Anyone walking off the weight?

I've decided to just walk more for my daily exercise (muscle toning aswell) and I was curious if there are any members here doing the same thing? I walk about 3-6 miles a day and I'm looking buddies who are doing roughly the same.

 

Hmmm maybe this is just what I need to get my lazy butt back into the exercise mode!!!  I love walking in combination with light jogging....I use my treadmill TONS and also have a beagle that probably needs to be walked more often as well :)

~H~

I walk 4 miles a day (at about 3.5MPH) to and from work in addition to my gym regime.

Dunno if it's working, but it sure is saving me gas money ;).

PS: Dogs are GREAT motivation...but Haley---I do know my beagle was never an excercise partner:

walk, walk, sniff, pee, walk, sniff, pee, eat something off the ground, sniff, walk, approach person going by to see if they have something to eat, pee, walk, sniff

Original Post by haley_2008:

Hmmm maybe this is just what I need to get my lazy butt back into the exercise mode!!! I love walking in combination with light jogging....I use my treadmill TONS and also have a beagle that probably needs to be walked more often as well :)

~H~

You know, I personally think it'd be a good start for you. I just started walking around to the grocery store and around the schools in my area and I was real surprised after I found out how much/long I walked. I don't have a treadmill myself but I was reading up on walking off weight and I came across this: http://www.mapmywalk.com ;

It uses Google maps and allows you to map out where you want to walk. It was amazing because I mapped out a walk that's about 4 miles and probably would take about 20-30 minutes if I walked 3.0+mph. I live in a small town too so all I'm doing is walking through a lot of empty streets within a mile or two of my home.

If anyone is interested in using that resource, this will go along with it too: http://walking.about.com/library/cal/uccalc1. htm <-- just an approx idea of how many calories you would burn if you walked slow, fast at certain speeds and for a particular duration.

Original Post by musicismydestiny:

I walk 4 miles a day (at about 3.5MPH) to and from work in addition to my gym regime.

Dunno if it's working, but it sure is saving me gas money ;).

PS: Dogs are GREAT motivation...but Haley---I do know my beagle was never an excercise partner:

walk, walk, sniff, pee, walk, sniff, pee, eat something off the ground, sniff, walk, approach person going by to see if they have something to eat, pee, walk, sniff

Hahah, I don't own a dog but I'll take my son in the stroller along for the walk. Great motivation and he gets fresh air too :D

I started my whole regime with this program, a book titled, Walking Off the Weight.  After coming here, though I switched to Learn to Run.

I really liked walking but the program I was following didn't lead to improving speed or intensity but distance.  It increase walking time until you were walking for 90 minutes at a time which I found to be really long and impractical. 

I do think "powerwalking" or walking 4+mph is a great cardio workout. 

walk, walk, sniff, pee, walk, sniff, pee, eat something off the ground, sniff, walk, approach person going by to see if they have something to eat, pee, walk, sniff

 LMAO yes you are SOOOOOO right on!  Those beagles are so funny lol.

Maybe i'll stick to my treadmill.  I love it!
~H~

 It was amazing because I mapped out a walk that's about 4 miles and probably would take about 20-30 minutes if I walked 3.0+mph. I live in a small town too so all I'm doing is walking through a lot of empty streets within a mile or two of my home.

I love your suggestion, but just want to make sure you realize your math is a bit off in this example. 4 miles would take an hour and 20 minutes at 3 mph . . . and that's ok!

But I'm so glad to see your post in general, because I'm using walking as a big part of my weight loss plan. I used to hate walking, but I've learned to like it a lot more since having kids and finding out how nice it is to pop them in the stroller and go! I still prefer soccer/running/hiking, but the walking is such a great, simple addition to my weight loss plan AND one I can drop or use when I reach maintencance, too. I'm a teacher and summer is "free time" for me, so in addition to more rigourous workouts 3-4 times/week, I'm walking about 3.5 miles once a day (takes me about 50 minutes now because I'm pretty fit). When school starts, I can use the walking on days I don't get in a different workout.

So thanks for the post. Maybe we can have a "walkers group" and check in once a week or so. Let me know and I can try to organize a forum for us.

Yep, walk 6 days a week. 2-6 miles depending on the day. Have done it for about 3 years now and it definitely helps tone, keep the weight off and just keeps me healthy. I lift/strength train 3 days a week also and do other exercises 6 days a week. Keep moving! best thing for you.

