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

Msdirection
Msdirection Posts: 54 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Hi everyone! I am a 23 year old woman with a BMI of 19.9. Due to a long-standing history of knee problems, I have been told I should not engage in high impact exercise i.e. most gym classes, and running. As such, for the past 5 years or so I have exercised and maintained my fitness via walking, and have not been for a run in over a year.

I have had arguments, many of them, both on this website and others, with people who believe that regular walking does not consitute exercise. I have had people scoff at the fact that I log (and eat back) calories I burn through walking, and telling me I will never, ever get fit via walking. It's a sore point for me, I'll admit it :laugh:

Today, I got my brand new Polar FT7 heartrate monitor in the post and decided to settle the argument. So here it is - my resting heartrate. Bear in mind this was taken approx an hour after I had walked and as such, may be an overestimate.

20130319204917.jpg

According to the statistics posted by this website ( http://www.topendsports.com/testing/heart-rate-resting-chart.htm ) a resting heartrate of 54 puts me in the 'Athlete' range for a woman of my age. I should probably highlight here that when I talk about 'walking', 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.

People will tell you you can't get fit walking - people are ignorant. Don't believe that just because you can't engage in high impact exercise that cadiovascular health is out of reach. Put on your shoes and walk people - I am living proof it can get you fit!

Happy to talk with anyone who wants more info and I'll accept friend requests from like minded people. Bonus points if you are from Australia! :smile:
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Replies

  • littlebuddy84
    littlebuddy84 Posts: 995 Member
    I totally agree with you. I've lost most of my weight from just walking.
  • Murnique
    Murnique Posts: 9
    Amen, walking is awesome exercise. I lost 10kg as a teenager by just walking.
  • Robin_Bin
    Robin_Bin Posts: 1,046 Member
    Good for you and congratulations! Walking's great exercise... lots of research backing that up. Some people won't think anything you don't do in gym isn't exercise. Your body knows the difference. Thanks for the excellent and successful example!
  • jmparis65
    jmparis65 Posts: 58 Member
    Between diet and walking, I have worked off of all of my medications.

    I now have a resting BP of 110/60 and a resting heart rate of 58-60

    Walking on a threadmill
  • bathony
    bathony Posts: 51
    Walking, I do it everyday and I always count it as exercise. It's not sitting on my bum in front of the TV so how can it not be exercise. Well done you, great post.
  • aablacknell
    aablacknell Posts: 856 Member
    I love walking:heart:. I find it a wonderful way to enjoy being outside and bonding with my dog. I normally walk 4 or 4.5 miles an hour. So i'm with you!!!
  • twelfty
    twelfty Posts: 576 Member
    another +1 for walking, i'm at 4mph at the moment and progressing, not sure what my resting heart rate is but i know i'm getting fitter :)
  • witchy_wife
    witchy_wife Posts: 792 Member
    I add my walking to my exercise on here. I only walk around 3 - 3.5 mph but do it for over an hour (usually ending up between 4 and 5 miles). I usually burn between 400 - 500 calories in that time. If I could do that every day and consume TDEE I would lose around 1lb a week just from that. So it definitely is exercise :)

    I'm not saying it burns as many calories as running or zumba per hour..... but its definitely exercise :)
  • bathsheba_c
    bathsheba_c Posts: 1,873 Member
    My weight depends entirely on how much walking I do. If I don't walk a lot, I maintain at 150-155 lbs. If I do a bunch of walking as part of my regular day, I maintain at 135-138 lbs.
  • Ade2013
    Ade2013 Posts: 28
    I love walking, i walk around 10km per day by taking the long way round to work. I personally believe its one of the best / most natural exercises there is. Fair play to you , i hope it keeps you fit and happy.
  • papercanuck
    papercanuck Posts: 3
    thumbs up to all you walkers out there! I have arthritis and anything impact is a no-no. I try and walk everyday and it works for me. Not only does it help with my weight, it also helps chase the cobwebs during our long cold winters in eastern Canada. I must admit though that when it is -40C with the windchill, I stay inside!
  • LaserMum
    LaserMum Posts: 133
    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.
  • beccyleigh
    beccyleigh Posts: 846 Member
    Any exercise is beneficial to your health, anyone who says otherwise is not thinking straight.
  • ladyraven68
    ladyraven68 Posts: 2,003 Member
    Even if Walking does not count as exercise, it still counts as an increase in your NEAT, and is still more calories than you would burn being sat on your couch.

