Is walking a waste of time?

bigwill5
bigwill5 Posts: 77 Member
edited October 4 in Fitness and Exercise
I have been a total couch potato for years and recently decided to join this site and start execising by walking. This is my second week and I have been under the calorie goals and walking at least 5 days each week. Well my next door neighborhood, the mixed martial arts fighter comes over and says that walking is a waste of time. He says that my heart rate has got to get up into a burn zone for cardio to be effective. I have heard a little about this but I am not at a point where I can jog. So am I wasting my time walking? I average anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes at a 3.5 pace.
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Replies

  • LisaKyle11
    LisaKyle11 Posts: 662 Member
    NO... not a waste of time at all. walking is great exercise - low impact and great for the body overall.
  • PeaceLuvVeggies
    PeaceLuvVeggies Posts: 375 Member
    You do what you can! Baby steps =) I walk everyday for 120 minutes [I walk dogs for a living & walk to and from work] and I burn 709 calories.

    I lost 2 lbs last week because of my exercising!
  • abellante_0205
    abellante_0205 Posts: 368 Member
    I think walking no matter the pace is good... At least you are MOVING. You may not get an effective burn, but you are still burning some calories.
  • bobbi72200
    bobbi72200 Posts: 1 Member
    No, you are not wasting your time! You have to start somewhere and if you have been sedentary before this, walking is a great start! One thing you will learn on this journey is that there will always be detractors and people who try to force their exercise beliefs on you. Do what you feel is right. If you see results from the walking, stick to it and keep progressing. Stay positive!!
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,029 Member
    Walking is exercise. Exercise isn't a waste of time.
  • mikonei
    mikonei Posts: 291 Member
    Absolutely not. I lost my first 16 pounds doing no exercise but walking. It's a good place to start and build up from :)
  • Bullly
    Bullly Posts: 136 Member
    Don't listen to him. Walking is an excellent way to exercise - less stressful to the knees!

    Keep it up!
  • tbacogiannis
    tbacogiannis Posts: 2
    Are you crazy? Thats an awesome start! When you are ready, and you will be, you can speed walk in intervals for getting your heart rate up. Then you can add weights while you walk. All exercise matters and its a good start to walk. Good luck!!!!
  • tjames719
    tjames719 Posts: 136 Member
    Not a waste of time at all.... google the benefits of walking there are a ton...:wink:
  • thankyou4thevenom
    thankyou4thevenom Posts: 1,581 Member
    No it's not.

    http://www.dietandfitnessresources.co.uk/walking-for-weight-loss.htm

    http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/loseweight/Pages/10000stepschallenge.aspx

    You won't lose as fast or create muscle in the way strength training or cardio would do for you but you can lose weight and get healthier. Walking is a great way to start your weight loss journey.
  • MissFit0101
    MissFit0101 Posts: 2,382
    It's not a waste of time, but you can make it more or less effective by how quickly you walk and how long you walk. It's def a great start! Walking is good for your body. Step it up a little when you can, but don't be discouraged! Walking IS GOOD!
  • brandenocs
    brandenocs Posts: 146 Member
    It would be a waste of time for HIM because he's probably already really fit from martial arts. The couch potato to average joe types would benefit from walking and a calorie deficit initially. Eventually though, you'll want to turn it into a power walk, then a jog, then a sprint, then into something like HIIT. It's all a progression. Keep it up. Don't let him discourage you. Be safe and do what you can while constantly pushing yourself! Good luck!
  • russelllepage
    russelllepage Posts: 8 Member
    Walking burns calories and strengthens your core. I've lost 33lbs in just over 3 months and walking is the main reason why.
  • Charrisse
    Charrisse Posts: 163
    That is rediculous. Of course its not a waste of time. And what a fool he is for saying that.
    You may not be in a "fat burn cardio zone" but you are up and moving and burning calories regardless. Keep walking. You will buiild your endurance and stregnth and will be able to eventually up your work outs to high intensity, if you chose to. If not, walking is still a great exercise. Swing your arms and stride out to get a little more "oomph".. :) Keep it up!
  • cairney4698
    cairney4698 Posts: 237
    I think this is an easy one to be fair. If you were previously doing nothing and now are walking so much each day then it surely can NOT be a waste of time.

    I am like you and I do a lot of walking as I do not feel I am up to jogging as yet. If I were to do NOTHING because I can't jog then I would not be doing aswell.

