We are pleased to announce that as of March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor has been introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!
Happy Walktober (and MORE)!!
themedalist
Posts: 3,218 Member
Happy Walktober!
If you’re not familiar with Walktober, its a global campaign every fall to encourage people to walk. Outdoors if possible in the cooler temperatures and autumn highlights, but indoors also works if that’s more your style. Just walk!
There are Walktober events everywhere and many are held online. Lets join in and put daily walking on the top of our priority list this month. Maddie and I both walk everyday and we’re both convinced it’s a big factor in why we’ve maintained our weight loss. Walking daily gives me the energy I need and it makes me a happier, more creative person. Walking fuels my life.
And if you don’t walk regularly, please use Walktober as a springboard to cultivate this life changing habit! Give yourself the full 31 days. Start where you are— many of us started with 5 or 10 minutes a day — and gradually increase the duration as it becomes easier for you. Make the investment in yourself and in walking. Maddie and I are very confident you will feel the difference come November!
We know many of you are also fellow walkers and we’d love to hear how it’s benefited you. Even if you choose another activity or tiny habit to focus on this month, we hope you’ll also walk daily. Whatever you pursue this month, we are here to support you.
Shoes laced up, let's GO!
🌷Denise & 🌸Maddie
@themedalist & @MadisonMolly2017
7
Replies
-
I’m so excited to have a month devoted to walking! If you’re not a daily walker or your walks are hit or miss, Maddie and I hope you’ll be inspired to giving walking a fair chance this month. It really is life-changing and a superb habit to cultivate!
I walk daily, but I don’t walk A LOT daily. Most days I walk about 20 to 30 minutes in total. You don’t have to walk a lot to reap a lot of benefits!
6 -
@themedalist I like the idea of our walking together. In the last month I walked almost 120 miles. I'll think about pushing myself a bit!5
-
135 miles here. October will likely be that plus another 4-4.5 miles.
If anyone needs more encouragement, my esteemed doctor told me (and everyone she works with) to walk 10,000 steps every day - no rest days. She does it herself. She chided the nurses who are half her age & take the stairs, while she uses the 7 flights of stairs.
She does 12 hour liver transplants & has to be in top form throughout.
I decided to treat her directive as a doctor’s prescription. I have averaged 10K steps a day since then.
It helps with:
Anxiety of being a transplant patient (the meds, the uncertainty)
My osteoporosis (also made worse by critical meds)
COViD-19 limitations
Profusion through kidney & circulation
Weight control
Mood regulation - nature, endorphins
Reminds me every day of what I could not do before.
I began with three short walks a day, slowly lengthened them. Switched to 2. For years now, I’ve done my one 90 min walk because I thought it would help my endurance, which it has.
If I’m tired, I walk more slowly on a flat route
If I’m “full of beans,” I walk steep mountains.
Tricks of mine:
Have all your gear in one place near door: hand sanitizer, mask, sunscreen, hat, outer wear, umbrella, gloves, sunscreen, earbuds
Call it your ME Time!!!!
Listen to podcasts, music, call family/friends, take photographs, watch a movie if route is safe (a high school track), invite someone to walk with you!
And my Most important tip: It’s not whether you will walk; it’s WHEN you will walk each day. It doesn’t matter if you feel like it or not. After 10 minutes, you’ll feel great❣️
🌸Maddie9 -
Great suggestions @MadisonMolly2017 ! I talk to my sister on the phone while we both walk twice a week.
I’m going to try for 150 miles in October. My best month in the last year was 145 in May. So 150 will be a push. It’s only 5 miles per day, but Sunday is my rest day, and I take a shorter walk, so I’ll have to have a couple 6 or 7 mile days to make up for it.6 -
My watch challenge for the month is 271.5 miles (walking and running). I am worried about that extra .5 tho
Last month I did 266 and August was 272. My best month was Jan at 374 total. So it IS possible to me to make the challenge. Even with 3 rest days from running in Jan. I have been doing the Run the Year challenge which means running and walking 2021 miles for the year and it is kind of fun. It's a little much for me to get there with just running, but I am still in the game for that barring illness or injury.
Loving all the tips Denise and Maddie.....
On rought days I esp give myself the self talk just do 10 min one. And then I will tell myself just 20 min for the UAC challenge and then heck why not 30 min which the drs recommend and by then I have in a groove. LOL. 6 -
@MadisonMolly2017 and @SummerSkier make an excellent point. Getting started is always the hardest part. Once you start walking, it’s much easier to continue. I often tell myself I’m only going to walk for 5 or 10 minutes. And then it becomes 20 minutes!
