Cons of walking?

2

Replies

  • yirara
    yirara Posts: 9,986 Member
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    You might encounter people.


    Ugh.

    I hear you! Even worse, you might encounter people with dogs who do not scoop their poop >.<

    I stopped using the main and secondary entrances to my state park. I looked at the map and found a dead end street near the other side of the park. It is exceedingly rare that I encounter someone in that side of the park during the week. When I do see someone, it's generally one of the mountain bikers who made or use the fun tertiary trails that I love, so kindred spirits (except that I don't mountain bike - too risky for me.)

    And encounter people whose dogs suddenly attack you. I generally don't mind dogs, but for some reason they do mind me. Sometimes the little cuddly toy dog walking next to a family storms at me walking 5m away, another time a huge dog jumps out of a forest at me (didn't even see it). I'd say that 1 in every 5-8 dogs is aggressive towards me, usually without me even seeing the dog at first. Those dogs that never do anything according to their owners :(
  • nanastaci2020
    nanastaci2020 Posts: 1,072 Member
    Valid point... I started back in mid June with a personal step goal of 5k daily and gradually increased it (+1k to goal every few weeks). When I got to 12k, I actually reassessed and went back to 10k. Now I walk in the morning (treadmill) for 60-70 minutes before work, and spend my lunch hour doing strength work. If I 'allowed' myself a higher step count, I'd feel driven to meet it and skimp on the strength work. I may still hit 12k but the extra is not thru intentional/cardio.
    AnnPT77 wrote: »

    If ALL one's exercise time is spent walking, then one loses out on the benefits of strength exercise, flexibility exercise, some amounts of intense or interval cardio (which aren't so much beginner things, but useful once there's base fitness for certain benefits that low/moderate steady state exercise isn't most efficient at).

  • lgfrie
    lgfrie Posts: 1,449 Member
    NovusDies wrote: »
    Dogmom1978 wrote: »
    NovusDies wrote: »
    Dogmom1978 wrote: »
    NovusDies wrote: »
    Theoldguy1 wrote: »
    NovusDies wrote: »
    Don't think there can be any negatives :smile: unless you plan on doing excess miles every single day, which is what I did a few years ago and burned myself out not to mention my poor heels and feet were suffering too (had to let go of my step tracker eventually because I couldn't stand to see less than 20k+ steps a day)

    Oh yeah... the other con is how much more shoes and socks cost and how fast you wear out shoes once your average stays over 10k. Don't be fooled by shoes supposedly designed to be "walking" shoes. In this country that just means it is possible to walk in them. It doesn't actually mean they are designed for exercise.

    I can buy a lot of shoes vs the cost of poor cardiac health.

    How nice for you. Not everyone can. Healthy lifestyle items and food are overpriced because they know we are investing in our wellbeing. Besides that it takes a lot of effort to find the right pair of shoes and not long after you do they replace it with a newer model that sucks.

    I jokingly refer to my husband as Goldie locks because of how hard it is for him to find shoes he likes.

    Also, I try NOT to purchase items that are designed for “healthy lifestyle” as that simply means they are charging me 200% more than it’s worth 😂 I am very very very frugal 😜

    Pretty much the only way I can "interview" shoes now is through Prime Wardrobe or ShoeBacca. To find my recent pair it took trying 16 pairs of shoes. The ones I settled on are not ones I like looking at but it is form over function for me. After finding it I went to a NB outlet store and took advantage of the buy one get half off deals. So I own 3 pairs but one is already been semi-retired to be used for rainy days.

    I am barely getting 12 weeks of use out of a pair of shoes currently. Even shopping for deals that is stupid expensive.

    Even still I have to use a foot roller.

    I was told recently I should look into some expensive inserts. Geez, what is next?

    I was buying new balance for awhile but I got disappointed with how long the lasted. I too was only getting about 3 months or so before needing to replace them. Even buying them from kohl’s on sale and with a coupon, I was annoyed by the expense. I switched to Vasque (I already had their hiking boots and was pleased with how they held up). My Vasque hiking shoes are still doing well 9 months in. I got a color I wasn’t thrilled with on clearance from REI for a steal of a deal.


