Walking as exercise

gemcopp
gemcopp Posts: 4
in Introduce Yourself
I love to walk. In fact I'd rather walk an hours worth than go out on a jog.
I do go jogging every now and again with my friends but by this I mean jog until we get tired, give up too easily and power walk until we get our breaths.
I do exercise onto of walking but sometimes my days are sos busy that I haven't got time for exercise or it gets late in the evening so I think shoot i have exercised today, I'm now tired so ill go on a walk, maybe to my friends out of town and back. Its an easy workout.
However, everyone I speak to tells me that walking is useless. I'm burning no calories and I'm never going to get fit by walking. They tell me that instead of going on an hours walk why don't I go on a half hour jog instead. I have tried but with me being really unfit, I get tired too quickly and end up giving up and resulting to a 4mph power walk.

Does walking actually work or is it a pointless exercise??
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Replies

  • needles85365
    needles85365 Posts: 491 Member
    They are so wrong, any activity can help you lose weigh if you eat healthy. Walking is a great way to get fit and active, a leisure stroll will probably not do it but a power walk will get you fit.
  • AprilRN10
    AprilRN10 Posts: 548 Member
    And keep up those power walks. they do work.
  • Iric1783
    Iric1783 Posts: 26 Member
    Alot of my excercise has been walking to be honest...I power walk with my Ipod on & I have lost weight!! I am now into backpacking / hiking aswell, and am climbing Mount Snowdon next week, and this all began with walking...If you use a HRM you will see how many calories you burn..
  • PJ_73
    PJ_73 Posts: 331 Member
    I walk to the gym every morning and then on to work - which totals to 1hr of walking. At a brisk pace with my HRM on, I burn around 460 calories. That doubles if I find the energy to walk home!

    I am a great advocate of walking!
  • Chairless
    Chairless Posts: 583 Member
    They are idiots or at least very misguided. Even a pleasant stroll in my area leads to serious calorie burn and fitness increases, sure if you are strolling around a car park you wont achieve much but it still costs energy, no escaping the laws of thermodynamics.

    peak_district_027_mid.jpg

    Tell them to come walk over the hills near me and then say walking does nothing for fitness, might want to give them 10-15 minutes though, they wont be able to talk.
  • katiefly86
    katiefly86 Posts: 74
    They are so wrong, any activity can help you lose weigh if you eat healthy. Walking is a great way to get fit and active, a leisure stroll will probably not do it but a power walk will get you fit.

    This is what I was going to tell you as well. Don't let others fool you. Power walking is great exercise. My grandma is 82, and she is still fit. She's been power walking all her life. She has never felt the urge to jog or run. So, yes, it is a great form of exercise (especially an hours worth)!!!
  • seehe
    seehe Posts: 946 Member
    I'm happy to say that you are getting great exercise when you walk. I am unable to jog/run because of spinal issues, but I have seen an exercise physiologist who has given me a targeted heart rate for a good cardio workout for me individually. I wear a heart monitor when I go out walking, and believe me I easily reach my target heart rate and get a good work out! Besides, walking is much easier on your joints which you need to take care of as you will be using them for a very long time :-)
  • taunto
    taunto Posts: 6,420 Member
    First off, walking is an excellent workout. Infact, I notice faster results when I walk compared to other workouts.

    Second, we're building a lifestyle. I WANT to like weight lifting but I don't. I enjoy boxing, biking and walking. Sure i try other workouts but these 3 I see myself doing over my lifetime or for a long time atleast. If you enjoy walking, then walk. Who cares which workout is the best and which isn't. If you don't enjoy those workouts, you won't be doing them over a long enough period and give up. Walking is a humble workout but if you enjoy it, it's far better than sitting on your couch eating potato chips. Right?
  • mummynicki
    mummynicki Posts: 1
    Hi there I also prefer walking as exercise and have definitely seen the benefits. this link should help to confirm that it is a very valid form of exercise all round.:smile:

    http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/walking/HQ01612
  • seehe
    seehe Posts: 946 Member
    LOL Where do you live- that is beautiful!
  • spiralz
    spiralz Posts: 4 Member
    Alot of my excercise has been walking to be honest...I power walk with my Ipod on & I have lost weight!! I am now into backpacking / hiking aswell, and am climbing Mount Snowdon next week, and this all began with walking...If you use a HRM you will see how many calories you burn..

    bang on advice, the only thing I would add is that it will take longer just walking.

    but to say walking is no good is pure rubbish.

    if you do want to learn to run however without too much pain there is an app for smartphones called "couch to 5k" it teaches how to start and VERY slowly work your way from walking to a decent run, i've seen so many people who said " I can never run" become addicted runners just through following that app.