If you’re new to walking, maybe start with just getting on your walking shoes? Put them in a visible place (the front door perhaps?) as a cue to remind you to go for that walk. Once you got them on, just walk for a minute or two… Whatever’s a good fit for you.
Getting started is always the hardest part. Reducing the obstacles to getting started, such as telling yourself you’re only gonna walk for a few minutes, should make it easier to turn that ignition switch.4 -
So question. @themedalist can we also have a tiny habit thread for the month of October? I don't really need to focus on exercise (and it seems like Maddie and you also have that down as well as @77tes.3
-
SummerSkier wrote: »So question. @themedalist can we also have a tiny habit thread for the month of October? I don't really need to focus on exercise (and it seems like Maddie and you also have that down as well as @77tes.
Bon, I would rather not have two concurrent October challenges going. It becomes harder for Maddie and I to manage and it diverts the focus off walking, which is the whole point of Walktober.
But I also recognize some of us are already daily walkers and don't need to focus on that. By all means, if you want to work on something else, post what you'll be working on in this thread and we'll cheer you on. But I hope you'll still participate in our group virtual walk. We need your mileage! 5 -
themedalist wrote: »
Happy Walktober!
If you’re not familiar with Walktober, its a global campaign every fall to encourage people to walk. Outdoors if possible in the cooler temperatures and autumn highlights, but indoors also works if that’s more your style. Just walk!
There are Walktober events everywhere and many are held online. Lets join in and put daily walking on the top of our priority list this month. Maddie and I both walk everyday and we’re both convinced it’s a big factor in why we’ve maintained our weight loss. Walking daily gives me the energy I need and it makes me a happier, more creative person. Walking fuels my life.
We know many of you are also fellow walkers and we’d love to hear how it’s benefited you. Even if you choose another activity to focus on this month, please also walk daily! And if you don’t walk regularly, please use Walktober as a springboard to cultivate this life changing habit! Give yourself the full 31 days. Start where you are— many of us started with 5 or 10 minutes a day — and gradually increase the duration as it becomes easier for you. Make the investment in yourself and in walking. Maddie and I are very confident you will feel the difference come November!
Let’s make it a group walk and track how far we go this month! Estimate your mileage for the week and post it here on the weekend. I’ll keep the cumulative total and convert it to a geographic distance. Can we walk from London to Florence this month (990 miles)? Spokane to Santa Fe (1347 miles)? Or perhaps with enough participants and steps we can make it from Montreal to Vancouver this month (2287 miles)!
No matter the distance, let’s walk and make it a great Walktober!
Shoes laced up, let's GO!
🌷Denise & 🌸Maddie
@themedalist & @MadisonMolly2017
I love walking, I will try to take on this challenge, although I have some health issues at the moment5 -
@SummerSkier you definitely don’t need to increase your mileage! Wowzers! 🤩 You can be the coach!
What else would you like to work on this month? I have an empty slot on my tracker for something, but I haven’t decided on anything yet other than upping my mileage.4 -
Well, darn! I’m not interested in participating in the walking group this month. I’ve found developing tiny habits in the past has been really helpful in what I’m doing better today…more consistent bedtime, more water, loving meditation, moving more, decluttering, being more creative, and the list goes on😊 But I don’t think tracking miles walked will help me personally in the way that I need, so I will be bowing out. Good luck on your trek!4
-
@nebslp, the mileage goal is purely secondary. My hope is that people would feel inspired to walk more this month, that’s all. Some people may not feel they need to walk more, but maybe we could encourage and support those who want to become daily walkers?
I’m disappointed that a second thread was created when this thread can accommodate all October goals.3 -
I walked on my treadmill today but I walked through northern Italy. 😀 I am really enjoying BitGym and immersing myself in these gorgeous places while I get my steps in. I know it’s not the same thing as being there in person, but without the travel expenses and cross Atlantic flight, it’s pretty great. Plus, I have no risk of falling as I do IRL, and I love that!
5 -
@themedalist Now I want to hop on a plane and visit Italy! But as they probably won’t let me in I will settle for watching while riding my bike. Thanks for sharing the site.6
-
Reposted (From @SummerSkier)
So for the month of Oct, I am going to be a more observant driver. I drive about an hour on the highway every day to see Bandit and for a long time I used license plates as my method of making me pay attention. Honestly as I get older my mind does wander more when I am driving and not distracted so much as just not sharp brain stuff.