    Of the ones I have tried NB keeps my feet the happiest for the longest but they have zero durability. I have until about the middle of February before I am probably going to need replacements.

    I will check out Vasque. I have turned into one of those people who will ask anyone service industry person walking around all day about their shoes. I really wanted to like Keen and I tried several but it was not happening. I have heard good things about Merrel but I haven't tried one yet. My Columbia hiking shoes were great but they also didn't last. I heard great things about ASICS Gels but the ones I bought were quickly demoted to working around the house shoes.

    NB makes most of their shoes in China, but has a line called "MADE" which are made in the US and Britain.

    My NB China shoes last ~ 4-5 months.

    I am yet to have a pair of the US made ones wear out. You pay for that, though.

    I've had great luck with Vasque footwear over the years fwiw Love their hiking boots.
  • NovusDies
    NovusDies Posts: 8,940 Member
    AnnPT77 wrote: »
    I think the only possible cons (besides the potential injury ones people have mentioned) are only *relative* cons, not absolute ones, and somewhat still individual. For example:

    If ALL one's exercise time is spent walking, then one loses out on the benefits of strength exercise, flexibility exercise, some amounts of intense or interval cardio (which aren't so much beginner things, but useful once there's base fitness for certain benefits that low/moderate steady state exercise isn't most efficient at).

    If one spends very large amounts of time doing very large amounts of walking, it can detract from ability to achieve good overall life balance, i.e., enough time and energy to pursue other rewarding interests or hobbies that would be life-enhancing. (Walking is a good exercise, but if the end objective is either calorie burn or fitness improvement, walking may not be the most time-efficient possible solution.) Obviously, though, "life balance" is very much an issue of personal needs and preference. One person's "balance" is another person's "obsession".

    This is why I like to pair my walking mornings with listening to a book. It is almost always educational and/or spiritual. I have listened to many lectures on a broad variety of topics.

    Almost always someone will join me around 6am and then I get to socialize with neighbors.

    Also exercising our dog is a requirement. He is a terror when he is full of energy and bored. We have multiple avenues to exercise him but they all do not result in getting his "business" done so some walking is necessary.

    You are right though. Walking alone is not going to take care of all your fitness needs. It is part of my program because of my goals but it is only part.
  • Dogmom1978
    Dogmom1978 Posts: 1,580 Member
    I have one dog that gets 2 walks a day. Mind you, the walks are not their potty walks (those are just in the yard for a couple of minutes). He goes with my husband during the day on a walk or hike. He is young and hyper (German shepherd/Belgian malinoise mix). After I get home in the evenings, he goes out again. My husband takes him and I take a terrier mix we have and the go for a 40 min walk around the block.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    Dogmom1978 wrote: »
    I have one dog that gets 2 walks a day. Mind you, the walks are not their potty walks (those are just in the yard for a couple of minutes). He goes with my husband during the day on a walk or hike. He is young and hyper (German shepherd/Belgian malinoise mix). After I get home in the evenings, he goes out again. My husband takes him and I take a terrier mix we have and the go for a 40 min walk around the block.

    PICTURES!
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    edited November 2020
    The only con I can really see is quickly reaching a point of diminishing returns in regards to the physical fitness and health benefits provided vs the investment in time. Walking is good, low impact, light exercise and is indeed the place where most who aren't physically fit, overweight, or not used to moving much in general should start...but yeah, humans have evolved such that walking is a very efficient movement.

    I started out walking about 30 minutes per day and then worked up to 60 minutes per day. It didn't really take me that long for that to become a very easy task, so my choices were to either increase my time and distance or to start incorporating more moderate and then strenuous exercise into my program...for myself, more than 60 minutes of walking per day was that point of diminishing returns in regards to the best use of my time.

