Is walking a legitimate exercise?

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Replies

  • Chevy_Quest
    Chevy_Quest Posts: 2,012 Member
    definitely. Good post!:smile:
  • BinaryPulsar
    BinaryPulsar Posts: 8,927 Member
    TIL some people feel very strongly about walking.

    Apparently.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    Of course walking is legitimate exercise. Walking can improve your fitness level and your overall health.

    "in shape", however, is a completely arbitrary term open to personal interpretation. Any exercise could be said not to get you "in shape" depending on what the person means by that statement.
  • Blacklance36
    Blacklance36 Posts: 755 Member
    My Dad just moved into a seniors residence and the doctors there said there are really two types of seniors, those that have mobility and those that don't. He said walking is the most important exercise you can do as you age.

    Yes, walking is exercise.
  • geebusuk
    geebusuk Posts: 3,348 Member
    So people haven't got the time to check up on facts - just make them up because it's easier!

    I do apologise if I've caused annoyance by forcing people to need to *think* about what I've said a little ;).
  • BinaryPulsar
    BinaryPulsar Posts: 8,927 Member
    So people haven't got the time to check up on facts - just make them up because it's easier!

    I do apologise if I've caused annoyance by forcing people to need to *think* about what I've said a little ;).

    Everything you say is a fact? If we don't find you interesting, we don't think? Strong logic.

    And I am sorry for saying you were annoying. Just being honest here.
  • gelendestrasse
    gelendestrasse Posts: 204
    Sure it is. And the faster and farther you go the better off you are. Want more? Get some wrist weights and swing your arms.
  • molonlabe762
    molonlabe762 Posts: 411 Member
    To me it depends on how vigorous the walk is and/or how long. If your just casually strolling for a few minutes then no.
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
    Walking is a good exercise but if your aim is to keep progressing and improving your fitness you'll get to a point where walking won't get your heart rate up enough to challange you. Yes you'll still burn caloires but as your fitness improves the calorie burn for the same distance will reduce because your body gets more efficient, your heart rate lowers and you use less oxygen.

    If you weigh the same, you will burn the same.

    Most people I know have been walking since they were little - there is little to no improvement in efficiency to cause what you suggest.

    But yes it becomes less of an effort, and HR will lower, not indicating burning less, but indicating burning less carbs and more fat, and an improved aerobic system to meet the same calorie burn.

    But true it won't be a workout for the heart at that point, and unless you go longer, it's maintenance mode for the muscles too.

    But those above effects are true of any workout if you don't increase the intensity or effort.
  • Aaron_K123
    Aaron_K123 Posts: 7,122 Member
    Most weight I've ever lost in a short period of time was about 8 pounds in 14 days and I was doing nothing but walking. Of course I was walking for like 16 miles a day with a backpack on over rough terrain and elevation but it was still walking ;-).

    As with all things exercise its about how hard you push yourself, how long you go, and how consistent you are that determines how much of a difference you can make in your body over time. But yeah, you can take walking pretty far and get some great results from it.
  • holothuroidea
    holothuroidea Posts: 772 Member
    Exercise does not need to make your heart race, your muscles burn, or get you sweaty, to be effective.

    Is it challenging? Is it harrowing? Is it going to get you RIPPED? No. But that's not what it means to be healthy, and exercise is about maintaining physical health.

    A solid baseline of light activity including walking (yes, at a "strolling" pace), stretching, cleaning, yardwork, and not-sitting in general, are more important for overall physical well-being than doing HIIT circuits or lifting your BW over your head, *especially* if you want to be able to do those things.

    Walking is physical activity that promotes health, so it is exercise by definition.

