Info-input on walking has a cardio and fat burning

[Rebecca11]

I have gotten a little burned out doing kick boxing and step so since it's getting nice I'm doing more walking and biking. How good a cardio workout is walking 3 miles in about 35 minutes, I'm trucking the whole time and using my 2lbs ankle weight and it's not a flat walk there are many inclines. Thanks for the input guys!

 

[toastythemosty]

I want to know too. I really hate to run, but I have a mountain right across me that I swear is just straight up in the air. LOL! Just walking that thing challenges gravity!!! I know I will burning if I walked up there more, but afraid of bears, snakes and panthers. LOL

Charlotte~~

 

[Bunbun]

Sounds like you're at a fast enough pace to do some good, though I don't know about using ankle weights. Have always heard it's better to separate your cardio from your weight workouts and not use ankle weights or "heavy hands." If I remember right, the reason was that it's not good for your joints to add the extra weight while walking or running. On the other hand, I know that people often load up backups while walking to make it more difficult (or to train for hiking), so I can't say for sure.

Anyhow, 3 miles in 35 minutes is at least a 5 mph pace, which is considered powerwalking. Should work fine for cardio fitness--works for me and has for years.

Edited to add: Here's a good site on walking, with their opinions about hand weights (not ankle).
http://www.thewalkingsite.com/faq.html

By the way, I use a sort of modified version of racewalking. Have never been able to get the hang of the full racewalking/hip swiveling thing, but I have my pace up fast enough to see results, so I don't care!