    I don't have any particular step goal...most of my exercise isn't step based as I am an avid road cyclist and mountain/trail rider and spend some time in the weight room and dabble a bit in rock climbing and other activities. My only step based activity is walking my dog in the morning which is just as much, if not more for her than me...though it is a nice time to have my coffee and watch the sun come up and get ready for the day ahead.

    We do a roughly 2 mile loop every morning, and that is the extent of my dedicated walking. At the end of the day, along with my daily hum drum, it usually puts me around 8K-10K steps per day which is just fine by me. I ride most days as well, and if I were to be focused largely on steps I would have to forgo my rides and more vigorous exercise efforts...so that again, would be a point of diminishing returns on investment of time for myself.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    edited November 2020
    NovusDies wrote: »
    Dogmom1978 wrote: »
    NovusDies wrote: »
    Dogmom1978 wrote: »
    NovusDies wrote: »
    Theoldguy1 wrote: »
    NovusDies wrote: »
    Don't think there can be any negatives :smile: unless you plan on doing excess miles every single day, which is what I did a few years ago and burned myself out not to mention my poor heels and feet were suffering too (had to let go of my step tracker eventually because I couldn't stand to see less than 20k+ steps a day)

    Oh yeah... the other con is how much more shoes and socks cost and how fast you wear out shoes once your average stays over 10k. Don't be fooled by shoes supposedly designed to be "walking" shoes. In this country that just means it is possible to walk in them. It doesn't actually mean they are designed for exercise.

    I can buy a lot of shoes vs the cost of poor cardiac health.

    How nice for you. Not everyone can. Healthy lifestyle items and food are overpriced because they know we are investing in our wellbeing. Besides that it takes a lot of effort to find the right pair of shoes and not long after you do they replace it with a newer model that sucks.

    I jokingly refer to my husband as Goldie locks because of how hard it is for him to find shoes he likes.

    Also, I try NOT to purchase items that are designed for “healthy lifestyle” as that simply means they are charging me 200% more than it’s worth 😂 I am very very very frugal 😜

    Pretty much the only way I can "interview" shoes now is through Prime Wardrobe or ShoeBacca. To find my recent pair it took trying 16 pairs of shoes. The ones I settled on are not ones I like looking at but it is form over function for me. After finding it I went to a NB outlet store and took advantage of the buy one get half off deals. So I own 3 pairs but one is already been semi-retired to be used for rainy days.

    I am barely getting 12 weeks of use out of a pair of shoes currently. Even shopping for deals that is stupid expensive.

    Even still I have to use a foot roller.

    I was told recently I should look into some expensive inserts. Geez, what is next?

    I was buying new balance for awhile but I got disappointed with how long the lasted. I too was only getting about 3 months or so before needing to replace them. Even buying them from kohl’s on sale and with a coupon, I was annoyed by the expense. I switched to Vasque (I already had their hiking boots and was pleased with how they held up). My Vasque hiking shoes are still doing well 9 months in. I got a color I wasn’t thrilled with on clearance from REI for a steal of a deal.


    Of the ones I have tried NB keeps my feet the happiest for the longest but they have zero durability. I have until about the middle of February before I am probably going to need replacements.

    I will check out Vasque. I have turned into one of those people who will ask anyone service industry person walking around all day about their shoes. I really wanted to like Keen and I tried several but it was not happening. I have heard good things about Merrel but I haven't tried one yet. My Columbia hiking shoes were great but they also didn't last. I heard great things about ASICS Gels but the ones I bought were quickly demoted to working around the house shoes.

    I switched from NB to ASICS Gels some years back. They keep discontinuing the models I like >.<

    Sometimes when it's time for new ones, I contact them and say what's closest to [discontinued model.]

    I buy a bunch of different ASICS Gels models from Zappos or Amazon and return all but the ones I like best.

