walking and cardio?

[delfin]

Would you guys consider walking cardio? Since I've gotten my high-energy rescue dog, the two of us have been walking about an hour a day. It's a nice, brisk walk, and I'm definitely sweating by the end. I've since cut back on my past cardio workouts... say, doing only 30 minutes of step on my cardio days, which are about 4-5 a week. Do you think that an hour of brisk walking equates to about 30 minutes of step or a light jog on the treadmill? I've noticed my weight has remained pretty steady, and in fact, some of my jeans have gotten loser. I may be a "walker" convert!

 

[singinggoddess]

I used to be a power walking junkie. I used to walk about an hour to hour and a half a day. I would walk at about 5 miles per hour and definitley worked up a great sweat. Yes, it is definitley considered cardio if you keep it brisk. I actually had fewer fluctuations with my weight then, then I do now. I have always done the weights as well , which I am sure you are doing too. I think walking is a nice break from all the high impact. I think you burn 60-80 calories per mile walking. So, if you are walking at least 4-5 miles a day that is 350-400 calories, which is great! Have fun with it and it is great for the pooch too.

Susan

 

[maddiesmum]

I agree with Susan. I use power walking as my main form of cardio these days. I walk at 5 - 5.4 mph on the treadmill, and insert intervals of high gradient at slower pace to simulate hiking in the mountains. The reason I do this is that when I go on hiking holidays, as in Colorado Rocky Mtn national Park this August, I lose weight and am healthier than at any other time of the year. Walking is a natural activity for the body and you should know that walking at 5 mph burns more calories that running or jogging at the same speed because it is harder to perform and our muscles have to work harder to stay walking at this speed, when running would be easier for the body.

Keep walking and enjoy your time with your dog.

Clare

 

[honeybunch1]

I walk a lot as cardio alternating with step once in a while and a cardio circuit training class twice a week. It's great cardio and you can do it forever, unlike running which is much harder on the joints. I try to walk for at least an hour when I do it. I even walk in the winter when I wear Nike Therma-Fit and snow sneakers from LL Bean.

"You can't win them all - but you can try." - Babe Zaharias http://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/musik/music-smiley-004.gif[/img]

 

[hiitdogs]

I have cut back a lot on my Cathe cardio workouts since I have gotten my two energizer bunny Aussies. I am power walking around the dog park for about 60 minutes and my heart rate is up around 140 to 145 and I actually lost weight a lot faster then with only Cathe's high intensity workouts (I LOVE them though)- you would think it is the other way around, but not for me.

I still do Cathe's cardio (can't live without them ) just a lot less / shorter.

I have one of those fancy Polar Heartrate Monitors and when I check the calories 1 hour of walking for me equates to 550 kcal at that heart rate and my weight, height, etc. If I do a Cathe workout it's about 700 kcal. I am sure it is not accurate to a "t" but a good guideline.

I had to revise my opinion about walking, I always thought it's not a good workout, if you are not dripping from sweat and have your tongue dragging behind you (not quite but you get the picture ).

I have a lot more energy doing the walking and only 30 min of Cathe cardio every other day and a Cathe weights workout 3-4 times per week. My weight comes off at a fairly decent rate and I feel great.

So, I am a walker convert and I do think if it is a brisk walk it sure counts as cardio! Counts for me :+

By the way, what kind of dog did you get?

Carola

 

[delfin]

Carola, sounds like we're doing a very similar fitness routine. Since I got my dog, I've also cut back on the high-intensity stuff, and am still doing weight work 3-4 days a week. My body seems to be enjoying this... I've noticed my lower back has been feeling MUCH better.

As far as my dog, she's a mix... I think she must have some sort of spitz breed (she's foxy looking, with a curled tail, and small cat-like feet), and she's unbelievably fast (have also been doing agility with her, and they tell me she's a "natural"). Quite a change from our last dog... a bulldog! (BTW, we looked at a bulldog this weekend, so she'd have a little doggy friend. He was SO big and boisterous, we loved him, but our dog was afraid! I don't think she even recognized him as a dog, because she usually goes right into the play pose, and she just stood there and whimpered.