    Keep up your good work with the walking!!
  • sammys1girly
    sammys1girly Posts: 1,045 Member
    A great place to start and some people have lost tremendous amounts of weight by only walking but being very consistent with it. Also good for your bones to have some impact exercise. Don't worry about your neighbor, he doesn't know what he's talking about.
  • fluter4gsus
    fluter4gsus Posts: 31 Member
    It's absolutely not a waste of time. A lot of people lose weight walking. As your endurance improves you can increase speed and duration. Maybe you'll even become a runner someday. But going too fast too soon can result in injury, listen to your body.
  • HowardRose
    HowardRose Posts: 138 Member
    Walking worked great for me.
  • sofaking6
    sofaking6 Posts: 4,589 Member
    Walking is only a waste of time for douchey MMA fighters. For everyone else, it's a fun and productive use of time.
  • kellicruz1978
    kellicruz1978 Posts: 170 Member
    You just keep walking, your neighbor doesn't know what he's talking about.
  • lmiller857
    lmiller857 Posts: 19 Member
    walking is definately not a waste of time I walk 3-5 times a week and my pace has slo increased from 2.0 to 2.5 slow pace. Im not at a poinwwere I can jog either but I get a workout walking. If you feel you need moer just add something like a short exercise video or at I doo I use the Wii. But your on the right track
  • valeriebpdx
    valeriebpdx Posts: 497 Member
    Not at all. It might not get the burn MMA does, but it's great for your heart (and your state of mind, and coming to view yourself as an exerciser, and other things). I saw one woman in my neighborhood go from fat to thin over time, just walking every morning. It was awesome. Do what you can do, and when you get bored or are capable of more, add more. But I have run four marathons and I still enjoy a good fast walk as exercise--it doesn't make me feel pressured the way running or weightlifting do. Best of luck!
  • GretchenReine
    GretchenReine Posts: 1,374 Member
    I have been a total couch potato for years and recently decided to join this site and start execising by walking. This is my second week and I have been under the calorie goals and walking at least 5 days each week. Well my next door neighborhood, the mixed martial arts fighter comes over and says that walking is a waste of time. He says that my heart rate has got to get up into a burn zone for cardio to be effective. I have heard a little about this but I am not at a point where I can jog. So am I wasting my time walking? I average anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes at a 3.5 pace.

    Walking is GREAT exercise. Tell him to piss off! 30-45 minutes at that pace is great for you. He sucks and I would personally like to smack him for telling you you're wasting your time.
  • MinnieInMaine
    MinnieInMaine Posts: 6,400 Member
    No freakin' way!! Walking is great exercise! You're moving and if nothiing else, it's a good base to start at that you can build upon. You're not real fit right now so walking however fast and far you can is fantastic. Once you get stronger, you can walk faster and farther and maybe eventually incorporate some running intervals and maybe even run completely. That's how I started out two years ago...couldn't go too fast or too far but now I can run about 3 miles at 5mph. The concern to me would be more about thinking walking slowly around the block will be enough exercise going forward. Eventually you do have to step it up and challeng your body or it will stop responding.

    I would suggest that you do some strength training too - it helps burn more calories and is good for you! There's plenty you can do at home using your own body weight (squats, lunges, tricep dips, pushups, situps, etc) and eventually you can invest in some free weights to do more.

    Good for you for getting off the couch!!
  • ScarletFyre
    ScarletFyre Posts: 754 Member
    Any movement is not a waste of time...think of it this way: If you would have been just watching TV or something but instead you are walking you are burning more calories than you would have been otherwise. I do go to the gym, and do cardio and weights, BUT the past maybe two weeks i have lost most of the weight you see posted on my ticker- and 99%of what i did those two weeks have been walking.

    if you want something just a little more intense, but still walking, there are DVD's like Leslie Sansone - her whole platform is walking. She may have you do stuff with your arms, walk faster at times etc.

    But if you are simply getting up and going for a walk every day, that is NOT a waste of time! :smile:
  • BuceesNana
    BuceesNana Posts: 302 Member
    Not a waste of time! I have lost 35 lbs walking. I have done some other exercise, but my primary exercise is walking. Keep it up. You will lose the weight. Work on improving your speed and your endurance. It will help. I will walk a 1/2 marathon in just a few days. It is my present to myself and my reward to myself for my hard work losing this weight. Good luck!
  • TheCats_Meow
    TheCats_Meow Posts: 438 Member
    I concur with what everyone else has said.

    No type of movement is a waste of time.

    A waste of time would be continuing to sit on the couch.
  • IronmanPanda
    IronmanPanda Posts: 2,083 Member
    No. Walking is actually great base building for beginning runners. In February - March, I started out walking about 3 miles a day on my lunch breaks. Increased gradually to about 9 miles a day of walking. Then started the C25K program.
    Just ran my first 1/2 Marathon last month.

    Get out there and do it. You'll be glad you did.
  • tifftaffy
    tifftaffy Posts: 141 Member
    Nope, walking is a great way to start your fitness journey. Perhaps your neighbor has a chip on his shoulder...

    If you are interested, check out Leslie sansone walking DVDs or VHS .... Or for free samples a few of her DVDs are on YouTube.
  • WonderNoodle
    WonderNoodle Posts: 549
    You start with walking. Walking trumps couch sitting. You eventually extend the time/distance. You eventually quicken the pace. YOU are awesome the WHOLE TIME because all movement trumps couch sitting! :drinker: Shame on that guy for not acknowledging your effort!
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