Walking isn't cardio vascular?

If it's working for you and you're comfortable...I don't see a reason you need to change.

Now, there may come a time when your body gets used to what you're doing. Then you might want to change some things, but if you're not there yet. Don't worry about it.

...and to answer the original question...it is.

Sounds to me like you are doing great!

From the WebMD site.

Walking is a form of aerobic exercise and is one of the easiest ways to increase your physical activity and improve your health. Physical activity increases your heart rate, strengthens your heart, and increases blood circulation through your body, bringing more oxygen and nutrients to your organs. Exercise also increases your lungs' ability to take in oxygen, lowers blood pressure, helps to reduce body fat, and improves blood sugar and cholesterol levels.
Key points

* Have a checkup before beginning an exercise program. If you have heart problems, your doctor may want to do tests to find out how much activity your heart can safely handle.

* A recent study shows that if you have heart problems, a home walking program may be as beneficial as participating in a hospital- or clinic-based cardiac rehabilitation program.2 This can be important for people who don't have access to organized cardiac rehab.

From the American Heart Association Web site

Walking Toward a Healthier You

There are countless physical activities out there, but walking has the lowest dropout rate of them all! It's the simplest positive change you can make to effectively improve your heart health.

Research has shown that the benefits of walking and moderate physical activity for at least 30 minutes a day can help you:

* Reduce the risk of coronary heart disease
* Improve blood pressure and blood sugar levels
* Improve blood lipid profile
* Maintain body weight and lower the risk of obesity
* Enhance mental well being
* Reduce the risk of osteoporosis
* Reduce the risk of breast and colon cancer
* Reduce the risk of non-insulin dependent (type 2) diabetes

There really are so many benefits for such a simple activity!

Keep walking. Low impact and great for you. Our families love us but they are not experts.

Walking is a great exercise for a start. Once you see it's too easy then you have to add to it. Anyways your exercise must increase has you lose weight.

Walking alone can be the only exercise you ever need. Take it from me I used to walk all over this town when I was a kid and it was very easy to keep any weight off back then. But a perfect exercise is one where you kind've get your mind off what you're doing and keep it elsewhere while you're getting the much needed exercise. With walking all your senses are busy taking it all in.

I personally use an elliptical cross-trainer but mainly because of the low-impact exercise. I go as fast as I can go with head phones on for 60 minutes per day. 4 to 5 days per week. It's paying off in dividends! As fast as I'm going it looks like running to others around me but much easier at my current weight on the knees.

You need to have your heart rate elevated for a period of time before you are truely getting a fat buring cardiovascular workout. For me my ideal heart rate when working out hard is around 150-160 BPM. I find when I walk I barely get above 110 BPM. I would invest in a inexpensive heart rate monitor so you can keep track for yourself. Also, remember that the first 20 minutes is just cardio....once you get past that point you will start to burn stored fat.

Walking is what I do everyday plus weekends. It is the best thing for you to move.
You might want to try raising your heart rate with another exercise, but walking is
totally cardio.

walking i def cardio and good for you. When i used to walk to work i lost tonnes of weight just because of that. However, if you are starting to find walking getting easier maybe it would be a good idea to introduce a few short runs, just to keep up the improovement of your fitness. But as long as you can feel your heart rate increase and you feel as if you are doing the excercise you need then its prob cool to keep up with what you are doing. sounds like you have done brilliantly well so far :-)

Keep doing what you are doing. If you are feeling better, losing weight, and getting to your goals be happy with exactly what you are doing! Don't change a thing!

If walking is NOT Cardio, I am in BIG Trouble!!!!

big as in 169 pounds??? :laugh:

Walking is cardio vascular for sure!! walking works your whole body. If you are sweating you are most likely getting a very good workout.

Eventually you may want to mix it up or do some weights. But some people only walk and lose tons of weight. they reach their goals.

Don't believe that say, no pain no gain! Not true.....:-) You do not have to have any pain to get a good cardio workout!

So keep up the good work and congrats on 29 pounds lost!!:flowerforyou:

I do Leslie Sansone. I started off with the 1 mile walk now I am up to mile 2. She is very good. Plus you can do it in the comfort of your own home.

People tend to be imprecise with their terminology which often leads to misunderstanding.

When performing physical activity, there can be a distinct difference between "weight loss effect" and a "training effect". From a cardiovascular standpoint, a "training effect" means an increase in VO2 max, or maximal oxygen uptake. To realize a cardiovascular "training effect" from exercise, one must sustain an effort of at least 40% (in the beginning) of VO2 max for a duration of 20 min, 3 days per week (or the equivalent in interval training).

A "weight loss effect" occurs, as we all know, when one, on average, consumes fewer calories than one expends over a long period of time.

Weight loss can occur without any exercise at all.

Weight loss can be enhanced by physical activity that is not intense enough to result in a "training effect".

One can exercise at an intense enough effort to realize a "training effect", but not lose any weight, if they don't monitor calorie intake.

So the question of whether or not walking is "cardiovascular", is not the same as "is walking an effective means to assist in a weight loss program".

The answers depend on the type of walking and the characteristics of the individual.

My doctor told me that walking is not exercise. He should try the walks I do with my 70 lb bulldog dragging me down the sidewalk. Now that's cardio

My doctor told me that walking is not exercise. He should try the walks I do with my 70 lb bulldog dragging me down the sidewalk. Now that's cardio

:laugh: :laugh: I have TRIED to walk my Dad's 2 year old Boxer, who weighs about 70 pounds. If that is not a workout, I don't know what you would call it!!