Walking isn't exercise- change my mind

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Of course it's much better than being entirely sedentary! But it's like saying "drink water instead of soda" to someone who lives on fast food. It's not a bad advice, but there are significantly greater gains you can make if you also do some other things. Cardiovascular fitness has become the thing we think of as the low-hanging fruit for people who want to incorporate movement into their lives, but doing some kind of strength training is very important, particularly as you get older and especially for older women, in terms of preserving health and quality of life. Many people think of walking as something approachable and normal, and doing strength training as something that's niche/not for them. But it's great and it's for everyone!

Even a quadriplegic?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Walking burns more calories than sitting on the couch. It’s all about your frame of reference.

I think that's it. If you're someone who's really fit already, walking isn't going to challenge your body in any meaningful way. But if you're not already fit, walking could make a difference.

This isn't necessarily true. I'm a fit person (triathlete, endurance runner). I started walking for my mental health during the pandemic and have actually noticed a big difference (shaved off that last 5 lbs over the span of 9 months without trying). I'm burning an extra ~500 calories per day walking (8-10km), and it's low intensity enough that I'm not starving and tired the way running an extra 10km per day would make me.

OP, walking burns plenty of calories. It depends on weight and speed, but I burn about 75% of the calories per mile compared to running - it's nothing to scoff at. Your HR doesn't get as high, but it's absolutely burning calories and conferring many of the same benefits as other forms of exercise.

But also just... stop judging people who are getting out there and trying to improve their health? You're wrong and rude.

x1000000000

[Anonymous]

The best type of exercise is the type that you enjoy, because you'll keep doing it. And walking is more sustainable than running for many people. Of course, shopping as a form of exercise sounds really expensive!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Walking is better than running. Eventually the joints will be affected with running. Swimming is the best!

Running is proven to strengthen joints. Arthritis and other degenerative conditions of aging will eventually catch up with almost everyone, but a moderate, regular running routine can keep a person’s joints healthier longer.[/quote]

OP here! I hear you loud and clear runner person. Keep in mind your talking to a bunch of walkers. I ran for 8 years after walking for maybe 6 months built up to and completed a marathon. Full blown running didn't "take" until after I completed my marathon I later got into a 3 mile 5X/ week run but injuries started creeping in so I changed to cycling. I am not cleared to ride on my bike yet so am stuck with walking. Fitness is declining by the day can't believe people call this exercise. No chance in hell I wait on a Doctor clearance to resume cycling I will be out there soon.

It seems like you view life as a competition that you win by exercising the best and being the fittest/thinnest, but you keep injuring yourself so maybe you aren't exercising properly for your body. It's weird that you care what other people do for exercise and that you look down on those that merely walk or don't aspire to be as 'fit' as you do. Also, if you keep exercising in ways where you keep hurting yourself and then don't follow the rehab and rest times recommended post surgery/injury you are going to be lucky to be able to walk for exercise when you get older.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of course it's much better than being entirely sedentary! But it's like saying "drink water instead of soda" to someone who lives on fast food. It's not a bad advice, but there are significantly greater gains you can make if you also do some other things. Cardiovascular fitness has become the thing we think of as the low-hanging fruit for people who want to incorporate movement into their lives, but doing some kind of strength training is very important, particularly as you get older and especially for older women, in terms of preserving health and quality of life. Many people think of walking as something approachable and normal, and doing strength training as something that's niche/not for them. But it's great and it's for everyone!

Even a quadriplegic?

Absolutely! Strength training is recommended for people with spinal cord injuries, although of course what you do is going to vary with your abilities, and you'll want to figure that with your physical therapist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Walking while shopping is not exercise but walking your neighborhood at a good speed is.

The reason walking while shopping is not good exercise is because there is a lot of slow walking and stopping, like when you browse.

I hate shopping so when I do shop, I walk quickly, in/out, even while browsing, I walk faster than most people in the store. One of the reasons I like online shopping is because I don't have to deal with slow pokes. I always found shopping to be exhausting, and I finally figured out it's because I walk quickly - two hours of walking quickly around several stores, and I'm tired. I hate shopping with my sisters and mom because they are super slow walkers while shopping.

