Walking?

Has anyone had success in losing up to thirty pounds with just walking? I try to walk between 2 to 5 miles today as fast as my legs can carry me 6 times a week. I also lift five pound weights between 3-5 times a week. I would appreciate all walking success feedback!

 Well, personally I find that walking just isn't enough exercise for me. But then again, I was a heavy exerciser at one time and I know that your body sort of remembers that even if it's been a long time.

   However...from what I understand, walking a mile burns one hundred calories. So as long as you keep your calories consumed during the day in check, if you walk five miles a day, at the end of the week, you should have lost a pound.

Your post will get more responses on the Fitness forum.  Would you like me to move it for you?

ok

Between watching what I eat and walking between 2.5 to 3.5 miles per day, at least five times per week, I've lost 64 pounds in 10 months.  :)  Once you get comfortable with walking, I recommend purchasing hand and ankle weights, helps to burn more calories. 

Wow Laura. Good. That inspires me. How much do the hand and ankle weights weigh? I have heard of walking vests too to add on weight.

Hi kbeeps!  :)

You can get hand/ankle weights in many different weights, starting at one pound each and going as high as ten each (probably more, but I haven't looked too hard for heavy ones yet.)  I started out wearing one pound weights on my wrists only, and have recently "graduated" to two pounds on each wrist, and 1.5 pounds on each ankle.  I could have probably gone heavier with the ankle weights, but I think it's better to start out light and work your way up.  Believe it or not, even with just one pound on each hand, I could feel it working my muscles!

I have also heard of those walking vests, but I have been happy and comfortable with hand/ankle weights so I haven't looked into them.  I'm sure they work equally well, though, as the basic idea is to make your muscles work harder by adding extra weight.

Another thing to purchase, if you haven't already, is a pedometer.  You can get them for as cheap as a few dollars, or spend twenty or so for one that has more features.  They are awesome for instant feedback on speed, distance, calories burned, etc. 

Also, make sure you are pushing yourself when you walk. :)  I started out at a slow pace until my body got used to the movement, and now I push myself regularly to go faster or cover more distance (or sometimes both, if I'm feeling really good.)  Add on the hand/ankle weights, and you can see how the progression adds up over time.

If you need any more info I'm happy to help.  Keep at it - you can do it! :)

hi everyone!  yeah, you can loose lots of weight with just walking, not to mention endurance, remember, running and aerobics just arent for everyone! anyway, its simple as this....walk...walk faster...then when you get a burst of inspiration jog abit.....walk as fast as you can, jog abit,walk, jog,walk, jog and so on.  when you feel you're ready add ankle weights, but not everyday or your body will adjust to that level of workout.  SIMPLE    A S     T HAT!!!!

anyone else?

Now I've always heard that ankle weights are not good for the knees ... I have exercised my WHOLE life so I really don't have a "success story" for losing weight by walking, though I always manage to keep my weight down (except for a few times here and there). I walk an hour every day except for when it snows, then I only go about 20 minutes because I hate the snow. I also walk on my treadmill at home and I use the one at the gym. 

I'm a huge fan of walking as it can be an excellent cardio exercise without putting stress on my joints. My overall plan is to build myself up so that I can do interval jogging. (Yes, I realise that will put strain on my knees, but want to at least see if it's something I can do. A goal of sorts.)

Thanks justlaura for the great inspiration! With your story I am sure you can help alot of ppl out there. Sometimes thats all we need to hear to get us going.

The only real success I have is with walking. Three years ago I started walking. It was tough at first and I had a hard time walking for more then ten minutes but I  have been able to increase the time. I have lost over 40 pounds. Right now I am not losing any weight but I have not been watching what I eat. That is actually why I am here, to get back on track.

I started walking last March ~20 min a day at ~2-3 MPH and progressed to an hour by 6 mos. After 6 mos (Sept) and watching my calorie intake through CC, I lost 65 lbs. I then started the "Couch to 5k" running plan last Sept for 11 weeks. Now I run each week, 4 days - 3 miles a day and still walk 60 min on my off run days.

Down total 92 lbs today. 

I'm going to give you a resounding YES... I only just started looking for more vigorous exercise - for the first two months I walked (starting from ZERO fitness with 15-minute walks for the first week), and I lost twenty pounds!

hi,  i lost 20lbs with biking, and working out, cardio at the gym but since then,  past 3 months i have not been able to exersize at the gym for more than once a month,  but i live in a city and walk atleast 45 mins fast a day, maybe more and i am maintaining and maybe even loosing.  i love walking....cheap and easy!

I wouldn't have lost over 60 lbs if I hadn't started a daily walking regimen.  I did about 3.5 miles at 3.5 miles per hour.  Now I'm doing more cardio and weights, so I need more than walking, but it was the way to start. 

Walking works!  I've lost 90 pounds.  I walk about 35 minutes a day 5 days a week.  I don't worry too much about distance and speed.  I also do one 1-hour exercise class on the weekend - but it's mostly for fun.  I don't need it to lose weight!

How motivating to read such great results. I have just implemented walking in my program again. I am so excited I did. I will post my success in a few weeks....happy walking CC.

congrats!

i am walking more and more and i believe it is part of the good thing which is losing weigh and becoming healthier. also i love the fact that i do not have to go a gym, tlak to people i might not like, sweat in a room full of others etc:) yes i know it sounds anti-social but i really prefer doing this by myself

I lost 15 pounds walking 2-3 miles 5-6 days a week.  Then winter came, I tried keeping up on an eliptical but I just did not enjoy it like I did my walks outdoors.  I gained 5 of the 15 I lost.  But I was not eating as well I should have, either.  Now that the weather has finally turned and most of the snow has melted away I am out there again and looking forward to losing 20 by summer.  Kay.