Is walking 'real' exercise?

joliejolie123456
joliejolie123456 Posts: 60
edited October 4 in Fitness and Exercise
Hey, this might be a silly question but...

I walk for about 90 minutes per day (two 45 minute trips to uni and back) and I count that as my exercise for the day. I carry a heavy bag of books with me too.

I used to go to the gym but when i started uni i couldnt afford to go anymore. A few of my friends seem to think that it dosn't count as 'real' exercise unless youre working out and that walking is just a part of everyday life so it should'nt be counted... but i'm not so sure. What do you think? I've already reached my target weight so my goal is just to maintain and keep a healthy lifestyle.

Any thoughts much appreciated.

Thanks for reading!
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Replies

  • it_be_asin
    it_be_asin Posts: 562 Member
    Walking is real exercise. Your friends are wrong on this one. You may not be burning as many calories as if you were doing Zumba, but you are still moving your body.
  • NicolioRussell
    NicolioRussell Posts: 273
    I count it as my exercise! It's great for the days when I just am not motivated enough to go to the gym, but I wanna do something active. They always say that if you can walk a half hour a day, you can lose weight.

    Try and go a fast walking pace to get your heart rate up :-)
  • kristalhope
    kristalhope Posts: 9 Member
    Of course walking is exercise! It requires a significant amount of energy to walk for 90 minutes every day.
  • JIsh09
    JIsh09 Posts: 158
    I consider it a exercise. I've been walking every morning while my kids are in School and it has helped me loose weight.
  • ashnm88
    ashnm88 Posts: 748
    Walking is real exercise. When I don't feel like using my elliptical, I go for walks. I walk differently when going for walks, then walking while I'm shopping or working.
  • brookepenni
    brookepenni Posts: 787 Member
    It certainly is! Any movement is exercise and 90 mins a day is awesome!! Well done :)
  • SashaJaneJ
    SashaJaneJ Posts: 92 Member
    Yes walking is a real exercise.
  • Fairysoul
    Fairysoul Posts: 1,361 Member
    I say yes, you know how everyone wonders why everyone in Japan is so dang skinny?? It's because they eat right and walk everywhere. I walk everyday and I may not be losing pounds but I have lost a lot of inches, I am in smaller pants that before I had my second child!!
  • Moonbeamlissie
    Moonbeamlissie Posts: 504 Member
    I walk everyday from work to home! Yes I count it! That is why I do it. My heartrate is raised!!! It is exercise.
  • MsMuniz
    MsMuniz Posts: 399 Member
    that's a long walk, def counts as exercise!
  • JennW130
    JennW130 Posts: 460 Member
    hey, i lost 50 pounds by simply walking a hour a day, and watching what i ate. THEN i got pregnant again. Go figure. lol
  • Reyalvarado
    Reyalvarado Posts: 3
    Walking around the house is not anything additional. Walking continually to get somewhere is. I have a friend who did nothing but count calories and walk, and he lost 50 lbs in a year. I even count shopping as walking since it's nearly continuous (though I round down the time spent).

    Also remember - standing for extended periods also burns an extra 50 calories an hour. So if you have a job where you stand all day, you can factor this in as well.
  • UponThisRock
    UponThisRock Posts: 4,519 Member
    Yes, it's a type of exercise.
  • SpaceMarkus
    SpaceMarkus Posts: 651
    It's only real exercise if you get your heart rate up into the Fat Burning Zone. I can walk around Disney all day and burn a ton of calories. That's probably a good 5-6 hours of straight walking/standing. If you're only going for 30-60 min, get your heart rate up.
  • cheriematrix
    cheriematrix Posts: 10
    Especially when carrying heavy bags!

    Also - I believe that walking is good for the mind as well as the body...it's soo meditative. I love walking to work in the morning as it really sets my mind for the day ahead...

    Enjoy!!!
  • nikkoteeny
    nikkoteeny Posts: 13 Member
    My family doctor always tells me he knows lots of people who have lost tons of weight just from taking long, daily walks, alone.

    P.S. If it gets your heart rate up, it's the definition of exercise. Just saying. Wikipedia also defines walking as an aerobic exercise. :)
  • socialite1
    socialite1 Posts: 109
    I'm assuming your friends don't join you in walking 45 minutes each way to class, if so they'd definitely agree that it's exercise. Absolutely! Log it!
  • decooper
    decooper Posts: 57 Member
    Yes, walking is real exercise.
  • Just1forMe
    Just1forMe Posts: 624 Member
    Hey, this might be a silly question but...

    I walk for about 90 minutes per day (two 45 minute trips to uni and back) and I count that as my exercise for the day. I carry a heavy bag of books with me too.

