Is walking count as exercise?

[Anonymous]

Do you count walks as exercise?

[Anonymous]

I do but my walks are strenuous. I'm sweating and out of breath when I'm done. My walks include steep hills and lots of stairs. 4.5 miles, takes me 1hr 15mins.

I think there was a long discussion about this a few months ago if you search this forum you'll find it.

[Anonymous]

I did when I was restarting an exercise habit after a decade or more off.

Now that I am in shape, I do runs rather than walks. But I needed the walks first to get in shape safely.

[Anonymous]

Yes. From a cardiac standpoint, it counts.

[Anonymous]

Yes, walk briskly so as to raise your heart rate. Try to work up to 30 minutes a day.

[Anonymous]

Yes, but not all exercise is equal.

[Anonymous]

I consider them exercise, but I walk 4.5 or 5 miles at 4.3 mph and set my treadmill's incline at 10. I don't like jogging, so I might just do a half mile at 7mph at the end of my walk. I feel like I'm fit enough when combined with some strength training.

[Anonymous]

Sure but not everyone considers it exercise for themselves.
I don't because I workout 6 days a week, including run 20+miles a week and weights. I do walk about two miles a day though between walking kids to school or walking to metro for work, etc.

i have GFs who work out as much as I do and they walk as cardio but as a PP mentioned, they are doing it at a steep incline or briskly.

[Anonymous]

Walking the aisles of Target doesn’t count 😃

[Anonymous]

Yes. It's one of the best/easiest things you can do for your health. I do resistance training with heavy weights 3x a week, 2 days of yoga and walk for 45 min every day at a fast pace. I aim for 12k+/day. Makes me feel great physically and mentally.

[Anonymous]

I don't. I consider it "a supplement to exercise." For me exercise needs to be something that gets my heart rate going, and isn't sustainable for a long period of time.

If you're doing a lot of stairs and hills, walking becomes a better exercise. But strolling a flat path for an hour? That's a rest day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I consider them exercise, but I walk 4.5 or 5 miles at 4.3 mph and set my treadmill's incline at 10. I don't like jogging, so I might just do a half mile at 7mph at the end of my walk. I feel like I'm fit enough when combined with some strength training.

You do this hands free and without holding on? You're a rockstar!!

[Anonymous]

Of course it is. As others have said, you need to get your heart rate up. I am training for a huge hike (I live at sea level). I hike on a tread with a pack and do long (10-18 mile) hikes outdoors in 90+ degree weather. Trust me I am getting a workout. I have lost 10 lbs since April and didn’t need to lose weight.

[Anonymous]

Yes. You should walk briskly, to get your heart rate up. It's great exercise because it's easy on your joints, requires nothing but a decent pair of shoes, and can be done by people of all ages.

[Anonymous]

I’ve always had a similar question, OP. Do I count my commute/walk towards my calorie count(ie can I subtract a few calories from my daily total, based on my walk to the metro, then metro to home). My total walking is over 1.5 mikes a day. When can I count walking as exercise, and when is it just moving?