    good luck in whatever you try.
  • Becky_Boop
    Becky_Boop Posts: 96
    Yes walking is brilliant excersise! I have had a 'dodgy hip' for as long as I can remember which means it often slips out of place doing running or cycling but is fine while walking!
    I have found that it helps me lose weight, improves my fitness and has even helped my hip get a little better! x
  • TheMadRedhead1979
    TheMadRedhead1979 Posts: 41
    I very rarely do any other exercise other than walking due to health issues... but it does work I have now lost over 3st, it may take slightly longer than if you were hitting the gym instead but it works :) and if you enjoy it then go for it.
    Jogging can be harsh on your joints if you are overweight and if you are not enjoying it then whats the point you will get fed up with it :)
  • Chairless
    Chairless Posts: 583 Member
    LOL Where do you live- that is beautiful!

    I think this is directed at me, on the edge of the Peak District national park, England.

    http://www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/
  • fiabka
    fiabka Posts: 294 Member
    Ignore them Hun, my gp (doc) is a jogger, does all the marathons in UK but he says walking is better for you as it doesn't put the pressure on the joints like jogging does (if we are talking pavements here!) & he reckons its one of the best forms of all round exercise there is.

    I walk a lot & have really noticed a difference in my fitness & mood levels so keep going your doin a fantastic job
    (I wear a HRM when walking & believe me you can burn some serious calories!!)?

    Happy walking
    :bigsmile: x
  • AnnyaSB
    AnnyaSB Posts: 233 Member
    As Leslie Sansone would say "walk, walk, walk"! Great DVDs which I use if the weather is pants outside (which it frequently is in the UK of late :grumble: )

    I power walk and also belong to a Nordic walking group (very brisk walking with poles). I can burn up to 350-400 calories an hour doing this. I have totally shot knees - partly as I am middle aged (53) but also from doing a lot of running and field events when I was younger - so running is a no-no for me.

    Like Chairless, I also live in a very hilly/mountainous area (Wales) and I defy anyone to come here and say a brisk walk doesn't get them fit and burn calories!!

    You keep up your power walking girl - it is GREAT exercise!
  • seehe
    seehe Posts: 946 Member
    They are idiots or at least very misguided. Even a pleasant stroll in my area leads to serious calorie burn and fitness increases, sure if you are strolling around a car park you wont achieve much but it still costs energy, no escaping the laws of thermodynamics.

    peak_district_027_mid.jpg

    Tell them to come walk over the hills near me and then say walking does nothing for fitness, might want to give them 10-15 minutes though, they wont be able to talk.

    So I meant to quote you before my other reply, but haven't done that before , so goofed up, but as I was saying, your hills are beautiful! Where is that? PS. How Do you post photos?
  • pamtram
    pamtram Posts: 67 Member
    Nothing wrong with walking. It's fantastic compared to sitting on your butt in front of TV.

    Good on you for getting out there and exercising
  • AnnyaSB
    AnnyaSB Posts: 233 Member
    LOL Where do you live- that is beautiful!

    I think this is directed at me, on the edge of the Peak District national park, England.

    http://www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/

    I live in Wales - on the edge of the Brecon Beacons National Park - another beautiful moutainous part of the UK. I love the Peaks and walk there often on holiday :heart:
  • Chairless
    Chairless Posts: 583 Member

    So I meant to quote you before my other reply, but haven't done that before , so goofed up, but as I was saying, your hills are beautiful! Where is that? PS. How Do you post photos?

    see above :D

    link photos like this

    peak_district_027_mid.jpg

    replace the uppercase IMG on both sides with lowercase img
  • farway
    farway Posts: 1,264 Member
    I agree with others that all walking helps, in fact just parking in the farthest corner of the supermarket car park instead of as near as possible will burn a few calories extra as you walk across to the entrance, plus it is easier to find a spot :happy:

    I am off for a longish walk along the seafront in about 30 minutes time, sun is out, pleasant seascape & flower gardens, what could be a nicer way to burn of a few calories?

    PS I note you are in Bournemouth, ideal for walking, slight hills along the front, you could even use the steps up from the beach, that should help as well
  • cramernh
    cramernh Posts: 3,335 Member
    Any activity that amps up the heart-rate is cardio/cardiac-friendly.

    I wont ever be able to do anything jogging/running related thanks to having bilateral calcaneal spurs. One of my heels has broken bone fragments along with a slowly healing calcanal fracture. All I can do is walking for my cardio.

