Walking not good exercise

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?

Psst ... Don't tell you friend that I lost my first 80 lbs by walking at least 5k at a 3.5-4.0 mph pace every day for 6 months. It can be our little secret.

Just tell the friend I lost the next 20 lbs via weight training and elliptical ... oh, and a weekly 10k walk along rolling terrain.

Clearly I was wasting my time walking during those first 6 months.

Either friend doesnt know what shes talking about or was just clumsy in what she was trying to say.

Agree with all the others that its a valuable form of exercise. Calories burned is calories burned. the nice thing about walking is its not that strenuous for most people and you can fit it in more easily into a daily routine.

What she may have been trying to say is that its not the biggest calorie burner per hour.

Walking is awesome. The best exercise is any exercise you enjoy doing and that you are willing to stick with. So if you like walking, go for it.

I lost 110 pounds in 10 months and after adding in weight training and running, am maintaining a 108 pound loss..
My first 5 months I walked 7 days a week, no exceptions! I weighed 264 when I started so I felt that was the only exercise I could do with all my health problems. .
So personally I think walking is great exercise!

Walking is a great form of exercise. I walk daily. I do other forms of exercises 2 or 3 times a week, but walking is my #1.

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?

You didn't really say your goals. If your goals are to be a bodybuilder, then no it won't work. If your goals are to improve cardio fitness, then yes! Especially on hills and pushing yourself to do harder paces. There are racewalkers who do 6 minute miles, you can't tell me they aren't fit!!

Walking is also good for losing weight. If you want to be an overall fit person, you might want to add in some strength training (especially upper body work since your walking doesn't address that at all) and flexibility work like yoga in addition to the walking.

Anyone who says walking isn't good exercise needs a slap. I went to visit a friend in the holidays who doesn't have a car... we walked MILES for HOURS! Literally. Now I am fit. Or at least I am in the sports/activities I regularly take part in. (Swimming, ellipitcal etc)... but OMG my body has not ached so much and for so long after those few days. My shins, calves, quads, hamstrings, buttocks ached. My lower back ached. I just ached. My poor body. I could have cried.

Walking is wonderful exercise! I have lost weight more than once in my life and when I did it, walking was the main exercise that I did. Plus a good long walk is good for the spirit. You don't have to worry too much about your form or whether you are kicking with the correct foot you just walk. Sometimes I use the time to think about things and other times I use it to think about nothing.

In the last year and a half, I have lost 60 pound and spent maybe 5 minutes on an elliptical. On the other hand I walk 3-5 miles a day at 3.4-3.6 mph.

Walking *is* exercise.