Walking. It's not a "wimpy" way to exercise for health.

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  • jenilla1
    jenilla1 Posts: 11,118 Member
    I couldn't care less what other people think of my exercise. I do what I want! I hike several miles in the hills at a brisk pace. It works for me.

    There's an older lady on my street who walks slowly with a walker. I've noticed over time that she's been gathering speed and going further. It must be working for her, too. Don't even worry about it. Just get out and do it! B)
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,989 Member
    crystalstinson7 wrote: »
    I have a question. This article states that a 120lb person burns approx 85 calories per mile and a 140lb person burns approx 95 calories per mile. It stands to reason, then, that a 130lb person would burn approx 90 calories per mile, correct? I weigh 126lb and I walk 6 miles 2 days a week. Last night, I logged my 6 miles, which take me an hour and a half to complete as a brisk walk. MFP gave me 342 calories as the burn. According to the math (with estimations), wouldn't I burn approx 540 calories during a 6 mile walk? When I had a Bodymedia armband, I would burn, according to it, around 450 calories. I've lost about 10lb since I last used it, though, and I know you burn less when you weigh less. I also realize that the armband really only provided an estimate.

    I prefer to be on the safe side of a lower estimate, but I'm just curious as to what others think--is MFP wrong or is the article wrong? Or both? lol

    Thanks!
    It's always going to be an estimate. Going off this equation:
    Energy expenditure (calories/minute) = .0175 x MET (from table) x weight (in kilograms) your estimated calorie burn would be 4 calories a minute if you walked at 3.50-4.0 mph. So if you walked for 90 minutes at this speed burn would be 360 calories.

    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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  • annakadabra_
    annakadabra_ Posts: 29 Member
    fishgutzy wrote: »
    I only walk a lot when I'm forced to go to China for business. And even that is only when I'm at the office that isn't near a pool.
    Degenerative osteoarthritis in my feet had 3 different doctors telling me not to do martial arts any more or a lot of walking.
    Hiking trails is actually less stress on my feet than pounding concrete sidewalks.
    My biggest concern walking in China was causing an accident. People on scooters flying past me and staring at me instead of the road :)

    I can understand that feeling! I've been living in South Korea for almost 6 years (I'm Canadian) and I'm ALWAYS stared at when I'm jogging/walking by the fitness trail. There are tons of other people on the trail too, but being an overweight, busty, foreign female must be too much of the "bizarre" for them to handle! :o:#

    Most importantly, always be careful when you're walking in Asian countries. I've been to a few and (except for Japan!) they seem to have a very "free for all" mentality regarding sidewalks, streets, pedestrians, delivery scooters (yes, McDonalds deliver in South Korea O_O). As my husband would say, if you can smell the fried chicken when the delivery scooter zooms by, you're too damn close! :p But all in good fun, I live living here :D<3
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,616 Member
    Around here, walking can be quite a workout because of all the hills. Halfway up, my heart is pounding in my ears and I'm puffing like a steam engine. And I do quite a bit of walking so it's not new to me.
  • Alatariel75
    Alatariel75 Posts: 18,230 Member
    I do Taekwondo and try to run, but my absolute vast majority exercise is a crapload of walking! I get stroppy if I don't get my lunchtime walk at work. This is good to hear!!!!
  • AllanMisner
    AllanMisner Posts: 4,140 Member
    shelleyrhoads wrote: »
    The human body is designed to walk 40 miles a day. read that on Facebook so it
    must be true.

    Maybe up to 40 miles, but there were very little reason for our ancestors to walk further than they needed to find food.
  • NekoneMeowMixx
    NekoneMeowMixx Posts: 410 Member
    If you can do 3 miles at a time, then you are doing hella more impressively than I could! I'm currently doing C25K, in efforts to go from wheezing through a half mile to (hopefully) Tough Mudder in the fall... This past week I've been too sick to really hit up the gym, but the other day I walked at a brisk pace for ~40 minutes and burned nearly as many calories as I do doing C25K!!

    That's awesome though-- keep rocking what you rock! And huzzah to kickboxing! I'm currently in the market for a heavy bag so I can do some kickboxing/stress relief at home :P
  • PAtinCO
    PAtinCO Posts: 129 Member
    AllanMisner wrote: »
    shelleyrhoads wrote: »
    The human body is designed to walk 40 miles a day. read that on Facebook so it
    must be true.