So....
I am going to keep track of all the different states I see while driving on the highway. This will make me more aware of the cars in my traffic zone.
The immediate reward is that my eyes WILL BE ON THE ROAD 100% scanning for these plates and I hope to avoid any wrecks
The fun part will be finding all 50 states.
So far yesterday I captured:
Oct 1
Florida
Texas *yeah really*
Illinois
Louisiana
Arkansas
Kansas
California
Virginia
I would love to participate in walktober gals but honestly my running goals have an entire life of their own and do not need another location to keep track or motivate me.
Maddie and Denise, please do not feel you need to moderate this thread (I don't want you thinking you have double the work!)
bONakaSummer4 -
Reposted - from @nebslp
I’d like to jump in with a tiny habit this month. I’m trying to develop a cleaning system but never know how long it’s been since I…oh, say…dusted the living room, or vacuumed upstairs, or cleaned the pantry shelves, or swept the basement corners, etc. I need something to help to keep track of the dozens of things I do so I can create a schedule. Maybe I should look into FlyLady since that’s a system that seems to work for some people🤔
But first...
This month I will write at least one sentence each day telling what I did regarding cleaning the house.
Note: I started this a few weeks ago but have not been consistent so I want to make it every day from now on..5 -
Reposted from @PKM0515
I love this idea, bON!
I need to get back to tracking my medication...AGAIN.
P.S. I really like that you created a separate thread. To be honest, I like the idea of tracking, but I get overwhelmed by the big monthly thread. I get discouraged because I can't keep up, so I wind up giving up instead.2 -
As our amazing (and very busy) leader said when asked, we’re going to have one discussion strand.
We are renaming this discussion “Walktober and More” to accommodate those wanting to stretch their walking & those who want to work on their other habits.
Thank you,
Maddie & Denise3 -
Fully in favour of walking. I love my walking Workouts, courtesy of Leslie Sansone et al. I would be bereft without them, as I'm not a fan of walking outside in bad weather. 😂 Walking is a daily given in my lexicon of health/fitness. I'm an assistant Leader in a walking group.
- I walk over 3 miles most days, and even occasionally top 5 miles
- I walk a minimum of 30 mins daily.
- I often walk around the house during ad breaks on TV to get in more steps. You would be amazed at how much that ads up.
However, I think I need an October Oasis, after all the freneticism of the summer. 😂
I need time to review my progress since the beginning of July, and plan my way forward. I think I'm ready to work on my sleep habits, and try to get to bed before midnight.
This is what I'm contemplating:
In October I will ....... switch off my devices at 11 pm for the next 10 days
Sun 3:
Mon 4:
Tues 5:
Wed 6:
Thurs 7:
Fri 8:
Sat: 9:
Sun 10:
Mon 11:
Tues 12:6 -
Hi Everyone, as Maddie said we want to have only one monthly challenge. Just one place for us to gather, support each other, and learn from each other. Yes, we do have ongoing challenges such as Declutterfest and Move It Monday, but we’ve only ever had one monthly challenge and that will remain. New threads not authored by Maddie or me will be deleted.
Almost all of our monthly challenges are open ended, supporting any small habit you’d like to create. Sometimes we do have a theme, such as the “Summer of Sleep” and Walktober, but these too are flexible enough to accommodate your goals. If you think we missed the mark as some of you did this month, please let us know and we can address your concerns.
Whatever your October goals, we are here to cheer you on!
Denise and Maddie6 -
Also, let’s not worry about a group total mileage. If you want to challenge yourself with a particular mileage goal as @77tes is doing, that’s great. But I hear @nebslp concerns that mileage goals can also be counterproductive and not helpful. If you already have a walking stride that works for you, great! But if you feel you need to walk more and want support in making that happen, you’ve come to the right place!2
-
themedalist wrote: »Also, let’s not worry about a group total mileage. If you want to challenge yourself with a particular mileage goal as @77tes is doing, that’s great. But I hear @nebslp concerns that mileage goals can also be counterproductive and not helpful. If you already have a walking stride that works for you, great! But if you feel you need to walk more and want support in making that happen, you’ve come to the right place!
