Walking. It's not a "wimpy" way to exercise for health.
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I wish I lived closer to a beach because then I'd walk on sand for a more intense workout.
I walk and run the beach all summer. Usually running in the am and walking at night. It's truly my fave workout. Soft sand, mud flats and in the water. It's all great.
Honestly, I'm never so in shape as I am doing the above.
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It can surprise people to experience how challenging walking, especially when done specifically as a form of exercise and not simply a means of strolling from A to B, can be.
As part of our physical fitness test, some people are allowed to substitute the 1.5 mile run with a 2 km (used to be 1 mile) timed walk. A LOT of people failed their tests when they were thinking "oh, it's just walking, I do that all the time" and didn't train for it. But the test is based on an individual walking as exercise and you've got to be going at a serious clip for a lot longer than most people ever attempt when they're just out and enjoying themselves or going from their car to the front door.0 -
And doesn't require instruction.Lindonesia37 wrote: »Yep, it's the cheapest workout you can get. I love to walk.
Unless you want to walk AND chew gum at the same time. I know some people who need help with that! :-)0 -
Walking is great! I had a neck injury years ago and therefore can't do high impact activities. Instead I walk at a quick pace for miles, and try to go up and down hills. I get exercise, and enjoy the outdoors.0
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I read somewhere that you should walk like you have somewhere to go, and certainly when I was walking to and from the train between home or work, I walked as fast as I could. It added up to 60 minutes per day, so worth making it count! With walking apps, and now a GPS watch, I'm enjoying trying to get faster to keep improving my pace so I think it's doing me some good.0
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I wish I lived closer to a beach because then I'd walk on sand for a more intense workout.
...or move up north and walk through freshly fallen snow. LOL.
It is surprising how many conditions are improved with walking. I understand that walking is the best therapy for people with chronic back conditions, too. I suspect our paleo ancestors walked a lot.0 -
One of the biggest things my orthopedic and physical therapist have told me is to get up and walk. I'll probably take up using a spin bike and walking as my main form of cardio when I'm 100%.
I do love being outdoors.
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When the weather is nice, I walk outside. I have been following this on the treadmill this winter though. I like having a written plan to progress through.0
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I walk almost every day, usually about 5-7 miles. Most of my vacations center around hiking too. I guess you could say walking is one of my favorite things to do.0
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I love walking I just need to work on increasing speed and endurance so I can more out of it. The good news is that just by digging out my pedometer this week and starting to wear it again, I'm already walking more. the bad news is I don't know how much more (because I increased over the last few weeks) or how fast I'm going.0
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I was out the door by 6 am and walked 6 miles in 100 minutes. Walking is my cardio too and in less than a year I have walked almost 1400 miles.0
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I will check this out! Thanks!
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Just took a nice long walk today...it was most excellent...0
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I was never a big runner - even when I was young - I would sprint when I played softball but thats it. I lost 65 pounds after my second daughter was born...just powerwalking. Now my cardio is 1/2 hour of eliptical and 1/2 hour of power walking uphill on the treadmill, five times weekly plus yoga, stretch and balance and lifting. Walking is a great (ooops not supposed to say good, great, bad lol) a very very healthy way to exercise.0
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I've always said so long as your not sitting on your *kitten*, any form of exercise is good. Do what you can and forget what anybody else says!0
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Nothing kicks my *kitten* so much as when I walk for a few hours with a 35-40# on my back, at a slow pace up to 8k, 9k feet.Never been much of a runner (less than 3 miles at a time) and am one that will walk more than they run.
The reaction that I get from many who ask what I do for cardio surprises them. Yes I kickbox and sprint too, but the majority of my cardiovascular work comes from a decent pace of walking.
So don't feel bad if that's all you're able to do.
http://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/Walking-Your-steps-to-health
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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Walking is great. Now that the weather is getting better, I'm going to start walking during my lunch hour at work. It can be intense, but I sweat less than when running, so I can still come back to work after easily.
I can't go that fast, though - when I speed-walk, my tendonitis flares up. Funny enough, it doesn't flare when I run - so it's probably a gait issue. Eventually I'll be able to go back to my physical therapist so I can work on it.0 -
Lost my first 75 lbs via mostly walking. So wimpy.
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Does that make it hefty?0
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I wish I lived closer to a beach because then I'd walk on sand for a more intense workout.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
Walking in water is also good.0 -
I like going to the gym and doing weights, swimming, elliptical, treadmill...but nothing makes the time fly by when exercising like walking outdoors with the doggy. I can do 30 minutes (I'm up to almost 2 miles) and it feels like I've been out 10 minutes. And when I'm enjoying myself exercising...I do it more!0
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AllanMisner wrote: »Walking is the most effective way I know to do cardio without adversely affecting appetite.
Great point! I know I am super hungry after I do sprints or run, but walking doesn't seem to impact my appetite too much.
Yes!! I have run 2 full marathons and gained weight training for both. I'm taking a break from long distance running and heavy cardio and trying to lose a few pounds WALKING! (And lifting weights). I gained weight with my marathon training because of an insane appetite. So hungry ALL the time. Not a mild hunger. A hunger like if you don't eat you will die. Walking doesn't phase my appetite at all. Even a long walk.
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I'm definitely a walker. Now that the weather has warmed up, snow has melted, and the roads are dry, I love taking my dogs out for a long walk after work. (Plus my two 15-minute walks during the work day.) My husband lovingly refers to the dog walk as a "death march". Although that's probably because he'd just as soon walk around the block than all over the town. I use a Buddy Belt so that I can walk the dogs hands-free. I have Rheumatoid arthritis and it's hard on my hands to hold the leashes. (I need my hands for my writing job.) 0
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I've lost over 100 lbs and counting between walking briskly outside and doing Leslie Sansone walking DVDs. Brisk walking is great for health, it's free and almost everyone can do it!0
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Walking is basically all I do for cardio because my knees can't handle the elliptical for too long. Was pleased today to get out on my neighborhood route as the snow finally melted and it was 55 degrees. Did what amounts to a 5k in 57 minutes!0
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Yeah for walking. I've lost 17 lbs since Jan - only walking. Over the years I've done the different machines, different classes and suffered injuries. I gave up. I've always enjoyed walking my pets and hiking so started w/the Leslie Sasone DVD's this year. I am stoked. I can keep this up and have people at work doing it.0
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Nothing wrong with walking! I find running to be very stressful and annoying tbh and I have no idea how anyone can possibly find it relaxing (and I was on the track team in high school).
I've loved going for walks since I was a kid (if it's in nature, even better). I once walked 20 miles in one day just for fun. Nothing really beats taking a nice refreshing walk on a beautiful day while listening to awesome music. In fact if the weather stays nice, I'm going to go for my first walk of the year this weekend.
Not to mention hiking...I love hiking!0 -
Yep! I love walking! It's both great for my emotional well being and for my waistline
I like to try to walk further all the time, or do the same routes more quickly. I walk with a good pace but almost never break into a jog. Running's just not my thing.... walking on the other hand, brings me joy 0 -
The human body is designed to walk 40 miles a day. read that on Facebook so it
must be true.0
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