Walking not good exercise

Walking is fantastic; anything that brings your heart rate up and gets you moving is great. Do what YOU like and makes you comfortable

Walking is the easiest way to exercise but it takes longer to burn calories since it is low impact. I used to walk 2 hours a day when i didn't have a job, now I find it near impossible to walk 1 hour a day. I lost 40 lbs when i walked 2 hours a day and ate right.

Walking is great and relaxing no matter what pace you are at!

Walking really helps organize my thoughts and it is so good to be outside in nature. I go to the park and enjoy the sweet smell of summer flowers and pause by the river to contemplate sometimes.

So, while walking may not be the most vigorous exercise, it is definitely easy on the joints (I have a bad knee I threw out kickboxing years ago) and the benefit of fresh air and clarity in thought is a fantastic bonus.

I also second the advice on adding resistance training to your regimen. Weights build strong bones and lean muscle tone which helps support you in your daily activities and make clothes fit wonderfully. This is important for men and women of all ages, but especially when we get to our late 30s-early 40s.

If you'd like to try elliptical, go for it, but be cautious not to overdo the cardio. If you forgo the weights, you could become the proverbial skinny, fat person (looks great in clothes but little to no muscle tone---mostly soft, flabby skin!). Cardio is great for burning calories but also can burn muscle too.

Good luck to you & keep us posted on your progress!

I was told by a friend that my waling 5k a day is not good exercise that I should try an elliptical or some other type of cardio machine. Its not like I go for a stroll I am walking at a 3.8-4.0 pace outside up hills. Am I wrong to think my walking will get me to my goals?

Any exercise is good exercise......you have to do what you like and can stick to. I exclusively walk these days and am fine.
As to your goals....that is more difficult to say, because you did not mention what your goals are. If it is weight loss, exercise is secondary after eating at a deficit. However for allover health any exercise is good exercise...:o).
Good Luck to you !

I see a lot of anti-walking stuff all the time, and can't say I agree with it. I think its the perfect low intensity exercise so your body is hopefully burning its fat stores instead of its carb ones Also, combined with a little strength training and some sprinting/ high intensity interval training, it would seem like a perfect combination for weight loss.

For what its worth, 1/4 of the weight loss you see in my ticker is from walking and the 3- 4 miles I typically walk every day. Anyway, I would walk whether I was seeking to lose weight or not, as I simply like it too much

There's nothing wrong with walking -- but it gives you a lower burn than other activities, which is likely what your friend was looking at.

As others have said, it completely depends on your goals. Are you just looking to get more active? Or are you looking to create a bigger deficit through exercise? Are you looking to increase your fitness level significantly? etc

Personally, I do a ton of walking in my every day life, and I still head out for walks in the afternoon/evening because I like to walk through the forest and sing to myself to destress haha.

Depending on your goals though, you could consider trying a walk/jog system to eventually work your way into running, which has a higher calorie burn and helps improve your cardiovascular system more than walking, but not knowing your fitness level, I don't know if that is the right time for you yet.

I agree with the other posters; walking is great exercise, especially if you enjoy it. Walking and weightlifting have been my main form of exercise for the past 2.5 years.

Have you ever tried walking DVD's such as Leslie Sansone, Debra Mazda, or Jessica Smith? Many of them are available on YouTube. Some of the workouts incorporate higher impact, the use of weights, squats, lunges, etc. I find them an invaluable tool when the weather outside is frightful, which in WI, is a good nine months out of the year.

Don't let your friend discourage you, you're on the right path.

What's the best exercise? One you will do consistently.

Your friend is wrong. Walking helped me to lose my first 35 lbs.

Walking 3.8 to 4 mph on hills is a good exercise. It's not like your doing a slow stroll on a flat ground surface ( but even that is still good ).

Anyway, if you like walking then keep on doing it! Nothing wrong with the elliptical either, but you should do the exercises you want to do!

Look at the pics in my profile. 98% of my exercise is walking...think they might change their mind?