Is Fitness Walking. 6 Miles A Day, A Great Idea?

LiannaJo
LiannaJo Posts: 9
edited November 9 in Fitness and Exercise
I'm thinking of just taking up fitness walking more permanently (can't seem to jog/run like I used to anymore. I always end up walking in between anyway).

And I just wanted to know if walking 6 miles (5-6 times a week) is a good idea? Thanks.

Replies

  • mbmorse1011
    mbmorse1011 Posts: 492 Member
    Any exercise is better than no exercise. Walking is great! You can burn lots of calories (if you get your speed up or uphill). Plus its not as stressful on your body as running.
  • sgha
    sgha Posts: 225
    I think it is absolutely a fantastic idea!!! Have you tried racewalking?
  • 970Mikaela1
    970Mikaela1 Posts: 2,013 Member
    I walk six miles about everyother day :)
  • rebeccawalker1982
    rebeccawalker1982 Posts: 117 Member
    My husbands aunt went from a size 14/16 to a size 2/4 in about 7 months by just logging her food on here and walking anywhere from 2-6 miles a day.....now I have been walking everyday and so far have lost 6 lbs in a month and a total of about 5 inches.
  • hollin40
    hollin40 Posts: 120 Member
    Walking is EXCELLENT exercise!!! It's better for you joints than running. I used to walk 6 miles a day and loved it. I work out with the Xbox now and it's great too but I loved getting outside and working out.
  • I do walking on a treadmill daily. Add the incline and see what a difference in calories you can burn rather than just walking on it flat. Between ellyptical and treadmill I usually get in 5-6 miles a day.
  • UpEarly
    UpEarly Posts: 2,555 Member
    I love walking for exercise! Right now, I'm only able to go 2-3 days a week - there still isn't enough daylight for me to go as often as I would like. In the spring/summer/fall, I rely almost 100% on hiking (which is really essentially the same intensity/impact as fitness walking) for my cardio. I also lift weights a couple days a week.

    I go 4-6 miles per session, include lots of hills and carry a small backpack with water and other odds and ends.

    It's been a great way for me to get fit and lose weight!
  • sc1572
    sc1572 Posts: 2,309 Member
    Of course! That's 42 miles a week...imagine how that adds up over time! :D
  • runwithmike
    runwithmike Posts: 145 Member
    Nothing wrong with walking. I had an injury this past July 4th and I was schedule to run a 5k. At the registration booth I asked if I could switch to the walking class. I finished in second and claimed a medal. I walk a lot and am glad I do.
  • ChristineDiet
    ChristineDiet Posts: 719 Member
    Nothing wrong with walking. I had an injury this past July 4th and I was schedule to run a 5k. At the registration booth I asked if I could switch to the walking class. I finished in second and claimed a medal. I walk a lot and am glad I do.
    Just wanted to say "good for you, great job". x
  • Paolinat
    Paolinat Posts: 81 Member
    If it gets too easy, add some weights (ankle and/or hand). Can also diversify your walk by every half mile (or at some other increment) do push ups, squats, ab crunches, etc.
  • Hoakiebs
    Hoakiebs Posts: 430 Member
    Been walking 90 min. ( 6-6.75 mi) 4-5 days a week...have lost 27 lbs in 54 days (1/2 lb. per day). I think it's better than running because it keeps you in "fat-burning" mode.
  • There's a lot of hills and inclines where I live (LOL!). No problem there!!

    Thanks everybody! God bless you all!
  • Dave198lbs
    Dave198lbs Posts: 8,810 Member
    If it gets too easy, add some weights (ankle and/or hand). Can also diversify your walk by every half mile (or at some other increment) do push ups, squats, ab crunches, etc.

    NEVER use ankle weights

    you can get a backpack and add some weight...like a backpacker or hiker
  • NO! I never use ankle weights. These inclines and hills, where I live, are enough that the knees can handle, trust me on that!

