Stairs ... is it worth putting on as exercise?

Darmanin

Probably a silly question but I work in one building and have to travel back and forth to another during the day and have this week started using the stairs. It's 3 flights to my level and have done that 4 times today. Along with walking up 2.5 (there is a large lobby..thats the half) in the other building today. .... the trip to level 10 I didn't do the stairs, little too ambitous for me just yet

So all up I've done 14.5 flights of stairs on the way up and 11.5 on the way down (still leave leave work will make up the other 3).

It's not all at the same time, but at the moment after 3 flights I'm still a little breathless.

samantha1242

Good for you for taking the stairs!

I personally wouldn't add it myself, but if you want to add it then add it!

Lozze

I would say yes with a but.

When you're first starting out when adding everyday movements to your day and as overweight as you are (I started with a similar amount to lose) walking those stairs is hard. And tiring. I would not add too much but a little bit extra is probably good.

If this is something you continue every day I would phase it out within 6-12 months.

I used to log my 20 minute walk from the train station to work. After eight months I stopped adding calories (still log so it shows I'm getting my 30 min a day in) Because it became part of my everyday experience my body became used to it and it was less effective as a cardio tool.

Good luck!

DavPul

Personally I wouldn't log it and would just consider any benefit I get from it at all as a bonus. It might be taxing at first but I think you'll find you adapt pretty quickly to it and taking 3 flights of stairs at a clip will barely register in the near future

Natihilator

I agree with not adding it, but also when your fitness level improves, I personally find that a good thing to do with stairs is interval-type activity - Scramble up 3 flights, slowly walk down 2 flights, then scramble up the next 3 flights, walk down 2, and repeat until you reach floor 10 or 12. If you do them fast enough I would say it can even become an HIIT activity if you time it, 20 minutes and you will have burned some major calories. Best suited to an after-work activity due to sweating, though. Just an idea!

bathsheba_c

I live on a 4th floor walk-up, and I don't log the stairs. I basically view not logging them as part of my efforts to make sure I don't overestimate exercise (I also log almost all walking as 2.5 mph unless I really exert myself).

abrahamsitososa

Heck yeah its a workout.

AggieFan2011

Personally I wouldn't log it and would just consider any benefit I get from it at all as a bonus. It might be taxing at first but I think you'll find you adapt pretty quickly to it and taking 3 flights of stairs at a clip will barely register in the near future

I agree with this. I walk to and from class a few times a week and it's a good 30 minutes round trip. I don't log it though because It's a part of my daily, or at least weekly routine, so my body got used to it fairly quickly. It's still good exercise, but I just consider it a bonus and it probably helps even out any under estimating of food calories or over estimating of workout calories that might happen.

Darmanin

Thank you for the replies. :-)

I'll leave it off.

I agree with not adding it, but also when your fitness level improves, I personally find that a good thing to do with stairs is interval-type activity - Scramble up 3 flights, slowly walk down 2 flights, then scramble up the next 3 flights, walk down 2, and repeat until you reach floor 10 or 12. If you do them fast enough I would say it can even become an HIIT activity if you time it, 20 minutes and you will have burned some major calories. Best suited to an after-work activity due to sweating, though. Just an idea!

Thank you for the idea. But what is "HIIT"
Oh and I think i have long long long way to go before my fitness is anywhere near the stage of doing that. At the moment I would require an ambulance if I attempted it :-)