Can you lose a lot of weight with just walking?!?

leann74016
leann74016 Posts: 242 Member
edited October 7 in Health and Weight Loss
I don't have much options for a different type of exercise during the week and on the weekends im home with my 3 yr old. We don't have the money for a gym membership so I just walk a lot during the week and if im up to it zumba on the weekends for 20 to 25 min at a time. Will i be able to keep losing weight with just walking? I tried running but i hurt really bad for over a week straight so don't think i wanna try that again for a while. What do you mfp's think? So far since starting i have lost about a lb a week. But didn't know if i will stop losing like this if i don't change things up?
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Replies

  • aleatha5
    aleatha5 Posts: 23 Member
    I did when I was younger. When I started college I was 185 (higher even than now after having two kids!)
    and I resolved I would change myself. I started with my diet first over the summer break and when I went to college I just walked everywhere, no buses! By the end of my first year of school I was down to 148. At that point, I did start running, but it didn't feel hard (like it always had). Good luck! Walking is a great way to fit exercise in.

    PS I'm back to walking, since I have 2 munchkins, I just don't have a lot of options right now and I need an activity I can do with them. Friend me if you like and we can keep each other motivated to walk!
  • pretty_ribbons
    pretty_ribbons Posts: 154 Member
    Im in the same boat as you, i have a 2 yr old at home with me all day, and gym is just too expensive for me, i have started back trying to lose weight only from the beginning of the year and i personal dont feel like the walking is enough for me so when ever im at home i try my best to do more exercise, i would exercise at home for about an hour most days

    i think you should see how it goes the way your doing it for a few weeks and if you feel you need to step it up then do abit more, all the best :smile:
  • sagetracey
    sagetracey Posts: 607 Member
    Walking is definitely the best place to start. As you get fitter you will be able to walk faster and longer, up hill etc. These will mix up your walk and allow you to challenge yourself further. If your children are old enough, get them to ride their bikes or scooters while you walk and you will soon be chasing them!

    Good luck
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    I do no exercise but walking because I have a joint condition and am on doctor's orders. I swim sometimes when I have access to a pool but that's about it. I don't really recommend doing so little, obviously more exercise is better if you can, but weight loss can be achieved without the really strenuous stuff.
  • MaximalLife
    MaximalLife Posts: 2,447 Member
    I don't have much options for a different type of exercise during the week and on the weekends im home with my 3 yr old. We don't have the money for a gym membership so I just walk a lot during the week and if im up to it zumba on the weekends for 20 to 25 min at a time. Will i be able to keep losing weight with just walking? I tried running but i hurt really bad for over a week straight so don't think i wanna try that again for a while. What do you mfp's think? So far since starting i have lost about a lb a week. But didn't know if i will stop losing like this if i don't change things up?
    Walking is all I did starting out.
    YES you can:smile:
  • BobbyDaniel
    BobbyDaniel Posts: 1,459 Member
    I lost 30 pounds a few years back with walking about an hour a day 4-5 times a week being my primary source of exercise.
  • iplayoutside19
    iplayoutside19 Posts: 2,304 Member
    If you're eating correctly you can do, or not do anything, and lose weight.

    My wife lost 40 lbs and the most strenous thing she did is take walks in the evening.
  • bullsands
    bullsands Posts: 12
    YES U CAN.. I have lost 20 + kgs and still loosing with controlled calorie count ..sensible eating, monitoring the carbs , sugar and fat, proteins limits with only walking. The idea is to in the same time make the pace and time increase the distance slowly and steadily over a period of time.
  • sister_bear
    sister_bear Posts: 529 Member
    I can't do much more than walk, so I walk. Walking is good.
  • wbgolden
    wbgolden Posts: 2,066 Member
    Yes.
  • UpEarly
    UpEarly Posts: 2,555 Member
    Until the days got too short to exercise outdoors after work, walking was my primary form of exercise. I lost 35+ pounds that way. I walk pretty fast 4-4.25 mph and climb lots of hills (I live in the mountains). The way I walk, I can burn about 600 calories an hour. That kind of calorie burn makes it easy to lose weight. :-)
  • jmduvall22
    jmduvall22 Posts: 11 Member
    It can definitely be done. I have lost 103 lbs. And I started out by walking a minimum of 30 minutes each day (more as of late). The pace has definitely increased over the past year, though. The only thing is recently the cold weather has been annoying.
  • MRSnotMsSmoot
    MRSnotMsSmoot Posts: 5
    I hope so! that's what i'm doing. 3 miles 3-4 times a week walk/jog. :happy:
  • PetersonMatthew
    PetersonMatthew Posts: 111
    Walking is a great start!! I started with walking and food logging. Worked great. Now I have a 14 month old boy who loves to go on walks,so it works out for the both of us.
  • mich7500
    mich7500 Posts: 4
    Yes! Even though I don't look like l know what I'm talking about, the key is to just keep moving. Walking is great. You should also try lifting weights with can goods or dumbells or other things you have around the house. This is my first day on MFP and I am looking forward to the weight loss journey.
  • rosalieharris
    rosalieharris Posts: 33 Member
    I have lost 51 lbs by counting my calories on here and walking. I love it. I do change up where I walk, so I don't get bored!! As long as you are moving and feeling better, that is what matters! Keep on going.. God Bless:)
  • Elizabeth_C34
    Elizabeth_C34 Posts: 6,376 Member
    Walking is a very good exercise for those who can't handle higher-impact workouts. Just go faster and longer as you progress.