    That having been said, walking is one of those things that you get the benefits from through length and consistency. Walking 15 miles a week will have an impact on your health, one mile every couple of days won't.
  • keytostart
    keytostart Posts: 7
    I feel as though walking is an exercise. I used to do it a lot during the summer and it helped me to lose a lot of weight. I even progressed to jogging then running. ***If you want to burn more calories I suggest a sweat band around your waist.
  • jennk5309
    jennk5309 Posts: 206 Member
    Movement is movement and will burn calories and is good for you. Even fidgeting burns calories. Now, walking will not burn as many calories as other, more strenuous exercises, but IMO ANY MOVEMENT is better for you than no or little movement!!! Just keep doing it! Consistency is what is most important.
  • SapiensPisces
    SapiensPisces Posts: 992 Member
    Who cares what other people think is or isn't exercise? If you find that going for walks helps you in your goals, then do it. If not, don't and find something else.
  • VoodooSyxx
    VoodooSyxx Posts: 297
    I feel as though walking is an exercise. I used to do it a lot during the summer and it helped me to lose a lot of weight. I even progressed to jogging then running. ***If you want to burn more calories I suggest a sweat band around your waist.

    I wore an onion on my belt because it was the style at the time, but I don't know what that has to do with burning calories.
  • holothuroidea
    holothuroidea Posts: 772 Member
    I feel as though walking is an exercise. I used to do it a lot during the summer and it helped me to lose a lot of weight. I even progressed to jogging then running. ***If you want to burn more calories I suggest a sweat band around your waist.

    I wore an onion on my belt because it was the style at the time, but I don't know what that has to do with burning calories.

    I remember we had to use yellow onions, we couldn't get white ones 'cause of the war.
  • tdotgirl
    tdotgirl Posts: 95 Member
    Yes walking is exerise! I've lost 84 lbs walking
  • geebusuk
    geebusuk Posts: 3,348 Member
    Everything you say is a fact? If we don't find you interesting, we don't think? Strong logic.

    And I am sorry for saying you were annoying. Just being honest here.
    When the 'fact' in question is whether or not I have said something, yes whether or not I have said that thing is THE fact.
    To be clear: If someone claims I've said it and I haven't said it, they are not being 'factual'.

    Further, did I specify that you "don't think" if you don't find what I said interesting?
    Nope.
    It would seem to me you've extrapolated that as it meets your view of the topic rather than the reality.
    Again, try *thinking* about what I've written ;).

    I'm not sorry some people find me 'annoying', as it goes.
    Especially if those are the sort of people not likely to bother to read what I've written, making it up instead!
  • snowflake954
    snowflake954 Posts: 8,399 Member
    So people haven't got the time to check up on facts - just make them up because it's easier!

    I do apologise if I've caused annoyance by forcing people to need to *think* about what I've said a little ;).

    Apology accepted. Thankyou. :smile:
  • hospitablegirl
    hospitablegirl Posts: 64 Member
    I count anything done intentionally to improve health regarding movement as exercise. If i go for a walk, it's exercise. If I run, it's exercise. Swimming, bowling, jogging, changing channels on the television :)
  • CA_Underdog
    CA_Underdog Posts: 733 Member
    Haven't you seen the blog post that MFP featured on Facebook yesterday of the member that lost 75# just from walking and counting calories? MOVING is exercise. If you move enough (she was walking like 6-7miles per day) you'll burn enough calories to melt away the pounds.

    Walking doesn't help you lose weight on days you're already below or at target, as you're supposed to eat back your exercise calories to maintain your goal / healthy 1-2lb weight loss. It can help if you're above target! Even then, the benefit is minor--I burned only 136 kcal yesterday walking briskly for 36 minutes.

    I can't even get my heart rate in zone 2 walking, to build my aerobic base or cardio. At most it helps maintain. For more, I would need to transition to hiking (hills!) or jogging or bicycling or rowing or an elliptical.

    I loved walking the past 4 months. Alas, improvements require challenges. :)
  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member
    I recently walked a 2 mile trail with 40 pounds on my back and a total gain of 2200' over snow.