I’m sticking with my regular walking goals since they work! But happy to contribute my
Mileage to the group vacation travel!4 -
I am excited about a Walktober as I just increased my daily walking steps target to 9,000. I am going to join in on sharing my walking “mileage” (I will convert from the kilometres we use here in Canada) each Saturday for the previous week. I will add October 1 into next week’s report as suggested. I will use my FitBit totals for reporting.
Thanks Terri (and Maddie) for sharing about phone/electronics shut downs and nighttime routines. This is a commitment that I started in September and was having some success, but then got off track. I know it is a health issue for me and I am going to join you in that habit for October Terri.
Phone shutdown starts tonight. Will use a paper tracker in my journal to record my success. I have set reminders on my phone to prompt me to shut it down:
1. Phone turned off by 10:00 pm
2. In bed to read by 11:00
3. Asleep by 12 midnight
@TerriRichardson112
@MadisonMolly20174 -
jamcnewman wrote: »I am excited about a Walktober as I just increased my daily walking steps target to 9,000. I am going to join in on sharing my walking “mileage” (I will convert from the kilometres we use here in Canada) each Saturday for the previous week. I will add October 1 into next week’s report as suggested. I will use my FitBit totals for reporting.
Thanks Terri (and Maddie) for sharing about phone/electronics shut downs and nighttime routines. This is a commitment that I started in September and was having some success, but then got off track. I know it is a health issue for me and I am going to join you in that habit for October Terri.
Phone shutdown starts tonight. Will use a paper tracker in my journal to record my success. I have set reminders on my phone to prompt me to shut it down:
1. Phone turned off by 10:00 pm
2. In bed to read by 11:00
3. Asleep by 12 midnight
@TerriRichardson112
@MadisonMolly2017
@jamcnewman
GREAT!
I’ve been using exactly that schedule since third week in July!
I also made my bedroom & bed more cozy.
From 10-11, I’ll make art, doodle, stitch, do final clean-up in kitchen, fold/put away laundry, light Decluttering of print photographs, shower, or just plain relax!
Come cold weather, I’m Thinking some warm baths!3 -
I am in. I use to walk quite a bit and had a treadmill. Husband disabled has slowed me down...but I will see what I can accomplish!4
-
Rosemarie2972 wrote: »I am in. I use to walk quite a bit and had a treadmill. Husband disabled has slowed me down...but I will see what I can accomplish!
Awesome @Rosemarie2972 !!
Even 22 minutes a day will get you rto what US Gov’t recommends!!2 -
@Rosemarie2972, I’m glad you’re joining us for Walktober. Do you still have your treadmill? I use mine daily. In fact, I’m walking on it right now and using the talk to text feature. If you still have your treadmill, you might be interested in the post I made earlier about a virtual walk I took this week through northern Italy with screenshots. The app is called BitGym and I love it. Beautifully immersive tours of iconic global locations. I’ve “walked“ through Paris, Barcelona, Sydney and so many other places, All from the comfort of my home. I have cerebral palsy and balance issues so I love the fact that I can always stay upright! They have a free membership of 8 tours for those who want to check it out and see if it’s a good fit for them.
However you choose to walk, we are glad you are here!3 -
Good morning Everyone! Let’s make it a great week! There are just so many benefits to walking!
4 -
Hello! I'm in on the walking challenge. I'd like to push myself to try to walk 200 miles in October. I think I'm behind already. Lol. I better head out for a walk!
I purchased a treadmill last year in Nov as a gift to myself. I live in the country and the roads have no sidewalks so I have to be extra cautious when walking. I don't like walking on the treadmill, but it works when the weather is nasty, OR when I'm working too late and can't get out before dark. (It gets dark so early in the winter!)
Oct 1 - 1 mile
Oct 2 - 10.5 miles
Oct 3 - 5.75 miles6 -
Mrs_Hoffer wrote: »Hello! I'm in on the walking challenge. I'd like to push myself to try to walk 200 miles in October. I think I'm behind already. Lol. I better head out for a walk! I purchased a treadmill last year in Nov as a gift to myself. I live in the country and the roads have no sidewalks so I have to be extra cautious when walking. I don't like walking on the treadmill, but it works when the weather is nasty, OR when I'm working too late and can't get out before dark. (It gets dark so early in the winter!)
Oct 1 - 1 mile
Oct 2 - 10.5 miles
Oct 3 - 5.75 miles
Hi @Mrs_Hoffer !!!
I know you will do it! ❤️💕❤️🌸💜💪🏻
Your mileage will really help the group!
Thanks!
Maddie
2