I have been walking about 5-6 days a week for about 3 months now. I walk anywhere from 60-90 minutes. As of today, I have lost 24 pounds. I didnt think it would really help when I first started, but I was plesantly surprised! :)

I walk as well.  I live in the center of town and there is no parking.  I just found a new parking garage that is 5 blocks from my apartment.  The previous one was 8 blocks away.  On normal days I walk about 3 miles per day.  I go to the gym and market and those days I walk around 5-6 miles. 

That mapmywalk thing is cool!! I live in Mexico and it had my city!!

I used to take spinning classes and walking is much different.  When I moved I had no choice about walking.  Living in historic downtown there is no where to put cars.  It took me 2 months to get used to the daily routine of walking.  I have been doing it for 6 months now and my legs look better than ever!

Original Post by mkculs:

It was amazing because I mapped out a walk that's about 4 miles and probably would take about 20-30 minutes if I walked 3.0+mph. I live in a small town too so all I'm doing is walking through a lot of empty streets within a mile or two of my home.

I love your suggestion, but just want to make sure you realize your math is a bit off in this example. 4 miles would take an hour and 20 minutes at 3 mph . . . and that's ok!

But I'm so glad to see your post in general, because I'm using walking as a big part of my weight loss plan. I used to hate walking, but I've learned to like it a lot more since having kids and finding out how nice it is to pop them in the stroller and go! I still prefer soccer/running/hiking, but the walking is such a great, simple addition to my weight loss plan AND one I can drop or use when I reach maintencance, too. I'm a teacher and summer is "free time" for me, so in addition to more rigourous workouts 3-4 times/week, I'm walking about 3.5 miles once a day (takes me about 50 minutes now because I'm pretty fit). When school starts, I can use the walking on days I don't get in a different workout.

So thanks for the post. Maybe we can have a "walkers group" and check in once a week or so. Let me know and I can try to organize a forum for us.

Haha, Math was never my strong point anyhow but thank you!! Same with myself aswell, I used to hate walking. It is hard for me as a single working mother who is also partaking post-secondary education to get out and do activities like hiking, soccer, hockey, etc,.. now that I've finally got myself on the right track in terms of making a commitment to healthy eating and exercise, I more than enjoy walking a little bit longer. In fact, I'm trying to find excuses to walk longer.

As for the idea for a Walker's Group, I think that's a fantastic idea!! I'm sure there are many others too that would be interested in it. I'm all for it! :D

Walking and some calisthenics are pretty much the only exercise I get. When I'm not being lazy, I walk 2-8 miles daily (depends on where I go).

I used to jog, until my knees started to sound like popcorn. Walking does the same thing exercise-wise and doesn't beat up my joints as much. It just takes longer.

I did a calculation a few months ago and came up with a mileage number to compare with my car. If I ate a diet of oil I'd get 350 miles per gallon. Over the last 18 months of walking instead of driving, I've saved about 5 barrels of petroleum.

I walk anywhere from4 to 6 days a week. I don't know how far, but for a minimum 1 hour to 2 1/2 (the long walks are on Friday nights and the weekends). I noticed a difference and gave me the motivation to add strength training, then some weight lifting and now some aerobics. I do some form of working out 5 to 6 days a week.  I have lost 30 pounds now.  The first 20, the only exercises I got was from walking.

I must say that walking is my favorite, mostly because my Boyfriend and I are spending quality time together. Unlike before, snaking in front of the T.V.

Walking is great, I walk 5-6 days a week as long as the weather is at all cooperative. It is good exercise, and it can be great exercise if you push yourself a little bit. For instance, I add a few extra hills some days or break into a run for short periods during my walk. I also find that it is easier for me to get motivated to walk when I'm tired than to do some other forms of exercise. I tell myself I'll just go for a short walk, but then once I'm out there I enjoy it so much that I go farther and might even add some running.

It seems like walking is kind of looked down on by some as not a legitimate form of exercise. All I will say is that I walk faster than most people jog, so it must have some benefit. :)

Walking is my saving grace!  Every other day I walk on the treadmill at a 10% incline until I hit 500 cals burned (takes about 90 minutes).  The other days I walk with no incline until I burn 250, then follow up with some tae bo.  For those treadmill walkers, using the incline option can be a really great ASSet to your weight loss (if you catch my drift).  Just be sure not to use it too often because your legs will get lopsided.  My calves got all toned and pretty, but I couldn't jog for more than a minute because I never thought to strengthen my shins!  OUCH!

I lost all my weight (95lbs in a year and a half) by walking. Whenever I tried something else to change my routine, I hit a plateau. Walking always worked better and was more versatile.

Since its summer, I have done most of my walking outside, but I travel alot so I power walk on the treadmill at the hotel gyms. Its great :)