For those of you that walk for exercise...

[NeverlandClub23]

I like the idea of making myself go a certain distance. That way if I'm not really in the mood to be on the treadmill forever, I can run part of the way to make it go faster.

I hate treadmills but it's where I do almost all of my running as after I get home from work, eat, and take my dog for a walk it's dark (and I don't feel comfortable running around where I live [or really anywhere for that matter] at dark). I have a treadmill in my house so at least I can watch TV but it's still so boring. This week I've been running 7 miles on 3 different nights and it's been a struggle as I get bored easily. I've found one of the things that's most helpful is to read someone's exercise or running blog (find one that inspires you) before I work out or look at old pictures of myself (I used to be just over 35 lbs. heavier 4 years ago) and to put some really good music on my iTouch.

Walking outside is so much easier for me. Breathing fresh air, talking with my Mom, laughing at my dog running through the grass, it just makes time go by so much faster. I always look forward to the walks, I can't say the same all the time about my runs .

 

[a paper star]

I used to walk with my mom. We'd go to a trail by one of the local colleges. To walk the whole trail usually took about an hour. I haven't walked in a while because the weather here hasn't been so good but as soon as it gets nicer I plan to start again.

 

[PaulaSue]

When I take a walk it is 2 laps around my neighborhood. Never measured the distance or time since I usually stop and talk to neighbors.

 

[WL Fan]

Argh! The dreaded treadmill! Mine is down in the basement, facing a blank white wall... I try and have something to read on my kindle to help the hour go by faster. If the weather is nice, I'd rather walk outside. Either way, I try and walk between 3 and 4 miles.

Sometimes I wonder if it really is doing any good at all. I've been walking regularly (5-6 times a week) since February, and aside from a fast 6-7 lbs that came off right away, not much is happening. It gets so depressing!

 

[Hillbeans]

It varies - when I walk at the gym on their indoor track, I do 25 laps which equals 2.5 miles.

At home when I walk the dog I do a 2 mile lap around a "loop" on our street.

I guess I do more for miles than time as sometimes walking the dog takes longer time-wise.

 

[castmemberb4]

I'm limited by geography, the flat walking trail we like to use is 3 miles.
If we have to walk in the neighborhood b/c we just don't have time to go to the trail we walk around the block it's just under a mile but has lots of hills.
I like to think I'm getting the same work out either way.

 

[diz8297]

When I walk, it's 30 minutes at a brisk pace. Can't jog because of my knees. In bad weather/winter I ride an exercise bike for 1/2 hour in the a.m. Actually, I'll probably keep doing that anyway and just add in the walk when I can. Heading out soon for a walk in fact. (I'm going to have one happy daschund!!)

 

[Momvic5]

I walk 4mi in one hour every evening on my treadmill. I also vary the inclines to burn more calories. It works...since I have increased my time to a hour and made 4mi my goal, I feel stronger, and I have dropped a few pant sizes. The treadmill (torture-mill) is so boring, but with a MP3 player loaded with great music and a tv set on closed captions, I can motivate myself to do it.

 

[marshallandcartersmo]

so, are you walking for weight loss or to stay healthy, or (gasp!) for fun??

I need to lose a few pounds for the summer and think walking in the mornings would be the way to go.

OP had a great question though---not sure if I should walk a certain distance or a certain time??

 

[momrek06]

not sure if I should walk a certain distance or a certain time??

I would start out with TIME! Walk 30 minutes, and then increase your time. Wear a pedometer, that will gauge your distance. I always tell my friends that are starting out, to walk 15 minutes away from your home ... then you have 15 minutes to walk back and VIOLA you have done 30 minutes of walking!

 

[jekajekalynn]

When my dh and I decided to do our healthy lifestyle change ( I refuse to say the 4 letter word diet), we started walking 2 miles a day at a brisk pace. Then I follow it up when we get home with about 20 minutes of exercise with the Wii Fit game. ...so far I have lost almost 20 pounds.

 

[tiggerlover]

I walk to get 6,000 to 10,000 steps, making sure that I hit 10,000 steps at least four of the seven days.

 

[momrek06]

I walk to get 6,000 to 10,000 steps, making sure that I hit 10,000 steps at least four of the seven days.

I see that you are a WW LIFETIME member, so am I. Carry my card in my wallet. Have been seen 1984!!!

 

[OK!]

I'm in the week before the St. Louis Half-Marathon so I've slowed down in terms of distance some...I did a little over 5 miles today and quit when a stupid car threw a rock up that nailed me in the arm. Good LORD, that hurt. I'm just glad it didn't hit me in the face or--almost worse--my iPhone.

Otherwise, I've been following an online training program geared for full marathons since I'm doing the WDW one this year. So I guess I go for distance, and don't pay too much attention to how long it takes (but I go as fast as I can).

 

[LiLIrishChick63]

DH and i have just started walking together everyday(except for weekends or if it's raining out badly) and since we just started we only do a 10-minute walk. but i definatly want to work on going for longer walks!