    My newest pair is the walking around stores (and house) pair. Second newest is walking on trails. Oldest is for gardening. The gardening ones get tossed when a new new pair comes in. They are all solid black so I have to keep them different places so I don't get confused ;)

    I also have PW Minor and LLBean waterproof boots that I wear when the ground is really wet, but they are not as comfortable so I use them for shorter distances.
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    I'll note that one's approach to walking at one point in their weight management goal doesn't have to be their approach forever.

    When I began in 2015, a walk was a pretty good workout for me (in terms of how it felt). As I grew more fit, I wanted to move into more intense cardio and walking became more like a thing I did for fun. So I think the point about diminishing returns is a good one, but it's something that can be adjusted for if walking no longer feels like the best fit.
  • AliNouveau
    AliNouveau Posts: 36,287 Member
    edited November 2020
    If you're walking outside I guess you could get hit by a car....sunburn....allergies?

    Might end up with friends and family wanting to walk too which cramps your style
  • Theoldguy1
    Theoldguy1 Posts: 2,498 Member
    edited November 2020
    Theoldguy1 wrote: »
    NovusDies wrote: »
    Don't think there can be any negatives :smile: unless you plan on doing excess miles every single day, which is what I did a few years ago and burned myself out not to mention my poor heels and feet were suffering too (had to let go of my step tracker eventually because I couldn't stand to see less than 20k+ steps a day)

    Oh yeah... the other con is how much more shoes and socks cost and how fast you wear out shoes once your average stays over 10k. Don't be fooled by shoes supposedly designed to be "walking" shoes. In this country that just means it is possible to walk in them. It doesn't actually mean they are designed for exercise.

    I can buy a lot of shoes vs the cost of poor cardiac health.

    The thing is, if I want to walk I have to buy the walking shoes TODAY. I have to budget for that. I don't necessarily have poor cardiac health today, that's a deferred consequence.

    So while having poor cardiac health may be more expensive in the long run, I hope you can understand how the cost of walking shoes/socks would be a potential con, especially for those who are on a tight budget and aren't currently experiencing health problems related to excess weight.

    Sorry most people that are walking for health (30 minutes 5X a week) will be fine in any shoes they have. especially if as a beginner they build up to the distance.
  • richardgavel
    richardgavel Posts: 1,001 Member
    edited November 2020
    I walk 2-3 times a day, minimum 2 miles each time. My biggest con when I'm walking? Seeing people who are running and joking thinking to myself "Man I'm lazy today" 😉
  • springlering62
    springlering62 Posts: 8,686 Member
    Make sure you have proper shoes. I like to walk briskly and hammered my toes so hard several turned black and blue and I lost a couple nails.

    I got properly fitted for running and walking shoes at a local running store, about $125-150 per pair. looked the same model up on amazon. If you don’t mind having the least fashionable color, you can often pick up deals on amazon. I got a wierd teal color of the same shoe for $79.95.

    Balega brand socks are life changing. Seriously. I never knew a sock could make such a difference in comfort.

    We have a concrete (sometimes brick cobblestone) biking and walking trail that runs for miles. Since covid began, some jokers are letting their dogs poop on what is essentially the main sidewalk through town. It is littered with piles every few feet. And skid marks where some unfortunate soul wasn’t paying attention. It’s gotten out of hand.

    Be mindful of drivers. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve stood in the middle of the street shaking my fist and screaming “DON’T YOU KNOW WHAT A PEDESTRIAN CROSSING IS, MORON?!!!”

    And the other new lovely habit is for people to ride their bikes holding a leash while their poor dog runs along beside them. Some *kitten* almost got yanked off his bike when his pit bull charged me at the last second as the zipped past. I sincerely wish he had been.