    Maybe up to 40 miles, but there were very little reason for our ancestors to walk further than they needed to find food.

    I agree, 40 miles seems like a lot. Long distance hikers average between 20 and 35 miles a day and they wake up on the trail and walk till dark or later. The speed record for the Pacific Crest Trail is held by Heather Anderson and she did 2700 miles in 60 days, 45 a day, and she had to walk 16+ hours a day to do it.

  • Scorpiotwin
    Scorpiotwin Posts: 124 Member
    Walking has been my major form of cardio. I walk 45 minutes to an hour almost everyday. I mostly do random on the treadmill at a level 5 at 3.1 Mph, but I'm working on getting my speed up. I'm usually dripping with sweat when I'm done. Between may cardio walks and my walk that I take on my lunch break I average about 12000 plus steps a day.
  • starfish235
    starfish235 Posts: 129 Member
    I walk faster than some joggers. There is a walking/running track at my gym.i was walking about 4 miles every week day. I was so sore I had to do some elliptical to get over it. Walking keeps your *kitten* and breast from going up and down preventing sagging of those parts. It isn't as hard on the joints as well. For me muscles in my legs hurt when I start the actual running. I am a very slim 58 years old. I am 5'2" 110 lb.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,989 Member
    Soon as I finish directing traffic at my DD's school (I just live around the corner) I take off and do a good 2.5 mile walk. This is time for me to catch up to local sports by listening to KNBR (love iHeartradio.com) and getting a good chuckle from the hosts. Time flies and I still get to be outside.

    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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  • AllanMisner
    AllanMisner Posts: 4,140 Member
    ninerbuff wrote: »
    Soon as I finish directing traffic at my DD's school (I just live around the corner) I take off and do a good 2.5 mile walk. This is time for me to catch up to local sports by listening to KNBR (love iHeartradio.com) and getting a good chuckle from the hosts. Time flies and I still get to be outside.

    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
    9285851.png

    My walking time is usually filled with podcasts. But now I’m working on my NASM Fitness Nutrition Specialist, so I have 6 1/2 hours of lectures (fun, fun).
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,989 Member
    My longest walk ever...............down the path to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, then walking back up a couple of hours later. Of course I was 13 at the time. Now I want to do it again.

    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
    9285851.png
  • sculptcha
    sculptcha Posts: 163 Member
    i generally walk 1.5 miles at a 3.5-4mph pace as a warmup on the way to the running track, but it hurts my shins. as soon as i start jogging, pain gone (11-12 min mi). am i doing it wrong? maybe my legs were just meant for a midget? i think my shoes are ok. i had gait analysis done, tried a million pairs outside before buying, etc. but who knows.

    i love walking, but it's more enjoyable to me at a leisurely pace, which doesn't warm me up or burn as many calories as i'd like.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,989 Member
    sculptcha wrote: »
    i generally walk 1.5 miles at a 3.5-4mph pace as a warmup on the way to the running track, but it hurts my shins. as soon as i start jogging, pain gone (11-12 min mi). am i doing it wrong? maybe my legs were just meant for a midget? i think my shoes are ok. i had gait analysis done, tried a million pairs outside before buying, etc. but who knows.

    i love walking, but it's more enjoyable to me at a leisurely pace, which doesn't warm me up or burn as many calories as i'd like.
    Could be few issues: heels on shoes are too high, foot support, tight shins. Maybe try walking at a slower pace since it's just your warm up.

    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
    9285851.png

  • KBmoments
    KBmoments Posts: 193 Member
    bump
  • ForeverSunshine09
    ForeverSunshine09 Posts: 966 Member
    I just started exercising just a couple of weeks ago and it is mostly walking either outside with my dogs or in my living room. I monitor my heart rate to make sure I keep it up and steady.
  • FitPhillygirl
    FitPhillygirl Posts: 7,124 Member
    edited April 2015
    I love to walk! My pace is 5 miles in 65 minutes which is a great steady state workout for me. Usually burn about 450 calories at that pace. I don't really care if people think walking is wimpy exercise or not. As long as I'm getting results from it I will keep doing it. :smile:
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