Question about walking to get fit

helenrosemay
helenrosemay Posts: 375 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I've been walking since June at least 5-6 days a week to lose weight and to get fit. At first I was out of breath even walking on flat ground, but now I'm rarely out of breath except when going up hill (when I say out of breath, I mean not so much that I can't talk)
My question is will walking still help get me fitter even if I'm not getting out of breath, or should I try changing my walks to include more hills?

Replies

  • doomspark
    doomspark Posts: 228 Member
    You can also try increasing your walking pace.

    I recently added stairs to my walking regime.
  • helenrosemay
    helenrosemay Posts: 375 Member
    You can also try increasing your walking pace.

    I recently added stairs to my walking regime.

    I pretty much walk at a fast pace already, but there are stairs I could include in my walk.
  • GadgetGuy2
    GadgetGuy2 Posts: 291 Member
    Walking will help to keep your veins and arteries healthier. Not the heart though, for that you need something more stressful (e.g. aerobics). So yes, walking helps with fitness. Generally speaking, 10 thousand steps a day is a good day.

    Walking also burns more calories than sitting still. Keeping a healthy weight contributes to your overall fitness. So yes, walking helps with fitness.

    The more "vigorous" your walking, the better for both arterial system (real vigorous helps the heart a bit) and weight.

    I use a FitBit to track my steps. It provides a calorie burn as well. When trying to loose weight, I eat back enough calories to remain about 300-500 below my TDEE. That way, I don't feel like I'm starving (i.e. easier not to binge eat) and I still loose weight slowly (i.e. the right way to loose weight).

    Good luck. Simple rule: move it(your body) or loose it (your health).
  • helenrosemay
    helenrosemay Posts: 375 Member
    Walking will help to keep your veins and arteries healthier. Not the heart though, for that you need something more stressful (e.g. aerobics). So yes, walking helps with fitness. Generally speaking, 10 thousand steps a day is a good day.


    Isn't the heart an artery?
  • chwillia1
    chwillia1 Posts: 9 Member
    [/quote]

    Isn't the heart an artery?
    [/quote]

    The heart is a muscle.
  • GadgetGuy2
    GadgetGuy2 Posts: 291 Member
    It's both.

    Artery=vessel that carries oxygenated blood.
    Vein=vessel that carries oxygen depleted blood.

    The heart is both:
    1.) pumps oxygen depleted blood to the lungs and receives oxygenated blood back
    2.) pumps oxygenated blood to the rest of the body and receives oxygen depleted blood back

    Yes.....if you look at the hearts of all kinds of animals:
    1.) simple, small animals (e.g. sea squirt) has a heart that is only slightly larger than the the vessels (arteries and veins)
    2.) while larger more complex animals have a heart that has differentiated from a simple vessel into larger chambers that constrict and relax under a central nervous control mechanism, and the valves in the veins and arteries (which keep blood flowing in the right directionb) are differentiated into the more complex heart valves (same function, direction of flow).

    Heart, arteries and veins are all considered part of the circulatory system. But the heart is not, to my recollection, ever called an artery or a vein.

    Caveat.....all of the above is from my memory from an upper division "Comparative Anatomy of the Vertebrates" course I took as part of achieving my Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology.

    Besides, all the above is "academic". What really matters is "Use it, or lose it".
  • GadgetGuy2
    GadgetGuy2 Posts: 291 Member

    Isn't the heart an artery?


    The heart is a muscle.

    There is a small amount of muscle (smooth, I think) around veins and arteries, that help a little in pumping the blood thru the body.

    So yes, the heart is a muscle (and more), but so are the veins and arteries (but much less).
  • MissMollyMN
    MissMollyMN Posts: 74
    My question is will walking still help get me fitter even if I'm not getting out of breath, or should I try changing my walks to include more hills?

    If it doesn't challenge you, it doesn't change you! I think being "out of breath" is a great thing, it means you are pushing yourself :) You've clearly overcome your first challenge, now it's time to step it up! :) Keep up the great work.
  • UpEarly
    UpEarly Posts: 2,555 Member
    Go faster, climb more hills, go for longer distance, carry a backpack or wear a weighted vest. Walking can be made increasingly challenging!
  • helenrosemay
    helenrosemay Posts: 375 Member
    Thank you for all your responses. I have worked out some longer, more challenging routes, so will now try them.
  • hkmurphy83
    hkmurphy83 Posts: 262 Member
    Throw in some small hand or ankle weights. I had a friend buy and wear one of those weighted vests as well. That will add some challenge to a walk/route that may have gotten a bit easy. When walking became a lot less strenuous for me, I started jogging with the C25K app. I actually became a runner and love it. Just a few suggestions.
  • shelllord
    shelllord Posts: 43 Member
    Hi, running is the best thing for you, I lose so much weight just running 30 mins a day, it's hard at first if you are new to it but you could just run for 30 seconds then walk for 30 etc, if it's not weight you want to lose then it's just good for general fitness, walking does nothing for me I walk 5 miles a day to and from work x
  • auntiebabs
    auntiebabs Posts: 1,754 Member
    I got a little pedometer that will also show my heart rate.
    As long as your heart rate is in the right range for your fitness goals and your age, you're on your way...

    HRCzoom.jpg
  • auntiebabs
    auntiebabs Posts: 1,754 Member
    Hi, running is the best thing for you, I lose so much weight just running 30 mins a day, it's hard at first if you are new to it but you could just run for 30 seconds then walk for 30 etc, if it's not weight you want to lose then it's just good for general fitness, walking does nothing for me I walk 5 miles a day to and from work x

    Ha! that's what I thought until I got injured and could not walk back and forth to work... Amazing how quickly the pounds piled up.
  • helenrosemay
    helenrosemay Posts: 375 Member
    I got a little pedometer that will also show my heart rate.
    As long as your heart rate is in the right range for your fitness goals and your age, you're on your way...

    HRCzoom.jpg

    Thanks for this. My heart rate was 124 after a 40 min walk, finishing walking up hill. This wasn't using a HRM though just counting beats.
    I'm 40yrs old btw.
  • auntiebabs
    auntiebabs Posts: 1,754 Member
    Thanks for this. My heart rate was 124 after a 40 min walk, finishing walking up hill. This wasn't using a HRM though just counting beats.
    I'm 40yrs old btw.
    I just found this one, it's not as pretty, but it specifies what each wedges fitness goals are (fat burn vs. endurance, etc.)
    Looks like you are right at the top edge of the range for weight control PERFECT!

    cardio-zones-chart.jpg
  • staceypunk
    staceypunk Posts: 924 Member
    I agree with other to walk for a bit and then increase your pace and walk or run for a bit until you are out of breath. Small intervals of intensity will help. Get comfortable with being uncomfortable (Jillian Michaels quote) :)

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