Walking to lose weight

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Replies

  • gobraves47
    gobraves47 Posts: 213 Member
    My exercise is mostly walking--I'm just now starting to run a little. Good for me and my dog. :smile:
  • guessrs
    guessrs Posts: 358 Member
    I started walking a year ago, with a little jog at the end. Walking rocks!!
  • AnotherTryLiz
    AnotherTryLiz Posts: 77 Member
    I am a strong believer that walking works. Due to a knee injury a long time ago, I will never be a runner. I started out in January not being able to walk for 10 minutes without a bunch of pain in both the hips and the legs. Now 6 months later I walk 7 miles a day, everyday! Get yourself a Fitbit or something that counts steps. It will motivate you and get you moving. Start slow (I could barely do 3500 steps a day) and build up from there. I now ride my bike and do zumba a couple times a week because I have too much energy. Oh and of course you need to eat healthy! It all has to fit together to make it work.
  • karibj2010
    karibj2010 Posts: 264 Member
    I've lost almost 58 lbs and my main form of exercise is walking. As long as you are moving, and reducing calories, it will work :smile:
  • louisegibbs85
    louisegibbs85 Posts: 304 Member
    I'm a walker (not in the walking dead sense) I love to walk, especially on sunny autumn days :) If I need something from the shop I'll walk to the furthest one, it also saves on bus fare lol I've lost 66lb through waling and occasionally doing my exercise DVD which is only 30mins. Good luck with your goals :)
  • ruwise
    ruwise Posts: 265 Member
    I've pretty much used walking as my only exercise until about 5 weeks ago when I started the Couch to 5K. I still mainly walk as the early weeks of this programme is a lot of walking with a little running.
  • feelin_gr_8
    feelin_gr_8 Posts: 308 Member
    exercise is exercise, power walk and use your arms try walking uphill, strap on some ankle weights!

    I forgot about ankle weights! I used to have some when I lived overseas...maybe I left them there. I am doing a lot of walking lately (granted, I just started this journey a couple weeks ago...) Usually between 1-3 depending on how late I get up. I try to make sure I'm going about 3mph at least (20 minute mile). I'm trying to jog a 5k in 1.5 months for my first time and I'm over 110 pounds over my goal weight....so I know how hard it can be. Each day, I'm planning on jogging a slightly smaller stretch of my walk.
  • kgerm317
    kgerm317 Posts: 191 Member
    When I started in November, walking was my primary exercise. I started eating cleaner, logged everything and walked a mile on my lunch break 3-4 times a week. I would also do some of the Biggest Loser exercises on the Wii Fit about 3-4 days/ week. I lost 20 pounds in my first 2 months.

    With a proper diet and walking, you will see results. Good Luck! And feel free to friend me if you're looking for support :)
  • Jesmoko
    Jesmoko Posts: 203 Member
    I lost a good 35ish lbs with walking my dog and paying some attention to what I'm eating. I walk around 6-8 miles every day now.

    e. Oh, forgot to mention that you should listen to audiobooks or podcasts if it ever gets boring. You don't even notice how much you've walked when you're engrossed in a good book.
  • CherryOnionKiss
    CherryOnionKiss Posts: 376 Member
    I lost about 50 lbs from watching what I eat and almost exclusively walking. I started with just taking my dog for a couple of brisk walks each day. Eventually I started going to the HS track and slowly built up my speed and distance. I worked up to doing intervals of walking and sprinting.

    I do lots of other things now, but one of my favorite workouts is still power walking my neighborhood, which happens to be very hilly.

    Keep moving.

    Good luck!
    MB


    What's HS track?
  • arlenem1974
    arlenem1974 Posts: 437 Member
    90% of my exercise is from walking. I have lost 71 lbs. since March 2012. 59 LBS. Since starting on here last September.
  • Lissa_M
    Lissa_M Posts: 131
    For me, walking is the only exercise I do, because I hate exercising. I love walking! I've been a little slack the last 2 months because walking in the Alabama heat just isn't pleasant. Once the cooler weather sets in though, I walk a couple of miles a day.
  • harleygroomer
    harleygroomer Posts: 373 Member
    I do !!!!!!!!!!!!! walk every day sometimes twice a day. I "fast" walk and I mean "FAST" walk 3 miles in 45 minutes. Sometimes I use a stop watch. And then I usually fast walk 2 to 3 more miles at night. THEN I do arm weights at nights ONLY during the commercials of my fav, show and then once a week I take in a Zumba class. But the Bulk of my weight loss and exercise is thru walking.
  • xnancyelizabeth
    xnancyelizabeth Posts: 22 Member
    I walk my dog the same twice a day and then I do a 60+ minute bike ride each day sometimes twice a day.. Helping me majorly losing weight lately.. Few mores pounds and then I hope to start running :-) good luck and keep positive :-)
  • Gidzmo
    Gidzmo Posts: 906 Member
    I walk to and from work every day (unless I have to run some errand that requires driving). I lose weight.

