Walking as exercise !!

Hi
Is there anyone who doesnt exercise apart from lots of walking?
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Replies

  • I mainly walk for exercise. I used to run but, due to back problems, my doctor has forbidden it. I still occasionally do other things (step aerobics, elliptical) but mostly I walk. Because I hate not being able to run (read: jog), I am determined to walk a half-marathon. I found a walking plan online somewhere for training for a half-marathon. I'm not sure what your questions about walking are but I'll give you a few tips if you're getting started:
    Just walk. Even if you're not in the mood to sweat, just walk.
    Once you're used to walking, you can start cross training (elliptical, swimming, anything for cardio
    Don't just walk on level paths. Add some hills to really push yourself.
    Walking is a great exercise you can do anywhere, anytime. Practice parking at the end of the lot and hoofing it in, for example. Also get a step counter to motivate yourself to take so many steps per day.
  • quirkytizzy
    quirkytizzy Posts: 4,052 Member
    Walking is the only form of active exercise I do outside of my daily routine. I find it the most enjoyable and the easiest to fit into my life. I love it.
  • stacy_1971
    stacy_1971 Posts: 104 Member
    If you count the treadmill as "walking", I walk on land and on treadmill almost exclusively, for now. Sometimes both in one day. (I'm a thrill-seeker that way!)
  • Smokey19
    Smokey19 Posts: 796 Member
    I do mostly walking, cleaning house and cooking for exercise due to physical disabilities.
  • Bumdrahp
    Bumdrahp Posts: 1,314 Member
    Walking is what kick-started most of my weight loss. During the summer I was doing 4 miles 3-5 times a week, in addition to some Zumba. Walking/Running/Jogging.. best feeling ever.
  • gaylynn35
    gaylynn35 Posts: 854 Member
    Walking is great exercise!! I walk my son to school permitting the weather is good, it is good exercise for both of us. I occasionally ride my bike and do some Richard Simmons workouts, but mostly walk.
  • Kelley528
    Kelley528 Posts: 319 Member
    I only do walking right now. Since I work in Manhattan i do a lot of walking on a daily basis. Im still losing weight. The days I dont walk ( weekends) copmpared to my work days--it makes a big difference in the calories and how much I can eat.

    I dont plan on incorporating other exercise for awhile.
  • xSakura
    xSakura Posts: 288 Member
    I dance every now and then and I've also started using my exercise bike daily, but walking is my main exercise. I've lost a stone since September doing this, whilst consuming 1250cal a day (reset my tracker in Oct due to starting Thyroid meds). I think it's a great way to exercise and it's so simple :smile:
  • Lyssa62
    Lyssa62 Posts: 930 Member
    Walking is what kick-started most of my weight loss. During the summer I was doing 4 miles 3-5 times a week, in addition to some Zumba. Walking/Running/Jogging.. best feeling ever.


    same here for me.
  • trud72
    trud72 Posts: 1,912 Member
    i was walking EVERYDAY as my exersice and it gives you some GREAT legs by the way... :drinker:
  • StefPayne
    StefPayne Posts: 126 Member
    Walking is my main form of exercise, I started at the beginning of summer with 3 to 4 miles 6 days a week. Now that I have eached my goal I walk 2 to 3 miles 4 or 5 days a week to maintain. I throw some other workouts in there ovvasionally but for the most part it has been walking for me.
  • centexhusker
    centexhusker Posts: 115 Member
    I almost exclusively walk on a tread mill for my exercise. I sometimes do the elliptical machine. I've lost about 25 lbs over 2 mos. I've tried to jog on the treadmill for 10-20 minutes periods but I'm still to heavy and my joints ach from it.

    1) My normal routine is a warm up of about 5 minutes @ 3.0-3.2 mph with a 4.5 incline

    2) I then walk @ 3.8-4.0 mph for anywhere from 45-55 minutes @ 4.5 incline

    3) I burn somewhere in the neighborhood of 400-450 cals

    4) I do this 5 days a week

    It's working so far but I'd like to get to where I'm jogging a little more :)
  • Mamabearuk
    Mamabearuk Posts: 2 Member
    Walking is one of the best exercises you can do, I know when I young and before we had a car I used to walk everywhere and was a lot slimmer and fitter. I love going for long walks in the countryside.
  • Kat5343
    Kat5343 Posts: 451 Member
    I went from 308 to 223 with just walking and diet. I did later do intermittent walking and jogging intervals..
  • daisiemae123
    daisiemae123 Posts: 277 Member
    Walking is pretty much it for me right now. I try to walk on my lunch break and when the weather was nice I would load my little man into the stroller when we got home after work. I have been doing the Leslie Sansone walking workouts when I can at night (not as often as I should or would like to) now that it is dark when we get home and much colder. Joint issues that I have had since long before I was overweight make a lot of other exercise harder to do because of injury risks. Hoping that I can work up to some of it.
  • With my crippling arthritis my hips are fused naturally my shoulders are almost fused totally its about the only thing I can do and only 2 or 3 times a week.
  • AllonsYtotheTardis
    AllonsYtotheTardis Posts: 16,947 Member
    For the first few months, that's all I did for exercise. It's great exercise - especially outside on a beautiful day, with the fresh air. The more you do it, the more you will find you look forward to it!
  • cajungirltx
    cajungirltx Posts: 147 Member
    Thanks for this post. Walking is my form of exercise. I was wondering if there were others that only walked. I would like to start lifting small weights at home.
  • happycauseIride
    happycauseIride Posts: 536 Member
    I lost my first 20 pounds by just walking. When I first started I could hardly make it to the mailbox without back pain. I got on the treadmill and kept going. Went for a mile, then a mile and a half and worked my way up to a minimum of 2.5 daily. I have since added running, lifting, aerobics etc, but walking is still my favorite. Yesterday I walked 4 miles, outside in the sun and it was great.
  • mandamommy3
    mandamommy3 Posts: 297 Member
    Walking was my main form of exercise over the summer. I was walking between 4 and 6 miles a day 4-6 days a week. Now that its getting dark so early I only get out to walk on the weekends in the mornings. I have started doing my workout dvd's now during the week, but miss my walks.
  • Spartan_Maker
    Spartan_Maker Posts: 683 Member
    Hi
    Is there anyone who doesnt exercise apart from lots of walking?

