Is walking REALLY effective?

[goofyinohio]

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?

It would absolutely help you. Not only in just getting around and making you feel better, but you will likely drop a few lbs by then. My guess is somewhere around 12-15 pounds if you are just starting out again (In a 9-10 week period). Maybe even more.

 

[harleyquinn]

Another WATPer here! I think that the program is probably one of the best things out there to get started in fitness for people who have a lot to lose.

I'm super uncoordinated and I've found WATP to be one of the only things that encouraged me in the beginning. Now I really have to push myself to keep doing the complicated steps on other things.

I admit that I got totally bored with them after a while and I knew it was time to move on to something else.

I also really like Leslie--now Denise Austin always prompts me to want to punch her, but I like Leslie, I wish she did other types of videos.

Another thing about WATP is Leslie gets you in a warm up and cool down/stretch all in the video. When you walk yourself you tend to not do so and not keep a brisk pace.

 

[Simba's Mom]

What really motivated me was to realize that although walking may or may not be the best form of exercise to lose weight, doing it is a good way to improve your overall health. And isn't that one big reason for your weight loss? So I just looked at walking as another part of the "package" of improving my health-lose weight, walk more. Good for heart, blood pressure, bone health, respiriatory system, and it helps with weight loss. Walking is a very healthy thing to do.

 

[tbstein]

I walk because it works for me. I have some issues with health, I have to wear orthotics and such for mechanical realignment. So, some exercise can knock me back out if I do it wrong. We have a tread mill and bow flex. When I walk I really try to do 45 minutes. Easier when outside, because I have a set path that gives me the times I need. The bow flex, DH helps me to keep the muscles loose and such. Walking is a great way to start. You can get to fast walking, which is very cardio. At least for me it is!

Good luck!

 

[mesanna]

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.



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.

If walking was as simple as this, I don’t know why I rarely did it rhythmically and at least twice a day. Whether from here to there or further afield it captured my attention sending good signals to my legs and muscled up them thar walkin’ tools. I’d put many such tools away in storage and was happier now to see me hauling them portables out for at least one small job or two ten. The feet worked the way they ought, following the upper thrusters and the arms flailed sprite-el-el-el-lay up/down, down/up giving my hands a good breath of the nearby air for nurture and moisture. If I hadn’t already finalized my happiness, well I would have had some need for revision, but all over in this movement jumpy but delightful as it was, I broke record taking rules and stopped the clock at one o five. Period or two dots as I’d been in the more than once heard saying. Dot dot.

 

[Tent Camping Mom]

YES, it is effective. I have to disagree with the poster that said it is the least effective. Any exercise can be the least effective according to how much effort you apply. A walk for 1 mile will burn about the same amount of calories as a run for one mile. But say you did a measurement of time....a 30 minute walk will burn less calories than a 30 minute run but that's because you are running more miles.

 

[Tent Camping Mom]

If walking was as simple as this, I don’t know why I rarely did it rhythmically and at least twice a day. Whether from here to there or further afield it captured my attention sending good signals to my legs and muscled up them thar walkin’ tools. I’d put many such tools away in storage and was happier now to see me hauling them portables out for at least one small job or two ten. The feet worked the way they ought, following the upper thrusters and the arms flailed sprite-el-el-el-lay up/down, down/up giving my hands a good breath of the nearby air for nurture and moisture. If I hadn’t already finalized my happiness, well I would have had some need for revision, but all over in this movement jumpy but delightful as it was, I broke record taking rules and stopped the clock at one o five. Period or two dots as I’d been in the more than once heard saying. Dot dot.

I'm sorry, but I don't understand a word you said Please someone, tell me I'm not the only one!