    @NovusDies it is so very unlike you to be anything less than positive. I hope everything is OK in your world. Hugs.
  • globalc00
    globalc00 Posts: 103 Member
    Walking out side for me has health hazard since where I live, there are no side walks and cars and scooters zoom by. Air quality and weather is also a factor. So I prefer to walk on treadmill.
    But my biggest complaint about walking is the calorie count. I really have no idea how many calories i'm burning. Too many conflicting articles out there on how much you really burn even if I am on a treadmill much less outside.
    If someone has a known good formula to calculate walking calorie, please share.
  • lgfrie
    lgfrie Posts: 1,449 Member
    globalc00 wrote: »
    Walking out side for me has health hazard since where I live, there are no side walks and cars and scooters zoom by. Air quality and weather is also a factor. So I prefer to walk on treadmill.
    But my biggest complaint about walking is the calorie count. I really have no idea how many calories i'm burning. Too many conflicting articles out there on how much you really burn even if I am on a treadmill much less outside.
    If someone has a known good formula to calculate walking calorie, please share.

    Unfortunately, it's pretty low. Moderate walking for most people is going to average around 50-60 watts. The generally accepted formula for exercise calories is watts per hour * 3.6. So that'd be around 180-220. Those are true "net" calories, not calories inflated by exercise machine companies or people making up numbers on the Internet. There is also a bevvy of sites that say anything from 60-150 calories per mile, depending on your weight. The low end of that range, for a 3 mph walk, squares pretty well with the watts-based formula, but the high end is kind of unrealistic.

    If you're heavy, you could do worse than to just declare it'll be 80 or 90 calories per mile and then see how it works out with your actual weight loss. It could end up being a bit high, but probably not catastrophically so.



  • globalc00
    globalc00 Posts: 103 Member
    lgfrie wrote: »
    globalc00 wrote: »
    Walking out side for me has health hazard since where I live, there are no side walks and cars and scooters zoom by. Air quality and weather is also a factor. So I prefer to walk on treadmill.
    But my biggest complaint about walking is the calorie count. I really have no idea how many calories i'm burning. Too many conflicting articles out there on how much you really burn even if I am on a treadmill much less outside.
    If someone has a known good formula to calculate walking calorie, please share.

    Unfortunately, it's pretty low. Moderate walking for most people is going to average around 50-60 watts. The generally accepted formula for exercise calories is watts per hour * 3.6. So that'd be around 180-220. Those are true "net" calories, not calories inflated by exercise machine companies or people making up numbers on the Internet. There is also a bevvy of sites that say anything from 60-150 calories per mile, depending on your weight. The low end of that range, for a 3 mph walk, squares pretty well with the watts-based formula, but the high end is kind of unrealistic.

    If you're heavy, you could do worse than to just declare it'll be 80 or 90 calories per mile and then see how it works out with your actual weight loss. It could end up being a bit high, but probably not catastrophically so.



    I also walk on an incline on treadmill. But really have no idea what setting it at the setting of 6 or 15 does to the calorie burn. One of the many reasons I now prefer to ride my bike on a trainer is because of the much more accurate calorie burn calculated by watt. Unfortunately, biking has their own set of downsides that I will save for the cons of biking thread. :smile:
  • Dogmom1978
    Dogmom1978 Posts: 1,580 Member
    If using a treadmill (I have a commercial one) I deduct 20% from the readout. I set it to a fairly steep incline also to make it more challenging.

    Walking outdoors, I utilize Gaia for distance, mph, and elevation changes. I put the time of the walk at a lower MPH (if it says I walked at 3.2 I enter 2.5 so that I under instead of overestimate calories)
  • rfsatar
    rfsatar Posts: 599 Member
    Personally I hate walking for no purpose, but put me on a golf course chasing an obstinate ball for 5-6 miles and I am perfectly happy. Well I would be if I had a mid-game worth a damn!

    For me just general walking for no other reason than to have a walk is not something I would do on my own. I just don't have the time to take that time out because of a job as a sports journalist - it is far easier for me to get my workout on the treadmill or bike done ahead of having to work... but I know plenty of people for whom walking literally saved their lives as they had never exercised a day before!

    My cousin's husband was morbidly obese, had to retire as a teacher when very young, and was diagnosed as a Type 2 diabetic. He was told to get walking or get dying, and the amount of weight he lost was phenomenal. Still has weight to lose, but is unrecognisable from the figure he was - so we respectfully par with each other about this very question of what are the cons of walking.