    I used to go to the gym but when i started uni i couldnt afford to go anymore. A few of my friends seem to think that it dosn't count as 'real' exercise unless youre working out and that walking is just a part of everyday life so it should'nt be counted... but i'm not so sure. What do you think? I've already reached my target weight so my goal is just to maintain and keep a healthy lifestyle.

    Any thoughts much appreciated.

    Thanks for reading!

    Anything activity that burns calories is real exercise. I wear a BodyMedia Fit band 24/7 and you would be amazed at the extra calories a walk like that adds to your regular daily activity burn.
  • goron59
    goron59 Posts: 890 Member
    Absolitely - I lost most of my weight through keeping an eye on the numbers and walking every day.

    Buggered up my legs (too much running did them in finally) but you definitely burn cals and tone up legs.

    If you find your heart rate is not particularly high during the 45 mins, try doing some faster intervals - you'll burn more and improve your cardio fitness.
  • estepteau
    estepteau Posts: 146
    Absolutely!!! and an great exercise when done over 30mins :)
  • JimieLou
    JimieLou Posts: 273 Member
    It is DEFINITLY exercise. I've lost most of my weight solely by walking and watching what I eat. Only after I lost 50 pounds did I start doing anything else.

    The added weight of your bookbag is another bonus!
  • saraann752003
    saraann752003 Posts: 65
    Totally not a silly question... here's what I've been told... by my doctor (real doctor of medicine)

    I walk construction sites for a living and inspect them... constant walking at a slow pace sometimes and not always challanging. Over time a body will become used to that amount of activity, so although you are moving and being active, it does not actually count as excercise.

    This is where the balance between what you need to eat to maintain your weight and what you should eat to loose weight comes in.

    A few more details might contribute to the answer as well; you said 45 min each way, but how far is it?; does your backpack weigh the same every day or are some days is it harder to carry?

    Time and money are always a factor when you are going to school, there is a lot to juggle (hence the dreaded freshman 15 that is often gained).

    Do you count it? YES but watch your settings on mfp to make sure that you aren't counting it twice... I think everyone should do a little research and find out what they burn on a bare minimum day ie. sleeping, sitting, showering, dressing, walking to school, sitting, reading etc etc etc. This gives one a good baseline to know what they should be doing. If you include the walk back and forth to school, you may find that you are burning x amount of calories but consuming more and then hindering your weight loss goals.

    Try changing up your walk sometimes, maybe on a day where you don't have to carry books (or figure out a way to get your books to school with out you) try jogging it, or at least change your pace a few times during the trips? Hope this helps!
  • driaxx
    driaxx Posts: 314 Member
    Definitely like above poster said, especially when done over 30 minutes. And with your books, even better! I do it on days I've just straightened my hair and don't want to get too sweaty!
  • engineman312
    engineman312 Posts: 3,450 Member
    well, you say you do this every day, so you should really count this as part of your regular life style. it is something you get used to.

    as far as whether or not it's exercise... well, thats up to you. personally, i usually don't count it as exercise for myself. exercise for me is is running, biking, swimming. i did one time spend about 4 hours of walking "hiking" and traveled about 12 miles. so unless i'm hiking, i don't count it.

    however this is different for people with injuries, extreme weight problems, or are elderly. walking is an excellent form of exercise, and a great way to start getting fitter.
  • vanessaclarkgbr
    vanessaclarkgbr Posts: 731 Member
    Definitely! Don't forget it's good for osteoporosis also as weight bearing - you wouldn't get that doing lengths of an olympic pool so it's got additional benefits to some of the high impact stuff :-)
  • taniam16
    taniam16 Posts: 47 Member
    If you want to maximize the workout then weigh how much you're carrying each day and add a tiny bit more each week. Set a milestone for Monday to get to uni in x amount of minutes and try to better that by Friday. The next week add some weight and do it again. If you're carrying weight then you're definitely exercising!
  • LuckyLeprechaun
    LuckyLeprechaun Posts: 6,296 Member
    Yes! However, as you shrink (and this is true with every exercise) you will expend fewer alories doing the same thing. So a strategy I used was: after about 6 months of walking my dogs every day, I decided that it was a part of my lifestyle now and increased my activity level to light. Then I didn't log the walks anymore.
  • servilia
    servilia Posts: 3,452 Member
    It's definitely exercise. Just be careful logging it - ie if you've already accounted for these walks in your activity settings (active v. sedentary), then logging the walks might be double dipping.
  • summalovaable
    summalovaable Posts: 287 Member
    like everyone else has said, OF COURSE!!! I personally find it the best kind of exercise, you just can't be in a negative mood when you've had a nice long walk :)
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