But to OP, yes, walking is good exercise, and it doesn't have to be speed walking.

In areas where people walk a lot to stores, works, etc.. obesity tends to be lower. Lots of European/Asian cities are like this. People walk a lot, and the cultures there aren't big on gyms. They just walk everywhere. It helps you stay fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who cares.

I have an autoimmune disease (Hashimotos) and even going for too fast a walk may cause me to have issues. Doctor has said I should not do any intense exercise. So walking it is. Or Yoga. Or a leisurely bike ride. Anything I can do to build some muscle that will burn calories. It's not just about the calories burned during that one exercise.

All this attitude of OP's will do is convince people to sit in front of the TV even more.

How old are you? Genuinely curious. I have Hashimoto's, diagnosed many years ago. Have never heard of any link to other issues. Maybe I should be more careful?

[Anonymous]

I lost 20 lbs in 3 months just by walking and lowered my resting heart rate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Walking is better than running. Eventually the joints will be affected with running. Swimming is the best!

Running is proven to strengthen joints. Arthritis and other degenerative conditions of aging will eventually catch up with almost everyone, but a moderate, regular running routine can keep a person’s joints healthier longer.[/quote]

OP here! I hear you loud and clear runner person. Keep in mind your talking to a bunch of walkers. I ran for 8 years after walking for maybe 6 months built up to and completed a marathon. Full blown running didn't "take" until after I completed my marathon I later got into a 3 mile 5X/ week run but injuries started creeping in so I changed to cycling. I am not cleared to ride on my bike yet so am stuck with walking. Fitness is declining by the day can't believe people call this exercise. No chance in hell I wait on a Doctor clearance to resume cycling I will be out there soon.

It seems like you view life as a competition that you win by exercising the best and being the fittest/thinnest, but you keep injuring yourself so maybe you aren't exercising properly for your body. It's weird that you care what other people do for exercise and that you look down on those that merely walk or don't aspire to be as 'fit' as you do. Also, if you keep exercising in ways where you keep hurting yourself and then don't follow the rehab and rest times recommended post surgery/injury you are going to be lucky to be able to walk for exercise when you get older.

I agree with the last poster. I would love to run, but every time I get an urge to run, I remember that I have gotten a few running injuries (knee, shin splints, plantar faciatis) I am a heel striker and I am not built to run. I walk and I love walking. It is relaxing as I can listen to a podcast or spotify and the time flies. You OP seem to be pretty judgy. There are many ways to exercise and walking is the most "natural". All humans (if not disabled) are built to walk and if you look at walkable cities, you can see how fit you can get by just walking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who cares.

I have an autoimmune disease (Hashimotos) and even going for too fast a walk may cause me to have issues. Doctor has said I should not do any intense exercise. So walking it is. Or Yoga. Or a leisurely bike ride. Anything I can do to build some muscle that will burn calories. It's not just about the calories burned during that one exercise.

All this attitude of OP's will do is convince people to sit in front of the TV even more.

This seems nuts to me. I have had Hashi's since middle school and I played lacrosse in high school and college and I am still active.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think it satisfies a requirement for really intense exercise that will make you look like a fitness model, but as a whole, walking counts a lot for exercises and is correlated with less obesity.

Just look at Europe versus the US. People WALK more instead of drive. People are thinner.
Of course diet has something to do with it with portion sizes and all, but this is true within the US as well.

Why is there less obesity in DC and New York than in rural West Virginia or more sprawled suburban Texas? Again, walking vs driving.

Walking is better than sitting on a couch for sure. I know someone who has a dog and won’t walk it so the dog uses pee pads. She’s overweight and has feet problems from all the weight so that makes her less and less willing to walk. She could benefit from walking.

Another person I know rescued a dog and was so proud that she was walking it because it was helping her physically and mentally. But she is still fat because she eats too much and relies on “diet food” like fat-free sour cream.

[Anonymous]

Why should we change your mind? Just who TF are you?

Kick rocks

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I lost 20 lbs in 3 months just by walking and lowered my resting heart rate.

This is great! Congrats! How long each day? What intensity? I have been walking daily for 3 months too, only
Lost 10 lbs.