Is walking enough?
 

I live a sedentary life during the week - sit in front of a computer all day.. I don't like to exercise much, but know I have to. I was watching a program that said all you have to do is walk.. do you agree? Walking is enjoyable to me, so I know I would DO that, but am afraid that I have to do more.. I don't know what more, but more!

Walking is most definitely enough!!!! You can vary the length and pace to get quite the workout!

I started with walking (check out leslie sansone walk away the pounds). Walking is a good place to start until you build up your stamina. You can try other things or walk further or with weights. YOu can start out with just walking around the block.

I would try it and see how it feels.

Not to say "don't do this" but walking with weights may or may not be good. it can throw your balance differently so that you don't walk in your normal gait and that can lead to injuries.

From the walking site (and others):
And I have yet to meet ANYONE with normal fitness level who could not get a really good workout with JUST walking.

I could still get my heart rate soaring, and be dripping in sweat despite 2 years of vigorous step aerobics and lots of walking. I just got faster and faster. I forgot my top pace, but it was around 4.5 miles per hour.

Is walking enough...for what? To be healthy? To be "active"? To lose weight?

Is it enough to help with overall health and fitness, including cardiovascular and chronic health? For the most part, yes!

The CDC does recommend adding 2 days of strength training a week. Can you incorporate some strength exercises into your routine?

I think the others have answered your questions if its in regards to losing weight.

Why do so many people think this? Walking can be very intense! It all depends on how you push yourself!

I lost the first 30-40 of my pounds last time while walking. I'm losing now with walking. All the way down to my lowest weight, I was using walking as exercise. I just got faster and faster, but then also added step aerobics for adding diversity to my exercise.

AND... people who are sedentary should start slow to prevent injuries, but soon, you can be FLYING...

Berry, I'll take that back. For some reason I was mixing a few different posts from this forum up in my head and was assuming the walking was very very minimal. I do actually agree with you. Just a brain fart :)

My next step after i started walking was with two hand weights. I didn't say start out with that, but it can be a next step.

And I'm just saying, it probably shouldn't be done - ever. Even the few sites that say it's OK, if you go to their cited references, those cited references say don't walk with weights. My physical therapist said "no" too (and he wasn't the end all of references, but it's not a great idea and not necessary to get a good workout).

walking is nice start, you could try longer distances for better effect

Walking I think is a great way to start. It is great for losing a few pounds and getting results at a slower pace. Downside is that unless you're doing it inside dealing with weather can keep you from doing it everyday.

If you really want to kick start your weight loss adding interval training using a treadmill and other cardio equipment as well as weights at a gym will really improve your results. I think it's the big thing that sells the fad diets and exercise machines is to promise quick results with little effort but the truth is that you get out of it what you put into it.

I went from working out 25 minutes to 1 hour and 15 minutes and I have seen amazing results. Just know the more you put into it and the results you see will help keep you motivated. :) Good Luck!

walking (no matter how fast or slow) is still better than sitting on the couch. my puppy makes me walk....97lbs in the last 9 months and counting.

It's a great place to start. Walking is great for many reasons and the top reason is that it makes you move. It's basic, you know how to do it already. One step leads to another and it's a great way to get in touch with your body's capabilities. Commit to doing a little everyday for a month or so and then reassess what you're willing to do. What's there to be afraid of? What's the alternative, doing nothing? You're already doing that, get out there and start walking, it will open a whole new door of opportunities for you.

That's how I started, with walking. Which then led to the gym, and taking aerobics classes and then lifting weights and then dance classes, and then tennis.... I had a long list of things I thought I could never do and slowly but surely I started doing them all.

Great responses.. Thank You!!

I do not think it is enough, at least short walks. Better than nothing, sure. But not much beyond that.

I walked two miles a day at 281lbs. And I still walk 2 miles a day.

But I also run 4 miles and do weight training. Those things (and the diet) made the difference. Not the walk.