Is walking REALLY effective?

[maslex]

I keep hearing people talk about exercising is the key to losing weight and that a lot of people do this just by walking. For some reason, I just can't get that through my head. It seems so simple.

Anyhow, I have over 150 lbs to lose so most exercises are quite hard for me right now. And basically walking would probably be the only one I could do for now. I have tried walking around the track before (but that is really boring) and I've walked around my neighborhood, but it's all hills and they kill me. I seemed to do fine for a few days and then for some reason I stop.

I just started taking an appetite suppresant a few weeks ago and I'd like to start walking again and sticking to it and hope that kicks start some weight loss. We're going to WDW in July and I thought maybe if I started walking on a regular basis right now, I would be able to make it through WDW without any major issues. (The last time we went I ended up renting and EVC and I REALLY REALLY REALLY do NOT want to get one again) The blisters on my feet get so bad that I seriously cannot walk on them anymore.

So anyhow, I'm wondering what kind of difference would I see if I started to walk on a regular basis. How long does it take to see some kind of progress?
any suggestions would be great.

 

[jjk]

Hi,

I have recently started walking on a regular basis and it has been very effective for DH and I we built up gradually over the last month and are now walking for about 1hr a day and I have had great results not just on the scale but my whole body seems to be changing to shape I also feel much fitter and have more energy for other forms of ecxercise we really have enjoyed walking and found it benifical.
Good luck with walks

 

[disykat]

I have never lost weight with "just" walking, but have when I do it in conjunction with a food plan. I do well when I wear a step counter to remind me to increase my activity all day long. Put one on and have it count a normal day's activities and then gradually increase each day. I just started wearing mine again and I'm going dog walking with a friend in a little bit!

You can find step counters or pedometors all over the place. I got mine online. It's a "digi-walker."

 

[Evil Genius]

Walking is very effective with a sensible food plan. My doctor told me to start with 20 minutes a day 4 days a week. the 20 minutes doesn't even have to be all in one shot. 10 minutes in the morning, 10 minutes in the evening or however you want to do it.

Yeah it sounds simple, but as you probably all ready know, it's easier to sit on the couch with a bag of chips than to be motivated to get up and walk.

Good Luck with your journey. We are here to help.

 

[rlduvall]

I definitely believe it is. I have began walking 3 miles at the park on my lunch hour - as opposed to sitting on my butt in the car reading a magazine. I have only been doing it about 2 weeks, but I am starting to see some inches disappear. I have not significantly changed the way I eat - just a few slight modifications - because I know it has to be a lifestyle change - and starvation is not a lifestyle I can handle.

 

[JMD]

Walking is probably the LEAST effective form of exercise you can do, but its better than not exercising at all. Since you have a significant amount of weight to lose, stick with walking until you can get into a consistant routine and your general fitness level improves.

Still, no amount of walking or exercise will compensate for a bad diet. Proper nutrition should be your #1 priority for losing weight.

 

[CathrynRose]

Yeah it sounds simple, but as you probably all ready know, it's easier to sit on the couch with a bag of chips than to be motivated to get up and walk.

.

Aint that the truth!

 

[meghan74]

If you are having issues with blisters, you might want to consider going to a running store and ask for assistance choosing a proper shoe. Yes, it may feel strange to go into a running store when you are a walker and not in great shape. (I've been there, done that) Yes, it will be a significant investment, but the results are worth it. You should also be sure that you are wearing proper socks. Cotton is the enemy when it comes to athletic socks!

Once you are properly outfitted, start SLOWLY so that you aren't in pain and it remains an enjoyable activity. That may mean 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 20 minutes or whatever at a time. Just get out there and get the steps in and soon you will be ready to add more time and distance.

After the birth of my 1st child, I had 85 pounds to lose. I tried to eat healthy, but I wouldn't say I was on a diet. I also worked up to walking 3 miles per day (about 45-60 minutes). After a few months of that, I managed to lose all 85 pounds. I gained back about 25 after I stopped walking (and now I am back to walking to lose it again). So, in my experience, it does work if you are consistent.

 

[mousemgr2]

I also had problems with blisters even after being "properly fitted" for shoes. It sounds gross, but put vaseline on your feet before walking. I haven't had a blister since I started doing this.

 

[disneychrista]

Walking is probably the LEAST effective form of exercise you can do

Please explain this. Because I find that walking is very effective.

 

[JMD]

Please explain this. Because I find that walking is very effective.

Low-intensity steady state cardio is the least effective method for burning fat. Strength training, and high-intensity interval training will burn far more calories than walking.

What other type of exercise have you done? Did you exercise regularly before you started walking?

 

[Evil Genius]

As for the blisters, try body glide. They sell it on line and in some sporting goods stores. It looks and goes on like deodorant. It has saved my feet many times from all day walking at DW.

 

[maslex]

OOHHH great, I'll have to remember to get a thing of body glide.

 

[Wishes n Dreams]

Low-intensity steady state cardio is the least effective method for burning fat. Strength training, and high-intensity interval training will burn far more calories than walking.

