... makes the time fly...

neenaj33

Walking is plenty....the most important factor is your diet. Get that in check and you will be a losing maaaccchhhiiiiinnne!

easuess

My mom reached her goal weight when she started walking daily & eating right. So, yes it's enough, and it's good for you. Stick with it. :happy: 2 hours is fantastic!

Marley112586

Walking is wonderful. I started out walking for the first couple of months. Its easy on the joints and it gets you moving! When I was ready for move of a challenge I got Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred. Which is only $10 at Walmart. But walking is great by itself too.

hwjssc

All I can do is walk tooo..I have a hernaited disk in my back.. If I can not walk out side I walk in frnt of TV...Good luck:)

Hellbent_Heidi

Eventually you might need/want to step it up a little bit, but walking is a great way to do cardio. Losing weight is mostly diet anway, but any time you're moving your body, you're doing yourself good! As your stamina builds up and the weight starts to drop, you can always aim to pick up speed (maybe adding in sprints or light jogging eventually), or maybe use those little hand held weights to help work the upper body more. You can absolutely be successful without joining a gym.

Best of luck to you!

alisons7598

I have lost over 100 pounds and walking was a huge part of it! Walking dvd's are great too. I can't afford a gym membership ( not too mention at the start I couldn't even move well enough to attemp a workout at the gym) so it has all been done at home so yes it can work! 2 hours each time is HUGE! Keep up the great work!

Sassi50

Don't know if anyone remembers Susan Powters (Stop the Insanity-lady) from the 1990's, but when she began her weight loss efforts she was happy to get off of the couch and walk down her driveway!!!!!
Moving is moving.....the more you do the more you'll be able to do. And there is a lot that you can do without needing a gym....use park bench to stretch and do push ups, do calf raises on the curb, walk up and down hills for more resistance. Nature is a great place to work out and your lungs will thank you!!!!!

msmithevv

Moving is what counts. You will be running before you know it!

bklyngirl71

a friend of our lost 65 lbs. the only excercise she did was walking

neff_burgz91

Yes! I started MFP 14 days ago and have lost 7lbs so far! The only exercise I have done is walking, and having been staying around/under my calorie goals.
Started the 30 Day Shred last night though!

NettyIOM

Walking is so good for you! Keep up the good work! :flowerforyou:

WannaBeSlimJim2

Wowee...two hours! I'd give yourself a huge two thumbs up on that!!! I started out by walking everyday, from 30-45 min and I dropped 23 pounds. So don't under estimate the results. I think it's a great way to ween your body into this new lifestyle, allowing for adjustment, and avoiding any kind of injury. Certainly when you feel comfortable, or want to challenge yourself, you can alway play later. And there will be a point, you may have to, to get more desired results. But again, what you are doing...is already WICKED and will show you your effort. If not happy with the numbers on the scale...TAKE MEASUREMENTS...you don't believe it until you do it; they disappear very quietly and you tend not to notice.

Keep it up, you are doing incredible!

finnsgma

YES!!! Walking is one of the best exercises as there is little strain/impact. Try to walk fast and also try to find places to walk where there are hills/inclines. That will add to the calorie and fat burn. I lost 75 pounds several years ago by eating 1500 calories a day and walking 30 minutes a day. Granted, I was in my 20's at the time but it worked!

AntWrig

HAS ANYONE ELSE LOST THEIR WEIGHT JUST BY WALKING? IT IS THE ONLY EXERCISE I HAVE AVAILABLE REALLY, AS THE GYM IS TOO EXPENSIVE.
I TRY TO WALK AT LEAST 3 TIMES A WEEK, FOR 2 HOURS EACH TIME, IS IT ENOUGH THOUGH, OR SHOULD I BE PUSHING MYSELF MORE? I HAVE OVER 100LB TO LOSE.

:explode:
:grumble:

I am a big advocate of walking. I use to walk up to 5 days a week, because I just love being outside. However, there was a big problem. I was burning calories at 300-350 a walk. You times that by 5, and I was in a deep deficit. So, I reduced to 1x a week now.

billgiersberg

I would suggest that walking is enough for you at this time. However, don't fool yourself into thinking you can "eat back" extra calories because you walked. The number of calories you might burn from the walking is probably not as great as you think it is. Just add the walking calories to your caloric deficit for each day. Eating them back will stall your weight loss. Weight loss is 80% diet and 20% exercise according to Tom Venuto in "The Body Fat Solution." The important thing is to maintain a caloric deficit of -500 calories a day from your BMR to lose 1 pound a week. Walking will urge your body not to burn the muscle but rather burn the fat. As you lose weight, increase the pace of your walk to brisk. Increase that to jog as your weight loss become safe for your knees. The important thing is not the walking but rather your diet.

iwaskiwcindy

Walking is the best remedy as far as my doctor is concerned. Keep walking then add a few sit-ups to it. I can't do a proper sit up so I sit on the edge of the couch and I bend over as far as I can to reach my toes. I can now do 60 sit-ups that way and I have am now down a pant size and lost 7 lbs., so it's the inches that are coming off faster than the weight. Keep up the good work and if you feel discouraged write I'll do my best to keep encouraging you.
Cindy

jcpmoore

HAS ANYONE ELSE LOST THEIR WEIGHT JUST BY WALKING? IT IS THE ONLY EXERCISE I HAVE AVAILABLE REALLY, AS THE GYM IS TOO EXPENSIVE.
I TRY TO WALK AT LEAST 3 TIMES A WEEK, FOR 2 HOURS EACH TIME, IS IT ENOUGH THOUGH, OR SHOULD I BE PUSHING MYSELF MORE? I HAVE OVER 100LB TO LOSE.