    Good work!
  • soccermom004
    soccermom004 Posts: 444 Member
    What you eat and calories has more to do with weight loss than exercise. Exercise will firm and tone those muscles and is important for overall health. Try to walk at least 30 minutes a day.
  • Adobogirl
    Adobogirl Posts: 53 Member
    Walking is so underrated. YES, it does help. A friend of mine on here aims for 10K steps (she keeps track using a pedometer) and that right there is some serious calorie burnage. Personally, I've been walking to work (1 mile) each day and lost 7 lbs over 2 months. My ankles can't take running just yet but I'm hoping that if I continue to lighten up I can start up running soon.
  • DelSchro
    DelSchro Posts: 9 Member
    I totally think that walking is a great way to burn calories! Especially if you are walking at a fast pace like 4.0.

    I would also challenge you to start running even though your body is telling you different in the beginning. I never thought I would be a runner. I was that girl in gym class that walked the mile ;) however I challenged myself to step outside of my comfort zone a few months ago when I started back at MFP and I am now running 3-5 days a week for 30 minutes at a time! When I started I thought I was going to die but I told myself it would only get easier and it has! Plus if you only have 30 minutes to workout then running will increase your calories burned.

    Any little thing helps so continue moving and watching what you eat and track your calories!
    If you need any support you can add me as a friend! :)

    -Delaney
  • Loudmom01
    Loudmom01 Posts: 131 Member
    In the past I lost a lot of weight by walking. I would walk 5-10 miles a day (usually broken up into 2-3 walks because I cant walk 10 miles at once.) I would increase speed, walk up hills or increase distance to shake things up. I also thru in sit ups, push ups, squats and lunges because you can do those at anytime of day, at home, no gym membership or machines needed.
  • ohmariposa
    ohmariposa Posts: 372 Member
    Walking is all the exercise I have done and I am down almost 50lbs since July :-)
  • leann74016
    leann74016 Posts: 242 Member
    Thank you everyone for commenting! I work at a daycare center so I am constantly walking during the work week! Prob 5 hrs a day and i walk pretty fast all day. (have to keep up with all the kiddos haha) Just wanted a lil feedback on your thought about walking. Thank you again!! :)
  • Kimmer2011
    Kimmer2011 Posts: 569 Member
    Almost all my weight loss has been with walking. Occasionally I bump up to a slow job, but not for long. I'd like to join a gym so I can start using weights (and because I won't walk outside when it's so cold and potentially icy), but that won't happen for a few more weeks at least.

    Get out and walk--it works!
  • plushkitten
    plushkitten Posts: 547 Member
    Yes! Walking is great, especially for long distances. You'll really see the difference if you remain consistent.
  • UpEarly
    UpEarly Posts: 2,555 Member
    I would also challenge you to start running even though your body is telling you different in the beginning.

    I just wanted to gently point out that running is not for everyone, and listening to your body is usually smart and important. And I say this as someone who used to be a competitive distance runner who can no longer safely run.
  • nas24
    nas24 Posts: 880 Member
    To answer your question yes you can. My mother, who HATES to workout, lost almost 70 lbs just from going on daily walks and eating all natural...nothing from a package. She gained some of it back, so when i move back up there in March, we can loss together.
  • gp79
    gp79 Posts: 1,799 Member
    a calorie burned is a calorie burned. Walk your way to a ripped physique with walking, is possible. While walking, your heart rate is lower so those calories you are burning are coming from your fat stores vs. glycogen stores. Usually when I do cardio after a workout I keep it light / low heart rate most of the time for this very reason.
  • Mickyboo1
    Mickyboo1 Posts: 67
    I walk atleast 40 mins a day 6 days a week. Im down over 100 lbs...Works for me.
  • nbaxter1104
    nbaxter1104 Posts: 16
    My baby is two and instead of driving, we walk the half mile to the park. and although most of them are cheesy, I use different exercise videos. My son loves to join in and try and it makes me laugh hyisterically. haha
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