    I totally think it was a legit exercise.
  • CA_Underdog
    CA_Underdog Posts: 733 Member
    I recently walked a 2 mile trail with 40 pounds on my back and a total gain of 2200' over snow.
    Normally I call that "hiking". I do suspect that was very good exercise. If only I had a 2200' mountain in my backyard, I wouldn't need to find a better tool than walking, to build a strong aerobic base. ;)
  • ddixon503
    ddixon503 Posts: 119 Member
    I use to say walking wasn't an exercise...but that was 130 lbs ago.
  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member
    I recently walked a 2 mile trail with 40 pounds on my back and a total gain of 2200' over snow.
    Normally I call that "hiking". I do suspect that was very good exercise. If only I had a 2200' mountain in my backyard, I wouldn't need to find a better tool than walking, to build a strong aerobic base. ;)

    Hiking just implies fancy shoes. Look at your fancy shoes ooooooo! ;)
  • neandermagnon
    neandermagnon Posts: 7,436 Member
    I recently walked a 2 mile trail with 40 pounds on my back and a total gain of 2200' over snow.
    Normally I call that "hiking". I do suspect that was very good exercise. If only I had a 2200' mountain in my backyard, I wouldn't need to find a better tool than walking, to build a strong aerobic base. ;)

    Hiking just implies fancy shoes. Look at your fancy shoes ooooooo! ;)

    ^^^ yeah, this.... hiking = walking through countryside. you don't even need fancy shoes. I've done loads of hiking in trainers (aka sneakers) or doc martens (I don't know if you even have them in the USA)
  • Dogwalkingirl
    Dogwalkingirl Posts: 320 Member
    Of course it is exercise. However, just like everything you body will get immune to certain things and you may need to step it up a notch. I own a dog walking and pet sitting business and I walk for 5-7 hours a day and I am not thin from it. However, my legs are hard and I am in fairy good shape from it. In order for my body to start losing weight I needed to up my level of fitness...jog instead of walk, bootcamp classes, lifting swimming etc. If you walk, walk at a good clip, don't stroll!
  • BinaryPulsar
    BinaryPulsar Posts: 8,927 Member
    Everything you say is a fact? If we don't find you interesting, we don't think? Strong logic.

    And I am sorry for saying you were annoying. Just being honest here.
    When the 'fact' in question is whether or not I have said something, yes whether or not I have said that thing is THE fact.
    To be clear: If someone claims I've said it and I haven't said it, they are not being 'factual'.

    Further, did I specify that you "don't think" if you don't find what I said interesting?
    Nope.
    It would seem to me you've extrapolated that as it meets your view of the topic rather than the reality.
    Again, try *thinking* about what I've written ;).

    I'm not sorry some people find me 'annoying', as it goes.
    Especially if those are the sort of people not likely to bother to read what I've written, making it up instead!

    Well, it's just my opinion that your clarity needs improvement.

    Also, I was not the person that said you said something.

    This is a very pointless discussion.

    All I said was that you weren't clear. You are the one making up what I said and blowing this way out of proportion.
  • paulawatkins1974
    paulawatkins1974 Posts: 720 Member
    Walked 11 miles yesterday at a pace of just under 4.5 miles per hour.

    Burned over a 1000 calories.

    Come talk to me again about walking not being "legitimate" exercise.
    I mostly sat on my back side yesterday (brief leisurely commute on the push at a slow pace thanks to dog running beside me) - I ate 2531 calories and lost weight.

    Tell me again about sitting on my backside not being "legitimate" exercise?

    :P

    That's lovely.

    And this has what to do with the 1000+ calories I burned on top of my already near 3000 calorie daily, "normal" expenditure?
    You've lost a lot of weight seems you know what you're doing!
  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member
    I recently walked a 2 mile trail with 40 pounds on my back and a total gain of 2200' over snow.
    Normally I call that "hiking". I do suspect that was very good exercise. If only I had a 2200' mountain in my backyard, I wouldn't need to find a better tool than walking, to build a strong aerobic base. ;)

    Hiking just implies fancy shoes. Look at your fancy shoes ooooooo! ;)

    ^^^ yeah, this.... hiking = walking through countryside. you don't even need fancy shoes. I've done loads of hiking in trainers (aka sneakers) or doc martens (I don't know if you even have them in the USA)

    We do.

    It's simply accountrements for light hobbit play.

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