What other type of exercise have you done? Did you exercise regularly before you started walking?

I think that you have to be careful making comments like that, because it is true for the same amount of time you will burn less calories, and thus less fat with walking as opposed to running, but if you have over 100 lbs to lose then running or alot of other exercises will be more detrimental to your health by causing injuries. Just my two cents.

 

[JMD]

I think that you have to be careful making comments like that, because it is true for the same amount of time you will burn less calories, and thus less fat with walking as opposed to running, but if you have over 100 lbs to lose then running or alot of other exercises will be more detrimental to your health by causing injuries. Just my two cents.

Becareful with what? Everything I said is correct. Read the whole thread, I never suggested the OP start running, nor did suggest anything that would be detrimmental to her health. The quote you took was a response to another poster.

My advice was to continue to walk until her general fitness level improves. I'm not sure what the problem is with that.

 

[disneychrista]

Low-intensity steady state cardio is the least effective method for burning fat. Strength training, and high-intensity interval training will burn far more calories than walking.

They OP didn't ask if walking was the most effective exercise out there. They asked if it was effective in general and the answer to that would be YES! Someone with 150 pounds to lose would benefit greatly from walking. I certainly hope you aren't suggesting someone with 150 pounds to lose to start high-intensity exercise. As they improve their fitness through walking or some other low intensity exercise, it is then that they can increase the intensity.

What other type of exercise have you done? Did you exercise regularly before you started walking?

After the birth of my second child, I walked only walked and lost about 50 pounds. I had not exercsied much in years and was coming off 4 months of bed rest.

Now this time I am doing a combination of WATP and regular straight-up walking, after a long period of time with out exercising. And have been successfull in losing 37 pounds in the past 4 months.

 

[bekkiz]

Can I put a plug in for the Walking Away the Pounds DVDs? I began using the "One Mile" one after 3 months of bed rest following serious back surgery. The One Mile is about 18 minutes long, you do it in the privacy of your own home, and I was so surprised how much of a sweat I worked up. It also uses some easy upper body moves to help your arms tone up. Over time you can add light weights (2 lbs) to make it more intense

I began doing the One Mile once a day (no weights) for about 3 weeks. I added weights and also began doing the Two Mile (30 minutes).

Now, in almost two months, I'm training for a 5K in June (walking still, jogging is too hard on my back) and have been walking about 17-20 miles a week for the last 3 weeks.

I love the videos though, and still try to do them at least once a week. The best part is there's no excuses--bad weather, being alone, not enough time, being embarassed--all gone. You don't even need a lot of space, maybe a 3 or 4 ft. square.

I bought the One Mile/Two Mile Walk Away the Pounds on Amazon for about 12 or 15 bucks. Do it--it's a great first step

 

[JMD]

They OP didn't ask if walking was the most effective exercise out there. They asked if it was effective in general and the answer to that would be YES!

The title of the thread is "Is walking REALLY effective?". Not effective in general, but "REALLY" effective.

Someone with 150 pounds to lose would benefit greatly from walking.

Sure they would, but they would benefit more from strength training. I've trained people who were grossly overweight, and had no previous experience with any sort of exercise. Every single time, they lost considerably more weight than someone who just used walking as their primary exercise, over the same time period. Every single time.

Strength training is far superior to walking, and with proper guidance can be done by anyone.

I certainly hope you aren't suggesting someone with 150 pounds to lose to start high-intensity exercise. As they improve their fitness through walking or some other low intensity exercise, it is then that they can increase the intensity.

Reread what I wrote and the advice I gave the OP, and let me know what problems you have with that. The quote you took was in response to your question and was not directed to the OP

Since you have a significant amount of weight to lose, stick with walking until you can get into a consistant routine and your general fitness level improves.

Still, no amount of walking or exercise will compensate for a bad diet. Proper nutrition should be your #1 priority for losing weight.

 

[goofyinohio]

I can tell you that walking is an effective way to lose weight, but you will also have to watch your calorie intake to really be effective.

This is what I did. The first thing I did was start walking. Which at the start was effective because I had very little to no activity before I started. Then I went out on the web and figured out how many calories I needed to take in a day to maintain my weight and how many I would need to take in a day if I wanted to lose a pound a week.

So I think Walking can be effective if you do enough of it. Start slow, try not to overdue it and increase your time walking every few days by a minute or so. I was walking 6-8 miles a day easy by summer last year after starting from nothing in February and barely walking a couple miles to start. Good luck in your journey.

 

[maslex]

Thanks for everyone's advice. I'm starting my walking journey today. I had the WATP DVD's awhile back but didn't like them. Maybe I just wasn't that commited and should buy them again to try.

I'm hoping that since I have 2 months before our trip, I could see and feel some kind of difference from the walking. Do you think 2 months will make a difference? I do have a treadmill and plan on putting that bad boy to use again. Plus I also should dig out some OLD Richard Simmon's Sweatin to the Oldies tapes that probably have a inch or two of dust on them. I remember liking those tapes back then and I think that'll help with the walking also.

Again, thanks for the advice