Sweat an indicator? (treadmill vs walking)
 

Well... sigh.
Since my fibromyalgia and probably RA started really acting up i have had to stop my nightly under the stars very brisk hour long walk up and down my dead end road (part of which is a hill and i try to do HIIT walking up it) because my knee joints are flaring badly and walking back down the hill just wasn't good

So i'm back to the treadmill. i am only able to do 1/2 hour on it and that's all i've got! i cannot run or jog, obviously, because of my joints but i walk as fast as my little legs will get me going plus i pump my arms hard. It's too bad because i ADORED outdoor walking and it helped me keep in maintenance however the weird thing is...
i am only able to do 1/2 hr going all out (for me) on the treadmill and i sweat like a pig, i'm covered in sweat (do pigs sweat?!) but when i did my hour long walk outside and as brisk as i possibly could, i did not sweat like that nor would i konk out at 1/2 hour like the treadmill.

i know this is imposs. to answer w/out one of those calorie burn measuring thingies (what is is? a podometer or something??) but i'm wondering if i should just quit fretting about if i'm burning enough cals on the treadmill like i used to with my hour long walk? I'm going to HAVE TO quit fretting because i just cannot do it now but it would be nice to at least feel that i'm not going to go backward.

i tell you what, i envy everyone that can walk hard and long distances, let alone, jog, run, do squats, etc. etc. i'm mourning :( :(:(

Hi! Most treadmills have a calorie indicator, although I take it yours doesn't have one. My treadmill does....so, if it helps, when I walk on my treadmill for 30 minutes, I typically burn about 170 calories (so it says). I walk at speeds between 3mph and 4mph, likely averaging 3.5mph over the 30 minutes. So, if you're walking about the same speed, 170 would be a good guestimate. If you're walking more quickly, you could probably up that to 200 or so.

Also, I too can't run or jog because of my knees, but another member here gave me a great suggestion, and that was to buy a mini exercise trampoline. I can jog on it...doesn't bother my knees at all, because the "springiness" absorbs all of the shock. You can get them at Wal-Mart (I think they're around $50-$60 in the US), and they come with a little "monitor" at the side that also estimates your calories burn when you're jogging on them. Perhaps you might enjoy that!

Thanks! Sorry you're having knee problems also! i don't care if i ever jog or run but i surely would like to have my brisk walking back! i'm only 51 and my joints feel like they're 80 :(

i'll keep the trampoline in mind :D

Fortunately, I'm fine with brisk walking. I only have issues if I try to run or jog. I think it's just the extra bounce/pressure put on my joints (I'm 55). Still, I know how you feel. My daily walks are the thing I enjoy the most about my exercise. I only use my treadmill on rainy days and in the winter. It's ok, but not as much fun as going outside. Good luck to you!