    If you don't want to be walking on the street, maybe the local mall has a walking club.
  • MsPudding
    MsPudding Posts: 562 Member
    I love walking and it's my primary exercise. Apart from not having a gym anywhere near me, I just hate being stuck inside exercising - I'd much rather be out in the fresh air, seeing nature, experiencing the seasons change. I try to get in 5 miles a day, though I've probably been down to 2 during the very hot days.
  • MinnieInMaine
    MinnieInMaine Posts: 6,400 Member
    Walking is awesome and definitely my favorite form of exercise!

    That said, walking alone isn't going to help you lose weight. You probably know this but I think it needs to be said anyway. People always ask will this exercise or that exercise help you lose weight....well, sure, it might, but not if you don't have you food intake under control. A friend of mine is going through this right now. She exercises like a fiend but eats horribly and so the weight stays on. But she's not willing to track her food and make changes so what do you do? At least she knows MFP and her friends are here for her when she's ready.

    Weight loss is 80% calorie intake, 20% exercise

    And please for the love of good stuff do not wear ankle weights!! They can be really horrible for you, especially if you have joint problems, are obese or have an alignment problems.
  • Katrina_vw91
    Katrina_vw91 Posts: 232 Member
    Its been working for me so far. I usually run most of the time, but walking at a fast pace is also good :)
  • lilRicki
    lilRicki Posts: 4,555 Member
    I lost about 50 lbs from watching what I eat and almost exclusively walking. I started with just taking my dog for a couple of brisk walks each day. Eventually I started going to the HS track and slowly built up my speed and distance. I worked up to doing intervals of walking and sprinting.

    I do lots of other things now, but one of my favorite workouts is still power walking my neighborhood, which happens to be very hilly.

    Keep moving.

    Good luck!
    MB


    What's HS track?

    High School race track
  • mandasalem
    mandasalem Posts: 346 Member
    I'm primarily a walker. Only recently have I started lifting again. The majority of my weight loss has been simple "get off your butt more" variety-- not powerwalking, not fast-pace walking, just walking. (I have major knee issues.)

    It can be done-- diet's the first step, and then upping your activity more. Keep moving!
  • Lleldiranne
    Lleldiranne Posts: 5,516 Member
    Roughly 80% of weight loss is by diet. Exercise helps, but it's what you eat or don't eat that creates a deficit. [Of course, exercise generally means you look better at the end]

    My grandma walked every morning for years, when the weather was good. Yes, it helped her achieve and maintain a better weight that when she couldn't walk. It also helped her feel better, both physically and emotionally. It's okay if you can't run. Walk briskly. IT's by far better than sitting on the couch!
  • I did, I didn't record my weight though. I was walking approx 6 mi a day, approx 6 days a week. And I was fitter and I got smaller. I didn't even realize at first. Just my clothing was looser.

    I was so tired at the beginning and it would take about 2+ hrs to finish but after a while I'd be done under 1.5 hrs with tons of energy.
  • Bump
  • danarochelle
    danarochelle Posts: 212 Member
    I just started making walking an hour 5x/week a priority when I get home from work. I also have a gym at my work I belong to and if I'm able, workout there also a couple x/week. I am also logging my calories every day, staying under 1370. I just recently started this regime and I'm going to do it until I plateau (would be nice if I didn't though). I could use some friends that are doing the same also! Good luck to everyone!:drinker:
  • Aleta7
    Aleta7 Posts: 92
    Yes, at this point all I can do is walk. I walk every other day for two to two and a half hours with my dog. I have lost 42 pounds this way. :smile:
  • norcaligirl72
    norcaligirl72 Posts: 34 Member
    Absolutely! Keep moving no matter what you do! When I finally got back to hitting it at the gym I could only do 3 MPH on the treadmill... Yesterday I did 3.9 MPH on hill mode. JUST KEEP MOVING! : )
  • BlueStar1989
    BlueStar1989 Posts: 130 Member
    walking is how I started getting back into being active. Its a great place to build from
  • ames105
    ames105 Posts: 288 Member
    I've lost the 54lbs by walking. I've recently added in bike riding. Walking is great exercise and a great place to start. You can do it!
  • I commute 40 minutes to and from work every day, I've traded one trip a day for a walk home, sure it takes me 70 minutes - but I sleep better, feel better and the weight is coming off. I have to say though, diet and exercise combined was what it took to really make a difference, that and a positive mental attitude!
  • kitana42303
    kitana42303 Posts: 5 Member
    yes. I lost 30 pounds with walking 30 - 45 min a day being the majority of my exercise. The only other thing I did was use hand weights for 10 or 15 minutes while watching television at night. You can do this.
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