Fitness Walking?

T

Thea

Member
Hi Everyone,

I have a question for anyone out there. Have any of you had good success with fitness walking for weight loss? I have been running on and off lately, but it's so hard on my knees. I was curious if I could get good results with walking instead. I just read an article in M & F Hers about race walking and was thinking of giving it a try. Any input and advice would be appreciated! Thanks in advance!

Thea
 
Fitness walking is great, especially if you maintain a good, gradually increasing pace AND you find a trail that has a lot of good hills and grades. It helps to have good music with a strong fast (but not too fast) beat to keep you honest with your walking speed. I'm not sure what race-walking is all about, except that the race-walkers I've seen profiled look a little goofy.

Annette
 
I am sure that it is good for you, but seems like you'd have to invest a lot of time to compensate for the slower pace. In other words, I'd rather run 45 minutes than have to walk an hour and a half, but occasionally, I could go for a long fast hike with a backpack for recreation and I would call that a workout. Once you are "Cathe-fit" it seems like fitness walking would be more of an "off" day activity. And I agree that those race-walkers with Walkmans look pretty ridiculous.
 
[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON May-07-02 AT 12:39PM (Est)[/font][p]I love race walking, and don't give a hoot what I look like. I use music from Sports Music and would recommend it to anyone. It IS a good workout if you really walk fast; you can do it ANYWHERE (which is especially good if you are on vacation); and most important, in 11 years of doing it I've never had a walking related injury. The intensity level can be easily bumped up if you throw in some hills.

If I'm in a strange town I seek out the nearest mall. I really like mall walking. If not, walk in a neighborhood.

In a nutshell, please don't underestimate the value of walking. It's a good crosstraining activity.

That's my opinion for what it's worth.
 
Go for it! Walking is a wonderful form of exercise no matter what your fitness levels are and I think it can do wonders for any weight loss program. I've heard people say that they broke plateaus and cross trained by simply adding some walking to their routines. I normally work out early in the morning to Cathe and then walk in the evenings after my meal.
 
When I met Honeybunch and Debbie H at the mall a couple of years ago, Honeybunch took us on a walk and it was a lot more intense than I expected - I was sweating and my shins were sore for days after! I never get to that intensity on my own, though - I need someone to pace me like that! That walk made definitely made me a believer in fitness walking!
Erica
 
It can definitely be a good workout if the intensity is kept up (arms moving, fast pace, hills). I used to walk every day for 30 minutes and it helped me to lose weight.

Even though I don't use it as a primary exercise, I try to walk on my breaks in the morning for 15 minutes, and on "off" days. But sometimes I end up more sore from walking than any other fitness routine!

For me the best part of walking is being out in the sunshine, taking in the fresh air and all the sights, feeling the breeze. It's very good for the soul.

Susan
 
I love "power" walking. I usually try to get in at least 1 3 mile walk a week - usually Sat or Sun in the early morning (since the dog wakes me up to pee anyway :) ) I think it's great cross training. I live in FL and it is just flat as a pancake here, but even without any hills I'm usually almost always sore in my glutes the next day. And Susan is right, being outdoors is good for the soul. Whenever I see a dolphin jump in the early a.m. hours it's just the coolest thing.

As far as walking for weight loss, my neighbor lost 30lbs with walking as her only cardio. She doesn't power or race walk just walks at a brisk pace every day. She looks awesome.

Happy Trails!

Lorrie
 
Thanks to everyone who replied so quickly! I think I may give walking a try at least a couple of times a week--maybe cross train with Cathe tapes and running or run/walking. I will have to try hard to keep my pace up. I did a little bit of research on it and I've read in several places that if you really try to walk fast enough you can burn almost as many calories as when you jog or run, plus it's easier on your joints.

I know what you mean about being outside--I love walking and running in the early morning outside when the sun is just coming up! It's so quiet and a good way to get prepared for the day. Thanks again for your help!

Thea
 
Time flies when you get older, like me! How could it be 2 years ago already?!

As for keeping up a pace, music is the answer. I harp on favorite subjects, and the tapes from Sports Music is one of them. I can't imagine walking without my tapes! They will jack up your pace and keep you hummin' at the same time.
 
[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON May-10-02 AT 07:16PM (Est)[/font][p]Thea,
I just read somewhere that a personal trainer who was walking with a client (at a slower pace because the client was just starting out), lost 10 lbs and wasn't even trying. I wanted to increase my cardio, so I just started to add a 1 hour morning or evening walk to my regular cardio/weight work. I have only just started this since last week (since the weather was nice) but even when it rained yesterday I went on the treadmill and just walked. I train at the lower end of my target heart rate. I lost .5 lb yesterday, then another .5 today. I feel rejuvinated also. I may add an interval jog and run when my heart rate goes too low, but for the most part I do a brisk walk. I feel great and there's nothing like being in the outdoors!!!!!
Just my humble opinion.
Faythe
ps forgot to mention I pump my arms. And got my DH to go with me, which makes me happy. It's time together well spent I'd say.
 
[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON May-10-02 AT 07:14PM (Est)[/font][p]ooopppss, hit the mouse twice, and it printed twice.
Sorry,
Faythe
 
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