For all the people who believe walking isn't exercise...

indygal76

I used to run, do step aerobics, ellipitcal and more until I suffered a knee injury. I now walk a good pace of 4.2 to 4.5 on the treadmill and a pace of 15:00 and under when walking outside. I can walk a mile in less than 15 minutues. I love walking! And believe me, you can burn some major calories with it too! I won't ever be able to run again either! So I will stick to walking the rest of my life! :happy:

lauren3101

I have previous knee problems and like you, I also can't engage in high impact cardio. I walk every day, not for as long as you, and not as quick as you, but that topped with healthy eating has meant I have lost 36lb and my blood pressure is finally in the healthy zone. I also noticed a vast improvement in my fitness; running up a set of stairs would leave me breathless beforehand. Anyone that says walking isn't good exercise is wrong.

lhgalant

before reading past your photo, I was thinking "dang, that's an impressive at rest heart rate" you go, girl!!! when I do cardio in the gym, I keep my treadmill inclined between 10-12 and walk. I burn just as many calories as if I interval my running, so why not make it a lesser impact on my joints, etc. I mean, we aren't getting any younger :-)

Eat2Win

I attend a gym and see people running on the treadmill and somehow I find it has never been for me. Maybe someday, but for the past few years I enjoy my 3.0 - 3.3 with a 3.0 incline to keep within my exercise goal. I don't check my heartrate, but I can truly say it
has given me the extra I need to stay fit in my calorie range and enjoy the improvements my body thanks me for both physically and mentally. Of course it's exercise.........your moving and moving quickly. Your moving super quick, good for you and thanks for the post!

chymerra

walking is a GREAT form of exercise! my dad at 72 used to walk every day for 2-3hrs and got into the best shape of his life at 72!!!

KarenLue

Thank you so much for posting. I have always been hard core when it came to cardio exercise. Would run for no less than an hour. My favorite was seeking out the biggest steepest hill I could and tear it up! Loved to cardio dance with as much energy as I could and was an instructor.
Then on October 4th, while instructing, I went to turn and "CRUNCH" there went my knee! I had surgery for large double tears in my cartilage. My knee is not the same. It still gets fluid in it. Crackles and pops. it' doesn't move right and I have to keep it wrapped all the time. My hard core days are over.
I,ve gained 24lbs. I try to search the web for high intensity low impact ideas but mostly find exercise is geared toward young uninjured bodies. Things that I can't safely do anymore. and I'm not quite ready for the senior aqua aerobics yet. lol It's so disheartening.
And I must admit. I use to be one of those that believed people need to "get over it" and give it what you got! Boy was I in for a rude awaking! Found out some injuries permanently change things. And the fitness world doesn't cater to the injured.
Thanks for the great post and the great inspiration!

mandeiko

Thank you for posting this!! I am, myself, a runner... but I absolutely believe that walking does the job just as well!! My mom struggles with her weight and cannot do vigorous workouts, but she walks! That's how she lost most of her weight in the beginning! (She needs to get back into it, but that's another story!) Good for you for standing firm about this and correcting the negativity associated with it!

mfpcopine

Whether walking constitutes exercise depends on your level of fitness and the length and speed of the walk.

rml_16

Can someone show me where people on this site are saying that walking isn't exercise? I must be missing them.

Ditto. I was unaware of this belief.

5ftnFun

Walking is definitely exercise and you can work up quite a sweat doing it too. There's a reason why Leslie Sansone has a great following. Not everyone can run or do Insanity or whatever. I'm not sure who you hang with, but I've been here 3 years (this is not my first account), and I've never seen anyone say walking is not exercise. Now, I HAVE seen many, many posts about whether or not housework counts, but that's another thread. :laugh:

Happy walking!:drinker:

Shanekhyl

Walking is loads of fun and a real stress buster!!! Christ getting up between add breaks on tv and walking to the letter box and back again is considered exercise ( especially for people with medical conditions).... Any form of exercise you do is wonderful and healthy... Go girl and just enjoy those walks!!!

KarenLue

Can someone show me where people on this site are saying that walking isn't exercise? I must be missing them.

Ditto. I was unaware of this belief.

I've not seen it myself, but If she says it was said somewhere here by someone then I believe it. Before my injury I would have never said it out of politeness, but boy did I sure think it!!! I didn't know what was wrong with these sissies! Just go for a little walk and don't know why they can't get in awesome shape! They need to SUCK IT UP! And TEAR IT UP! LIKE ME!!!
And like I said, Boy was I in for a rude awakening! I am way more sensitive since my injury. It was anything I said or did< but it was definitely my attitude. If you are an athlete and don't share that attitude then Kudos to you!!!

