Hi! I'm Melinda; Mom of 3 grown children and 1 grandson. Walking has always been my favorite exercise! Thank you for starting this group - I'll check into your website. Happy walking, everyone!

Hi there. My name is Margaret and I am 66 years old and I live in Hermiston Oregon. I've been walking for quite a few years now and I have walked not only here at home but I have also walked in Botswana. I am unable to run for more than just a little bit because I've had both knees replaced and I find walking much more enjoyable.

Great group idea, I love walking and using step counters for fitness.

Hello all....my name is Denny.
A few months ago I seem to have had an epiphany, mostly I think from a visit to "the other side" during a heart attack a year and a half ago. As a result of the heart attack I quit smoking (20 months ago), which was something that always was in the way of any desire to improve my fitness. Diet and exercise are moot when you're still doing probably the single worst thing for your body you can do, but now with that behind me, I've turned over a new leaf so to speak.

Growing up, walking for me was a way of life. I walked a tick over a half-mile to school in the morning, home for lunch, back after lunch and again at the end of the school day. That was 2 miles/day, 9 months/yr. In addition, I spent ALL my time outside, "running the streets" as my mother referred to it. I was a very active kid, to the extent, I was skinny...unable to put on weight. My mother would send my brother and I down the street each night after dinner to the Dairy Queen to get ice cream to try and put weight on us. Enjoyed the ice cream, but couldn't put on an ounce.

I have 70# to lose to get back to my college weight. I know from past experience, that won't come from diet alone.

I'm 66 yrs. old and retired. When I retired I bought an RV to travel the country full-time. So, unlike many of you mothers, without multiple munchkins I have a lot of peace and "me-time", but still enjoy walking....especially when the weather is a little cooler.

My original goal was simple, based on most of the research that says, 30 minutes of walking, three times a week has huge health benefits. With that in mind, I took off from a friends on a 30 minute walk. I planned to walk "out", 15 minutes and "back"...accomplishing my 30 minutes. It wasn't to be however....I made it 10 minutes when I began to feel a twinge in my lower back, but I persevered....at 13 minutes....that was it. My plan of 15 mins. out and 15 back had turned into 13 minutes out, and an 18 minute, erect crawl back.

Once back at my friends and sitting, my back was fine again in 3 to 5 minutes. I had just tweaked a long unused muscle. I reasoned that I now knew I could walk 10 minutes, I would do just that....twice-a-day. After several weeks I shifted to 15 mins. a stretch, then 20 etc., until I was up to 1 hr. at a stretch, with hills involved. So....for the first time in my life, I could honestly say I actually could see improvement in both my capability and how I felt.

I've never been a morning person. Since beginning my walking program....I'm in bed at a reasonable hour and sleep fitfully through the night, waking rested when the sun is rising. I get dressed and I'm out the door immediately before I have time to come up with an excuse for not walking and while it's still relatively cool outside.

I currently try to do a brisk walk for at least an hour each day, 7 days a week....in part to burn calories, and in part for the cardio benefits. I recently had a followup stress echo test on my heart. After my heart attack, one of the chambers was only working at 30% efficiency....my latest test showed that had increased to 45%, so with just 4 months, through a combination of no smoking and cardio walking I'd gained back 15% of my heart. So, for those who doubt the benefits of walking....in a word. DON'T.

Because of my heart attack, I get monitored, so I can readily see gains....but the rest of you should know, that while you can't maybe feel, or see the changes.....just know, they are happening.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Hello,

I am a mother of two children who are now in college. (so I am new to the empty nest) I decided that now is the time to get moving. I have walked on and off for the last 15 years as a form of exercise, but I never used a tracking site before like My Fitness Pal so I am hoping that I will have some others to chat with about accomplishments and the inevitable human setbacks from time to time.

I am glad there are groups on here who participate in the same activities as me!

It is nice to cyber-meet you.

Hi, I will be 63 at the end of September. My profile shows me starting in July of 2014, but I had an issue with someone here and deleted my account of over 2 years and started a new one under a new name. I was morbidly obese when I joined MFP 3/12/12. I lost 90# before I even began to walk in October 2012. It was difficult to even walk up stairs without becoming out of breath. In February of 2013 I got a fit bit. It is the best motivator I have to get me moving. I walk everyday. M-F I use the gym at work (using the elliptical and treadmill mostly and light weight training) and take a walk when I get home in the evening. We live in the country on 10 acres, 7 of which are rolling wooded hills. I have a route I take in the woods that is 2 miles up and down steep hills. I usually do three walks on Saturday and Sunday, only one M-F. My walks, in our woods, register 30 staircases (1 staircase for every 10' of elevation) on my fitbit. I live in Minnesota and I walk even on sub-zero days here. MFP and my fit bit have at the very least extended my life. I am very grateful to MFP.

Melissa, thank you for starting this group here. I have visited your website and have bookmarked it. It looks like there is a lot of great information on your site and look forward to becoming familiar with it.

Now that I am in the best shape I have been in in over 30 years, I am extremely happy to have found your site and this group.

I love walking now and it is definitely my exercise of choice!

p.s. my avatar is a photo from our back deck. Our woods that I so love to walk in.

Hello, Was happy to see this group and decided to join. My name is Nancy and I am 62. I have enjoyed walking for a while and due to the heat, have to walk on the treadmill during the hot summer months...and fortunately, it should be cooling down enough soon to walk outdoors. I have a fitbit flex and this has been great for counting steps and being in challenges. I would like to get back to what i did this summer which is a walk, then about a minute or two jog, back to a walk. Not sure my knees will hold up, but here's hoping! I will visit your website later today Melissa. I am walking not only to lose weight, but also to for the cardio benefits too. Looking forward to participating in this group of walkers!

Hi I'm Vicki from the UK, I walk everywhere as I don't drive, I really enjoy walking but have failed to find a walking group locally that I can join so it'll be great to chat with walkers online

Hello everyone! I'm really glad that I found this group. Thanks Melissa for moderating

In my younger years I used to be a gym rat and very athletic. I used to run quite a bit as well. Once life (family, job kids, etc) got really busy I got out of working out for a few years and packed on some weight.

Now that the kids are older and about to go off to college, I have gotten back into working out (cardio, lifting) and eating right. I have found that it's hard for me to run right now because of the stress on my knees and the fact that I need to build my wind up. In place of running I have started a walking routine and I have found it to be so exhilarating and a great stress reliever. I have also lost some weight as a result.

If anyone in the group would like to add me, please do. I would be glad to give support and encouragement. I could also use some myself!

Good luck in your quest for living a healthy lifestyle.