    My fit bit always gives an adjustment after lot's of walking.

    Depending on how often you do it it may just be worth upiing your activity level on MFp, and ignoring the exercise calories.
  • george29223
    george29223 Posts: 556 Member
    i walk too works good . i ran down a sloth and two turtles the other day it was a good nsv
  • Mads1997
    Mads1997 Posts: 1,494 Member
    Same i lost most of my weight walking fast paced on the tready and on the beach. Now just lifting weights mostly though.
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    Can someone show me where people on this site are saying that walking isn't exercise? I must be missing them.
  • SCtolulu
    SCtolulu Posts: 154 Member
    Good for you. I have done both running and walking obsessively. Both work. Both make you feel great. One won't blow your knees out later.
  • T1mH
    T1mH Posts: 568 Member
    Walk a mile, run a mile burns the same calories. Anybody tells you different tell them to google it and then ignore anything they say.

    Walkers are also far less likely to have injuries that will prevent them from walking.
  • TrailRunner61
    TrailRunner61 Posts: 2,505 Member
    I run and lift now, but I lost 40lbs initially, just by walking a few miles per day and staying fairly close to my cals/exercise cals. I'm getting ready to start walking again to get rid of the last stubborn 10.
  • BerryH
    BerryH Posts: 4,698 Member
    Walking is awesome and so are you for the results you've achieved, well done!
  • askeates
    askeates Posts: 1,490 Member
    The first 50 pounds I lost are because I got up off by tushie and started walking!!!! Whoever said walking isn't exercise is clueless! Movement of any kind that gets your heart rate up for at least 20 minutes is considered exercise! BLAH...

    Way to go OP. Keep up the great walks :drinker:
  • K_Serz
    K_Serz Posts: 1,299 Member
    Can someone show me where people on this site are saying that walking isn't exercise? I must be missing them.

    Many people also say that we need to "MOVE". I never heard anyone ever say that "Moving" doesnt work or that "Moving" isnt exercise either. If it gets your butt off whatever apparatus that it appears to be glued to.....then thats a good thing!!
  • VeeBethTris
    VeeBethTris Posts: 301 Member
    My first 80 pounds came off from only walking.
  • evilmj31
    evilmj31 Posts: 55 Member
    I prefer running but that is just me. I think Walking is wonderful way to exercise and lose weight. My boyfriend lost 40 lbs just by walking. I say you do what works for you and enjoy it. It really doesn't matter what anyone else thinks.
    I get lots of people giving me a hard time for running because there are so many injuries...yada yada. It does't matter what you do, someone will have something bad to say about it.

    So keep on walking :)
  • bluefox9er
    bluefox9er Posts: 2,917 Member
    seconded..i lost the bulk of my weight from long daily power walks... ignore folks who say that walking isnt as beneficial as more aggressive cardio exercises
  • billsica
    billsica Posts: 4,741 Member
    Why would anyone care what you consider exercise or not? I have better things to do than judge people.... wait no I don't.

    Walking = exercise. People who tell you different are haters.

    ..and they will hate.
  • Smackemdanno
    Smackemdanno Posts: 83 Member
    W=F X D. You are correct. I learned that in 6th grade.
  • lauren3101
    lauren3101 Posts: 1,853 Member
    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.
  • indygal76
    indygal76 Posts: 283 Member
    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:

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