    There are no real cons except whether it suits the individual... and well done OP for your last push of weight loss!

    When all said and done - whatever you do advances you on your goals far more than the person doing nowt!
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    edited November 2020
    globalc00 wrote: »
    Walking out side for me has health hazard since where I live, there are no side walks and cars and scooters zoom by. Air quality and weather is also a factor. So I prefer to walk on treadmill.
    But my biggest complaint about walking is the calorie count. I really have no idea how many calories i'm burning. Too many conflicting articles out there on how much you really burn even if I am on a treadmill much less outside.
    If someone has a known good formula to calculate walking calorie, please share.

    @globalc00
    I tend to use the simple bodyweight in pounds X efficiency ratio of 0.3 X miles walked = net calories
    (e.g. At my 168lb weight walking 3 miles would get a number of 151 net cals with caveats that it's intended for flat ground and "normal speed" walking.)

    Beware that many estimates are gross cals (including MyFitnessPal's METS based estimates and many apps) which would mean an element of double counting if using MFP as designed for exercise calories. (MFP number for me with an hour at 3mph would be 251cals.)

    This calculator tends to give higher numbers than my simple formula (184cals for comparison) but usefully has a field where you can enter the grade so helpful for your treadmill incline walks perhaps?
    https://exrx.net/Calculators/WalkRunMETs

  • breefoshee
    breefoshee Posts: 398 Member
    [quote="l

    I actually prefer running shoes for walking. My walking shoe of choice, the NB 990v5, isn't classified as a "running" shoe (it's a "lifestyle" shoe, whatever that means), but the heel is elevated 12 mm and you can really feel the difference. I have Achilles tendon issues, which are nearly 100 % absent when I use the 990v5s, for the same reason that walking downhill is easier on ankles than walking uphill - less stretch on the tendon.

    My only point being that 'walking' shoe isn't just marketing, it s a design thing. At least for fitness brands like NB.[/quote]
    lgfrie wrote: »
    NovusDies wrote: »
    Don't think there can be any negatives :smile: unless you plan on doing excess miles every single day, which is what I did a few years ago and burned myself out not to mention my poor heels and feet were suffering too (had to let go of my step tracker eventually because I couldn't stand to see less than 20k+ steps a day)

    Oh yeah... the other con is how much more shoes and socks cost and how fast you wear out shoes once your average stays over 10k. Don't be fooled by shoes supposedly designed to be "walking" shoes. In this country that just means it is possible to walk in them. It doesn't actually mean they are designed for exercise.

    A walking fitness shoe usually means one that doesn't have an elevated heel like a running shoe. So, for instance, a New Balance 928, which is a walking shoe, provides an absolutely flat surface for your feet, whereas an 880, which is a running shoe, tips your foot forward about 10 mm.

    I actually prefer running shoes for walking. My walking shoe of choice, the NB 990v5, isn't classified as a "running" shoe (it's a "lifestyle" shoe, whatever that means), but the heel is elevated 12 mm and you can really feel the difference. I have Achilles tendon issues, which are nearly 100 % absent when I use the 990v5s, for the same reason that walking downhill is easier on ankles than walking uphill - less stretch on the tendon.

    My only point being that 'walking' shoe isn't just marketing, it s a design thing. At least for fitness brands like NB.

    This was so helpful! I bought a pair of Brooks that feel amazing support-wise, but they tip my toes forward causing them to go to sleep and get tingly on my walks.

    I must have bought running shoes, instead of walking shoes. I'll keep this in mind next time I shop.
  • Dogmom1978
    Dogmom1978 Posts: 1,580 Member
    sijomial wrote: »
    globalc00 wrote: »
    Walking out side for me has health hazard since where I live, there are no side walks and cars and scooters zoom by. Air quality and weather is also a factor. So I prefer to walk on treadmill.
    But my biggest complaint about walking is the calorie count. I really have no idea how many calories i'm burning. Too many conflicting articles out there on how much you really burn even if I am on a treadmill much less outside.
    If someone has a known good formula to calculate walking calorie, please share.