    I do my weight training first (from a 30 minute DVD) and then go for my walk, is what I normally do anyway.
  • iuew
    iuew Posts: 624 Member
    i walk every day when it's warm enough.

    winter : exercise bike or treadmill.
  • Yeah, in the winter, I do cardio DVD's (Leslie Sansone or Denise Austin). But when it's bearable, I go outside mostly.
  • vypeters
    vypeters Posts: 475 Member
    Great exercise! I have a bum knee and I only walked all the way from 319 pounds down to around 200. I now do more, but still only low impact - I tried a Couch to 5k and discovered very quickly my knee wouldn't tolerate it. So I still walk a lot.
  • Hi, I'm new to all this, just started on Friday. I have a pedometer that counts my steps and miles that i walk each day. when I go to enter my walking it asks for minutes; if I have pedometer on all day, how do I know what to fill in, or is there a way to just put in the miles walked? Thanks!
  • I do quite a bit of walking on my job, so on non gym days I generally only get in a couple of miles worth of walking in. I have recently, since starting on MFP, started going outside on my break and walking at a pretty respectable pace for 30 minutes at a time. Then on gym days I tend to hit the elliptical for 40 - 65 minutes depending on the day. Good times.
  • UpEarly
    UpEarly Posts: 2,555 Member
    If it gets too easy, add some weights (ankle and/or hand). Can also diversify your walk by every half mile (or at some other increment) do push ups, squats, ab crunches, etc.

    YIKES! Ankle weights for walking are really dangerous. You're just asking for a knee ligament injury if you use ankle weights for walking. Carry a backpack or get a weighted vest.
  • I just started my fitness pal. Low carb and low fat diet along with 4 to 6 miles a day walking. I'm starting to see my abs again :)
  • sucg
    sucg Posts: 36
    I've been doing the Leslie Sansone 5 mile fat burn 3 times a week to start me off.

    Beetroot face was the result at the end of each session to begin with but now i'm really enjoying it and feel great afterwards.

    Would like to try and do the 30 day shred but dont know how to work out calories burnt. Su x
  • ingeh
    ingeh Posts: 513 Member
    I do the Leslie Sansone 5 mile walk 2-3 days a week plus ripped in 30 and the walk has worked wonders for my saddlebags and love handles! Walking is a great exercise! Im plannnig on upping my 5 mile walk to 3-4 days a week as I love it!
  • Hoosier96
    Hoosier96 Posts: 118 Member
    Walking is my exercise of choice. Where I live has lots of hills and it keeps my heart rate high enough...add the fresh air, checking out houses in some of the fancier neighborhoods, listening to pandora and logging it with map my walk (which tells me my pace, distance and splits) and it is perfect for me. Once I get in better shape I will pick up the pace now and then, but I think for joint health power walking is awesome.
  • Annerk1
    Annerk1 Posts: 372 Member
    I power walk five miles every morning. My pace has been about 13:30 since the heat and humidity has kicked up--I was doing around 12 minute miles before that--that's over hilly terrain with a gain of about 1300 feet at the end of a typical walk.

    Definitely don't wear ankle weights, although carrying 2 lb. weights in your hands can help tone arm and chest muscles. I start with a full water bottle in one hand and iPhone in the other and switch back and forth a couple of times.

    I'd suggest going to someplace like Fleet Feet and getting professionally fitted for a quality pair of sneakers. I work off about 600 calories in about an hour--there is no "stroll" in my pace. While the scale only shows me losing 12 pounds, the reality is that I've lost two dress sizes in six weeks--and I attribute most of that to the walking.
  • I can only walk due to medical issues (versus running). Between the walking and yoga, I've dropped 8.5 pounds in 6 weeks. Granted, I don't get in that many miles (typically 2.5-3 a day) but I am losing inches and pounds. I walk on my lunch break, that's helped a lot to add in extra walks. Otherwise I do yoga 3-4 times a week at my local yoga studio.

    Walking is better than nothing!
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