    For the first 90 days or so, walking at a normal pace is all I did, and I went from 308 lbs. to 236 lbs. An even bigger part of my success, though, is that I was on a ketogenic diet that, among other things, suppressed my appetite so that I could consume no more than 2,000 calories a day without being hungry. I'm a 6'0," 47-year-old male, to put this into perspective.

    I can tell you, however, that your body composition will be much, much better, if you combine your walking with a basic powerlifting routine: deadlifts, squats, and bench press. This applies regardless of gender or age. Guaranteed.
  • ilonam777
    ilonam777 Posts: 2 Member
    Its a great way to stay fit and healthy. Only thing you need is pair of confy lightweight walking shoes and good mysic in mp3 player. I love walking, sumetimes I walk 7 miles a day durimg my days off instead of using public transport.
  • emmie0622
    emmie0622 Posts: 167 Member
    I recently "discovered" Leslie Sansone Walk At Home DVDs and absolutely love them! I have been doing them 6 weeks and really notice a difference in how my jeans fit. Love walking, with Chicago winter looming ahead I am going to get a few more of her DVDs so I have a variety and do not get bored. I am cancelling my Jazzercise membership, Leslie's DVDs have done more for me than Jazzercise in getting in shape.
  • revpeg
    revpeg Posts: 18 Member
    I mostly just walk for exercise. I get up early and go for a woodsy walk. I started with a 20 minute walk and now walk about 45 minutes. I love it. I added some swimming to help unfreeze a frozen shoulder and am keeping up with that through the winter. I am now considering adding some weight training. But walking helped me lose over 30 pounds and I really like it, so I'll keep doing it. Also, a friend gave me the book 'The First Twenty Minutes' by a New York Times' health and wellness writer which takes a close look at a lot of exercise and diet studies, and actually debunks a lot of what we accept as good science... BUT, she found that women who lost weight kept it off when they walked before breakfast most days. So, I'm trying to form some good habits for when I reach the weight I want to maintain.
  • 1lexisva
    1lexisva Posts: 978 Member
    I walk and do Squats that is about it :)
  • Bob314159
    Bob314159 Posts: 1,178 Member
    I walk mostly - I try for 10,000 steps a day, thats an hour walk outside together with shopping at stores, walking around the house cleaning up, etc.

    I'm not ready for running - my trainer does not advise it and I think its too much stress on knees and ankles when you are very obese.

    I'm trying to do more weights, but I find it hard to fit into my very filled schedule,when I walk I can listen to audio books, so I'm more motivated. Weights are important, noot for weight loss, but for toning and inner strength. I also think it may prevent the dreaded skin folds.
  • Coltsman4ever
    Coltsman4ever Posts: 602 Member
    Walking is what kick-started most of my weight loss. During the summer I was doing 4 miles 3-5 times a week, in addition to some Zumba. Walking/Running/Jogging.. best feeling ever.


    same here for me.

    Same here and after many months of walking every day I got faster and faster and my legs just wanted to run. I couldn't stop it. From there I just started getting more and more into running and now cycling and mountain biking and I love all of it.
  • Bumdrahp
    Bumdrahp Posts: 1,314 Member
    Walking is what kick-started most of my weight loss. During the summer I was doing 4 miles 3-5 times a week, in addition to some Zumba. Walking/Running/Jogging.. best feeling ever.


    same here for me.

    Same here and after many months of walking every day I got faster and faster and my legs just wanted to run. I couldn't stop it. From there I just started getting more and more into running and now cycling and mountain biking and I love all of it.

    That's awesome!! I found the more walking I did, the more active I was getting in other activities as well! I started Zumba, and then circuit training, running more often, going faster. WAS AWESOME! Can't wait for summer again! Right now it's indoor treadmill and zumba. Running outside is SO much nicer! I owe a lot to just walking! Next year I will now be doing a mudrun, and TRYING out crossfit!
  • superdeedooper
    superdeedooper Posts: 95 Member
    Hi all. I've re-joined MFP after a long break with no motivation. I'm hoping to stay on track. Just dropping in to follow some "walking" people. :-)
  • KBmoments
    KBmoments Posts: 193 Member
    me!
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