KarenLue

The Good Lord saw fit to kick my legs out from under me! lol

HIITMe

wayyy back in the day I came home from college wearing a size 12... started my 1st job in August... by January I was a size 8 because I had to walk to & from work ( 4 miles in each direction)...often had to put a lil pep in my step because Id not left on time or slept late...I ate WTF I wanted including soda & snacks but then again I was 21 yrs old with a metabolism of steel then

Mokey41

I'm not talking about a Sunday afternoon stroll around the block. I'm talking about engaging in regular (5+ times per week), long (3-7km), fast (7-8km/h) walks. Walks that make you puff like a steam train and sweat like a pig. But walks, not runs - exercise that is very accessable for people who, for whatever reason, can't engage in high impact exercise. For anyone interested, I have linked to my Runkeeper profile ( http://runkeeper.com/user/116437034/activity/157838441 ) which shows the frequency and volume of walking I do.

This is the big part. You're doing intense walking, not logging wandering around the mall or a saunter around the neighborhood.

Judas_Queen

Thanks for this.

I am lucky enough to not have anything stopping me from going to the gym and doing high impact sports (except my lazy *kitten*!!!) although this does provide me with some comfort that the walks i do at the weekends (generally hilly and quite long walks) are going to help with my fitness too

TheVimFuego

Walking rocks, just walking, putting one foot in front of the other and striding on.

I love it, I'd do it if it didn't burn any calories.

Walking is my meditation time, especially post work, and if it helps me get leaner then that is a happy byproduct ...

lindahaxton

I may not walk very fast, but that is all I do at least 3 to 4 times a week. Since January I have lost 15 pounds walking and dieting. I have bad knees as well and can't get up the speed, but it is probably the best way I can take the weight off. I am walking most of the time with my sisters and we walk at our own pace, but still walk together and we have a great time. So not only is walking is good exercise, but it is a lot of fun when you add friends and fun.

HealthyNurseK

Of course walking is exercise! It's great for cardiovascular conditioning and for your emotional health too! I love walking everywhere - in the woods, on the street, fast or slow. It's great exercise and you've clearly proven that it's an effective form of exercise for you. Keep walking, girl!

dbrightwell1270

bump to check out charts later

tracine0711

I agree! A couple years ago, I lost my weight by just walking. I am currently walking everyday and in 4 weeks have lost 12 lbs.

Kat5343

I went from 308 to 223 by diet and walking exclusively!! It can be done!!

MaryRegs

44 pounds and counting-and I am back to walking outside if our winter ever leaves! I love to walk-and have a new pair of shoes ready to go! Feel free to add me!

rotill

It all depends on where you are at and what you can do, as well as what your goal is. I like to hike, walking in the mountains off the prepared roads, which is hard, demanding and fun. I have to work up to it every spring, starting with slow strolls in the neighbourhood, then to the lower peaks, in order to go from 0 - 1500 meters later in the season and the autumn, until the snow stops me. The slow strolls around the neighbourhood in the very early spring is what makes it possible for me to get to even the small hilltops when the snow has gone, and that's what makes the next step possible.

So while those slow strolls are just frustrating to my very fit kids, to me they are vital exercize to get in shape for later heavy and demanding feats. In the periods when my back is really troubling me, they are all the exercize I can get. I have also more than once trained back up from injuries and surgery by just strolling about the neighbourhood - with frequent pauses for coffee or even the occasional glass of wine.

While walking around in the mall may not be enough exercize to participate in the iron man tournaments afterwards, to those of us who need to just gain strength to keep standing straight, it's both good and vital!

Bikini27

I've seen the nay sayers and those who believe that walking isn't something to add to your excercise diary. When I was walking the dogs daily, I didn't count it either.

Now I wear my HRM and try to keep a good pace going. I am working up to being able to run, but until I'm able to do that without my knees killing me....I'm happy to walk :drinker:

ladyraven68

Can someone show me where people on this site are saying that walking isn't exercise? I must be missing them.

Try in here - some peope are refusing to acknowledge the existance of extra NEAT

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/917516-859-calories-shopping?

reasnableblonde

Well, up until my early 20s I could eat what I liked and was half the weight I am now. What changed? I got a car so stopped walking so much!

30 years later and I'm starting to walk again just to get fit. And YES, I notice the difference.

If I'd carried on walking all those years ago I wouldn't be dieting now! Walking is wonderful exercise.

Exact same here. Although I'm sure my metabolism slowed with age, it sucks that 10 years ago, I was so trim and fit. Now I RUN and weight train and can't get back to anything close to what I was before. What changed? I stopped walking so much.

BeeElMarvin

Can someone show me where people on this site are saying that walking isn't exercise? I must be missing them.

Agreed. I've never seen anyone, EVER, say that walking was not exercise.

BeeElMarvin

Can someone show me where people on this site are saying that walking isn't exercise? I must be missing them.

Try in here - some peope are refusing to acknowledge the existance of extra NEAT

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/917516-859-calories-shopping?

They are talking about shopping... I don't count that kind of stuff - walking the stairs at work etc. because that's a part of my daily routine -but if somebody does, that's fine with me, I don't care. There are many people here who have lost many pounds by incorporating a walking program into their daily routine.

DavPul

Can someone show me where people on this site are saying that walking isn't exercise? I must be missing them.

Try in here - some peope are refusing to acknowledge the existance of extra NEAT

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/917516-859-calories-shopping?

We talkin bout shoppin?