:explode:
:grumble:

Yes. It absolutely is enough. When I first started losing weight after my second son, I lost 30 lbs doing nothing but walking (and that was only 30 minutes per day) and eating right. It's all about getting your heart rate elevated. Keep up the great work!

JanetLM73

I think so as well, I love going on long walks with the ipod, time flies and it's great to clear your head.

katkins3

Walking is a great way to exercise! What is more natural?
Since funds are tight, you may get a stationary bike or a few hand weights on Craig's List, for those days you can't get in a good walk. Good Will is also a good place to get low cost videos, books and equipment. Your public Library will have some good books on fitness and may have some suggestions that appeal to you.
Many before you have started, and continued, on the fitness path with walking.
Keep up the good work. :flowerforyou:

minnesota_deere

its not the exercise, its the heart rate. the faster you rev the engine (within reason) the more gas (calories) you burn.

castadiva

I would suggest that walking is enough for you at this time. However, don't fool yourself into thinking you can "eat back" extra calories because you walked. The number of calories you might burn from the walking is probably not as great as you think it is. Just add the walking calories to your caloric deficit for each day. Eating them back will stall your weight loss. Weight loss is 80% diet and 20% exercise according to Tom Venuto in "The Body Fat Solution." The important thing is to maintain a caloric deficit of -500 calories a day from your BMR to lose 1 pound a week. Walking will urge your body not to burn the muscle but rather burn the fat. As you lose weight, increase the pace of your walk to brisk. Increase that to jog as your weight loss become safe for your knees. The important thing is not the walking but rather your diet.

While I agree with the comments later in this post, I must disagree strongly with the idea that eating back exercise calories, including those burned by walking, will stall weight loss. It is important not to overestimate calories burned, of course - use a pedometer or HRM to have a more accurate idea - but a two-hour walk at a steady pace will burn a significant number of calories. I walk for exercise because I can fit it into my commute, which is my only 'blank' time in the day - between tracking my calories, burning some off through walking, and eating those back if necessary to ensure that my net calories are never too low, I've lost just under 30lb in three months. Walking absolutely can be enough, is free and can be done anywhere.

The only thing I'd suggest to the OP - is it possible to do an hour six days/week, instead of two hours three times/week? It is likely to be less hard on your body, and easier to sustain in the long run. Good luck!

AngelikaLumiere

Walking is one of the best exercises for fat burning. I started my weight loss with walking. I still try to walk every week weather permitting. The aerobic and strength training can be added later for stamina and body sculpting. Good luck!

UpEarly

Yes! Absolutely - don't ever let anyone convince you that walking is 'only for beginners'! I consider myself to be very fit, and walking is still my primary form of cardio. (I also lift weights and sometimes I'll do step aerobics or cardio drills when I don't have enough daylight to fit in a walk).

Start off with walking at a moderate pace on level terrain. As you progress, go faster - add hills - wear a weighted vest or carry a backpack.

I am currently walking at a 4-4.5 mph pace and I climb hills (I live in the mountains) with a 15 pound backpack. I can easily burn 600 calories in an hour - walking really gets my heart rate going!

Missensitivity

Wow! Wow! I had to say it again you have done great I will like to hear more

vickie28

Walking is great ! If you have a library some have exercise d v d "s , and another friend on here uses you tube says they have 10 min. videos like of kick boxing and other work outs-- have not check that out yet-- but both would be free + to build muscle do push ups, left food cans or any thing with weight to it keep up the great work -- walking will slim all parts of you , hard to believe but true Maybe not the arms not to sure on that . :happy:

Givemewings

I started losing weight by walking. It's a very good way to start in my opinion. I continued to walk until I felt my fitness was improving and I needed more of a challenge . Then I started the couch to 5 K programme which gets you jogging using intervals of walking and jogging/running. I still take my dog for walks and gof or walks at lunchtime at work and this burns calories and helps to keep me fit but I do other things like fitness videos and go to the gym. If you don't have access to these things I think that walking is a good option but am some point you may find it is no longer challenging enough.

Kristinemomof3

I would also suggest an hour six days a week, vs. 2 hours/3 days, I would not eat all of your calories back, but make sure you are at least eating 1200 calories after the deficit. Also, Leslie Sansone has some great videos and some that also include toning bands, should work your muscles to start as well.

Walking is great, if I don't feel like doing high impact, it's what I do.

tammy510

Buy the Leslie Sansone walk at home dvd's, she has an awesome set available on QVC. I spent the last year going to the gym and came to a halt in my weight loss, bought her dvd's and they are the best change my body has seen! You will be amazed at how good walking is. She has real people on the dvd's that have lost over 100 lbs and it is low impact so you can protect your joints. You won't even miss going to the gym! I lost 8 lbs the 1st 2 weeks and when I had my weigh in at the doctors they have a special scale that measures fat, muscle, water, etc... I had lost 1.4 lbs in fat and gained 1 lb in muscle just from doing the dvd's daily.