    @globalc00
    I tend to use the simple bodyweight in pounds X efficiency ratio of 0.3 X miles walked = net calories
    (e.g. At my 168lb weight walking 3 miles would get a number of 151 net cals with caveats that it's intended for flat ground and "normal speed" walking.)

    Beware that many estimates are gross cals (including MyFitnessPal's METS based estimates and many apps) which would mean an element of double counting if using MFP as designed for exercise calories. (MFP number for me with an hour at 3mph would be 251cals.)

    This calculator tends to give higher numbers than my simple formula (184cals for comparison) but usefully has a field where you can enter the grade so helpful for your treadmill incline walks perhaps?
    https://exrx.net/Calculators/WalkRunMETs

    I like this calculator and had used it previously. I went back to see if it matched my conservative deduct 20% off calculation (never hurts to double check yourself). This calculator differs from what I normally enter for a 40 min dog walk by 3 calories. 😊
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    Dogmom1978 wrote: »
    sijomial wrote: »
    globalc00 wrote: »
    Walking out side for me has health hazard since where I live, there are no side walks and cars and scooters zoom by. Air quality and weather is also a factor. So I prefer to walk on treadmill.
    But my biggest complaint about walking is the calorie count. I really have no idea how many calories i'm burning. Too many conflicting articles out there on how much you really burn even if I am on a treadmill much less outside.
    If someone has a known good formula to calculate walking calorie, please share.

    @globalc00
    I tend to use the simple bodyweight in pounds X efficiency ratio of 0.3 X miles walked = net calories
    (e.g. At my 168lb weight walking 3 miles would get a number of 151 net cals with caveats that it's intended for flat ground and "normal speed" walking.)

    Beware that many estimates are gross cals (including MyFitnessPal's METS based estimates and many apps) which would mean an element of double counting if using MFP as designed for exercise calories. (MFP number for me with an hour at 3mph would be 251cals.)

    This calculator tends to give higher numbers than my simple formula (184cals for comparison) but usefully has a field where you can enter the grade so helpful for your treadmill incline walks perhaps?
    https://exrx.net/Calculators/WalkRunMETs

    I like this calculator and had used it previously. I went back to see if it matched my conservative deduct 20% off calculation (never hurts to double check yourself). This calculator differs from what I normally enter for a 40 min dog walk by 3 calories. 😊

    Nice!
    Interesting how many ways there are to get to a reasonable estimate.

    To convert from gross to net for mathematical convenience I assume a day without exercise for me is 2400 so I take off 100 cal/hr.
    If I take 100cals off MFP's estimate for 3mph for an hour I get exactly the same as BW x 0.3 x miles. Weird coincidence.
  • sgt1372
    sgt1372 Posts: 3,997 Member
    Only negative is that it takes a long time to walk enough (in 1 session) to make much of a difference.

    I only walk at a pace about of 2.5 miles/hr. So, it would take me 2 hrs to walk 5 mikes or 10k steps, wc is why I don't do it very often
  • RoyBeck
    RoyBeck Posts: 947 Member
    Yeah I get that. I walked 8 miles yesterday in 3 hours. Roughly 800 calories burnt was a plus though.
  • globalc00
    globalc00 Posts: 103 Member
    edited November 2020
    sijomial wrote: »
    globalc00 wrote: »
    Walking out side for me has health hazard since where I live, there are no side walks and cars and scooters zoom by. Air quality and weather is also a factor. So I prefer to walk on treadmill.
    But my biggest complaint about walking is the calorie count. I really have no idea how many calories i'm burning. Too many conflicting articles out there on how much you really burn even if I am on a treadmill much less outside.
    If someone has a known good formula to calculate walking calorie, please share.

    @globalc00
    I tend to use the simple bodyweight in pounds X efficiency ratio of 0.3 X miles walked = net calories
    (e.g. At my 168lb weight walking 3 miles would get a number of 151 net cals with caveats that it's intended for flat ground and "normal speed" walking.)