    I have found that walking on a 0 incline does not get my heart rate up enough, so.... if I hit a 10.0 incline, my heart rate goes up so much faster. Along with a good pair of sneakers, a supportive orthotic, I can easily burn 200-250 calories every 15 minutes.

    A fellow musician I know walked off 85lbs in under 10 months in conjunction with changing her eating habits....

    Anyone who tells you differently is obviously starving, lazy or just being an *kitten* in my mind! LOL!
  • Graceious1
    Graceious1 Posts: 716 Member
    Walking briskly or Power walking is a very useful exercise. You can a nice amount of calories depending on how long you do the walk for. Also when you do a power walk you can incorporate some other exercises in there such as lunges, step ups and squats. If you look around the net you will find videos or sites that give you information on how to make your walk more interesting and work for you.
  • darrensurrey
    darrensurrey Posts: 3,942 Member
    I love to walk. In fact I'd rather walk an hours worth than go out on a jog.
    I do go jogging every now and again with my friends but by this I mean jog until we get tired, give up too easily and power walk until we get our breaths.
    I do exercise onto of walking but sometimes my days are sos busy that I haven't got time for exercise or it gets late in the evening so I think shoot i have exercised today, I'm now tired so ill go on a walk, maybe to my friends out of town and back. Its an easy workout.
    However, everyone I speak to tells me that walking is useless. I'm burning no calories and I'm never going to get fit by walking. They tell me that instead of going on an hours walk why don't I go on a half hour jog instead. I have tried but with me being really unfit, I get tired too quickly and end up giving up and resulting to a 4mph power walk.

    Does walking actually work or is it a pointless exercise??

    From my school physics lesson: work done = force x distance

    Anyway, re jogging vs walking, and exercise in general, you want to get breathless as that pushes your CV system. Therefore, if you can jog then do it, but if you don't have the energy or time, then try interval training: 1 minute of jogging, 1 minute of walking, repeat until energy or time run out. Over time, you can increase the time jogging and reduce the time walking.
  • Spartan_Maker
    Spartan_Maker Posts: 683 Member
    Your stated goal is to lose weight. Losing weight is simply a matter of burning more calories than you consume; that is to say, being in a calorie deficit. You do that three ways, two of which are automatic -- simply being alive, your normal daily activities, and exercise. Any exercise that burns calories will help you achieve a deficit. The best exercise to choose is one that you'll do most often, which for you, is walking.

    I lost the overwhelming majority of my weight -- probably 70 lbs. of it -- walking at a comfortable pace of just 3 mph.

    The people advising you are terribly misinformed.
  • richx83
    richx83 Posts: 334 Member
    :laugh: walking is completely useless for weight loss :laugh:

    Please point anyone that says such stupid things in my direction :smile: 60kg lost now purely from walking as my primary exercise :smile:
  • SusanLovesToEat
    SusanLovesToEat Posts: 213 Member
    I agree with all of those recommendations in favor of walking above. Moving equals calories burned and calories burned in excess of calories taken in equals weight loss. :smile:
    I love walking and hate running so it is better for me to walk one hour per day at a brisk pace and lose one pound a week than not run everyday because I hate it. Make sense?

    I don't find it useful listening to people who think that unless I suffer it's not "doing any good".

    Also the added benefit of daily power walking is increased endurance (regardless of "target heart rate") and it also clears your mind after a hectic day and gets you outside-even in the dark. I've been doing it for years and it really does help your piece of mind and doesn't require special clothing or equipment which-lets face it- only cuts into your walking time.

    Hope this helps you to get out there!
  • jimmmer
    jimmmer Posts: 3,515 Member
    Walking is amazing exercise and a 4 mph pace is no joke! Keep going like that and running a colorie deficit and weight will drop off, I'm sure. When it comes to exercise, the best exercise is the one you enjoy and will keep up at. If I have to read another "When will I learn to like running?" thread, I'll scream! Loads of people making themselves miserable doing something they hate! Life's too short!

    You love to walk? Then walk! Forget this terrible advice about something being "better" than what you already enjoy doing! I'm guessing this person was either a) a runner and pushing their pet love, or b) misinformed.
  • sweetandtenderhooligan
    sweetandtenderhooligan Posts: 59
    LOL Where do you live- that is beautiful!

    I think this is directed at me, on the edge of the Peak District national park, England.

    http://www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/
    [/quote

    the peak district is beautiful, i live not far from Northumberland which is lovely too!
  • Keiko385
    Keiko385 Posts: 514 Member
    Walking is my primary form of exercise. As long you can pick up the pace enough to get your heart rate up it is a great way to burn those extra calories. I'm looking forward to fall and some cooler weather so I can really enjoy my daily walks without getting heat stroke

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