Walking - It does a body good

[DandyWeyr 10]

A year ago my main form of activity was the swimming pool; water aerobics, swimming laps. As fall came on & the weight was coming off I knew I didn't want to do what I did last year after we closed the pool: nothing!

 

So, I started walking.

 

I was really surprised at how difficult that was. I thought I was in pretty good shape from my pool workouts. Wrong! But I gradually built up the walking to the point where it could replace swimming for the winter.

 

I discovered that walking made me feel so much better than swimming, so this year when it started getting warm I vowed to stick with the walking.

 

It's such a simple thing. Almost all of us do it every day. Just do a little more of it each day, and you'll be amazed at how much better it will make you feel!

 

I only walk 30 min a day, but the payback is incredible. I've got joint issues, and sometimes those first few blocks hurt, but eventually I loosen up, maybe it's the endorphins kicking, & by the time I'm done I'm so glad I did it. It sure makes this ol' body feel good!

 

Just do it!

[RetiredBell 10]

Dandy,

 

I agree with you on the walking. It is so simple and free! I have recently joined my community's "Y". Walking on a treadmill is what I have been doing for about a week. In fact this is my 2nd. week. I do the first lap at a slow rate of speed to warm up and then increase my speed and degree of incline. So far I do about 1 hr. of walking at least 4 times a day. I am hoping to be able to progress to using the weight machines, etc. The walking has helped me deal with some stress in my life. Now, if I could just get my eating under control. That will be next.

 

Keep up your good work. Your weight loss is an inspiration to me.

 

Susan

[Jima53 0]

Due to my work schedule and home chores I have very little time for walking in the neighborhood. Also adding in the high temps and humidity keeps me inside also. Fortunately I have a really good treadmill that I am starting to use again. Walking is such a powerful thing when you think about it. I once walked 450 miles in 31 days on a long backpacking trip when I was much much younger.

[petite2be 10]

I love walking. It was the only thing I could do when I first started this journey. I used the Leslie Sansone Walk Away the Pounds DVD's. I still use them sometimes.

 

I live in a rural area on a busy road with no sidewalks. I cannot just go out for a walk on that road because it is dangerous. If I ever move it will definitely be to a house with a great walking area close by.

 

I use a treadmill some also. My new favorite is to walk at a slow speed ( I use 2.6 miles per hour) for 2 minutes. Then every 30 seconds I increase the incline slightly until I just cannot do anymore. Then I bump the incline back down and start over. I hate walking fast so this gives me a great workout without having to walk fast. My heartrate is always close to the maximum it should me.

Lisa

[Strong2theEnd 10]

I will type a small part of a text out of the book i'm currently reading - and this part caught my attention :

 

If you want to lose weight permanently , then the energy burned during your exercise should come from fats and not from carbohydrates. During the first 20-30 minutes of moderate exercise like walking- only 1/3 of the energy burned comes from carbohydrates, whereas 2/3 comes from body fats.

During short bursts of exercise ( speed running etc ) 2/3 of the energy burned comes from carbs, and only 1/3 from body fat. It stands to reason, then, that a continuous exercise, like walking, which burns primarily body fat, is a lot better for permanent weight reduction than short spurts of strenuous exercise .

Because strenuous exercise burns carbs it causes a drop in blood sugar, which actually increases your appetite. Walking, on the other hand , redirects blood away from the stomach to the exercising muscles and decreases appetite. Walking also increases the body's metabolic rate, which helps to burn calories at a faster rate.

 

 

typed from book " 100 weight loos tips that really workd- from Fred A. Stutman

[Guest WANNALOOZIT]

I'm also a walker, and I completely agree that it makes you feel SO much better when you maintain a religious walking routine. If I stop walking for a few days, I can really tell it, so I try to make sure I never skip more than 1 day.

 

Strong2theEnd - Thanks for the excerpt from the book, that is really informative. I always thought I would like to try and start running, but it sounds like walking would be better for me in the long run! Great!!!

[DandyWeyr 10]

Strong, thanks for those affirmations that it really DOES do a body good, even more than I realized!

[guihong 10]

Try mixing up taking walks with a Leslie Sansone Walk Away The Pounds routine; that way the weather isn't an issue and it's motivating to me

[dressage queen 10]

I do run during the week (either on TM or outside), but on Saturday mornings (when it's not boiling hot out at 7:00 a.m.), I take my dog for an hour walk. We're both tired and have gotten our exercise for the day.

[Peg541 10]

I've got a new knee for 18 months now and walking is the most fun more now than ever before. I walk at least 5 days a week, 2 miles in my neighborhood. Our weather is incredible here in LA so I can almost always walk. I highly recommend it. I lost all of my weight on my stationary bicycle, then out walking. I walk alone, with my son or with friends. I like the company but need the exercise more than I need the company. My iPod is my constant companion.

Peg