    Beware that many estimates are gross cals (including MyFitnessPal's METS based estimates and many apps) which would mean an element of double counting if using MFP as designed for exercise calories. (MFP number for me with an hour at 3mph would be 251cals.)

    This calculator tends to give higher numbers than my simple formula (184cals for comparison) but usefully has a field where you can enter the grade so helpful for your treadmill incline walks perhaps?
    https://exrx.net/Calculators/WalkRunMETs

    Based on your calculation. I would burn 210 calories for 10000 steps or 5 miles. Burning a hair more per hour than my hourly tdee. Quite depressing. 😩

    Reasons like this I feel like it’s easier to not eat than exercise. 1 hour walking burns less than eating a banana.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    edited November 2020
    globalc00 wrote: »
    sijomial wrote: »
    globalc00 wrote: »
    Walking out side for me has health hazard since where I live, there are no side walks and cars and scooters zoom by. Air quality and weather is also a factor. So I prefer to walk on treadmill.
    But my biggest complaint about walking is the calorie count. I really have no idea how many calories i'm burning. Too many conflicting articles out there on how much you really burn even if I am on a treadmill much less outside.
    If someone has a known good formula to calculate walking calorie, please share.

    @globalc00
    I tend to use the simple bodyweight in pounds X efficiency ratio of 0.3 X miles walked = net calories
    (e.g. At my 168lb weight walking 3 miles would get a number of 151 net cals with caveats that it's intended for flat ground and "normal speed" walking.)

    Beware that many estimates are gross cals (including MyFitnessPal's METS based estimates and many apps) which would mean an element of double counting if using MFP as designed for exercise calories. (MFP number for me with an hour at 3mph would be 251cals.)

    This calculator tends to give higher numbers than my simple formula (184cals for comparison) but usefully has a field where you can enter the grade so helpful for your treadmill incline walks perhaps?
    https://exrx.net/Calculators/WalkRunMETs

    Based on your calculation. I would burn 210 calories for 10000 steps or 5 miles. Burning a hair more per hour than my hourly tdee. Quite depressing. 😩

    Reasons like this I feel like it’s easier to not eat than exercise. 1 hour walking burns less than eating a banana.

    It was cool and drizzly when I got home this afternoon. I changed into gardening clothes and gardened for an hour. Then we walked the cat in the woods for an hour. He only went 0.7 mile, which was the perfect pace for me - I brought my clippers and worked on the trail. Between the deadfall, briars, and the multiflora roses, I will always have trail to work on. (It gets really overgrown when I abandon it during the peak of gardening season.)

    It was nice having my OH with me. He usually walks the cat but we would occasionally trade off when I needed his strength or height. I've been trying to get him in the woods for years, but he'd been reluctant until he started walking the cat and got bored with just walking him on our street.

    I enjoyed my afternoon very much. The exercise calories are nice, but being active does so much for my mental and physical health, plus I sleep better.

    Maybe you can find a way to make walking more interesting for you - are you listening to music, podcasts, reading, or watching TV while you are on the treadmill?
  • globalc00
    globalc00 Posts: 103 Member
    I have reached the end of YouTube and web walking on treadmill. Lol. The issue is my mind knows 1 hour is 1 hour. It’s a long time much less 2 hours.
  • lgfrie
    lgfrie Posts: 1,449 Member
    globalc00 wrote: »
    I have reached the end of YouTube and web walking on treadmill. Lol. The issue is my mind knows 1 hour is 1 hour. It’s a long time much less 2 hours.

    Breaking Bad takes 62 hours to watch. You'll be set till mid January.
  • globalc00
    globalc00 Posts: 103 Member

    Breaking Bad takes 62 hours to watch. You'll be set till mid January.[/quote]

    I watched 1 season of it and couldn't bring my self to watch season 2. I really don't get why people think it's such a good series.
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