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

Walking is effective. Many studies have shown that the efficacy of a workout depends on several things - of course calories burned per minute, but also duration and ease of incorporation into daily life. Let's say rock climbing was discovered to be the exercise that burned the most calories per minute. It still would be the most effective because the plausibility of incorporating that into one's daily life is very low. Also, it is reported that climaxing (yes, that kind) burns 600 calories a minute. Again, this is high, but it is very low on duration - meaning someone could not possibly sustain that activity for 30-60 minutes, 3-5 times a week. Walking certainly does not burn as many calories as other activities, but it is very easy to incorporate into one's daily routine and can be done for long periods of time. I could walk for a lot longer than I could jog or run which helps build stamina. One can also increase walking pace easily - move from a slow walk to a trot to a power walk or change terrain, up hill for example.

I have a pedometer and I am currently trying to get in 10000 steps a day. This has been working for me because I will look at it and walk around the block to get it to go to the next thousand and I use it to keep me motivated. I don't have to find a whole hour to exercise, I can spread it around the day and be a more active person. I do strength training twice a week, but that is more for building muscle and improving bone health. Strength training is really important for women, especially.

OP, I would suggest getting a pedometer and keep up with the walking. It is a great exercise! I would also suggest once you are on a schedule with walking, to do strength training (weight lifting, dumbbells, resistance bands, something to build muscle) once or twice a week that way you get the best of both worlds. Walking is definitely the best way to ensure you are ready to walk in WDW. I admire you for wanting to improve your health and wish you the best of luck!!! Bring comfy shoes to WDW and thick soled socks (Danskin brand is great) as well as moleskin for any blisters. I also use a cold bottle of water as a foot massager in WDW. Lay it on the ground on its side and roll your feet over it for a great pick me up.

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

If walking was as simple as this, I don’t know why I rarely did it rhythmically and at least twice a day. Whether from here to there or further afield it captured my attention sending good signals to my legs and muscled up them thar walkin’ tools. I’d put many such tools away in storage and was happier now to see me hauling them portables out for at least one small job or two ten. The feet worked the way they ought, following the upper thrusters and the arms flailed sprite-el-el-el-lay up/down, down/up giving my hands a good breath of the nearby air for nurture and moisture. If I hadn’t already finalized my happiness, well I would have had some need for revision, but all over in this movement jumpy but delightful as it was, I broke record taking rules and stopped the clock at one o five. Period or two dots as I’d been in the more than once heard saying. Dot dot.

 

[disneychrista]

I'm sorry, but I don't understand a word you said Please someone, tell me I'm not the only one!

No you are not the only one.

I was just ignoring the newbie, just registered poster who pulled up a 3 month old thread.

 

[ohMom]

well i wonder how our OP is doing on her walking program??

Lulu -- that was great insight!

i just recently found this site http://www.prevention.com/walking/walking_landing.html if anyone is interested.

and my .02 on blisters is to be sure to wear wicking socks.

I was going to elaborate more but as disneychrista pointed out this is an old thread just maybe drudged up for an unknown reason??

 

[JMD]

YES, it is effective. I have to disagree with the poster that said it is the least effective. Any exercise can be the least effective according to how much effort you apply .

Of course, but you can only apply so much effort to walking. After all, it is just walking.

A walk for 1 mile will burn about the same amount of calories as a run for one mile. But say you did a measurement of time....a 30 minute walk will burn less calories than a 30 minute run but that's because you are running more miles.

Sure, i can probably yo-yo long enough to burn the same amount of calories as a 30 minute run, but I don't have all day to stand around and yo-yo. For practical purposes, you need to compare calories burned for a specific period of time. We are all busy people, with only a set amount of time to exercise, we need to make the most of that time.

Plus, walking only burns calories while you are walking. Since its such low instensity, your body returns to a normal state almost immediately after you finish. Whereas weight training or high instensity workouts can burn calories up to 24 after AFTER you finish.

 

[ohMom]

ok it's time to play nicely, here on WISH we encourage and support. It's ok not to agree, but let's not criticize anyone's steps on a healthier path. that is the goal, to be active, at an appropriate level individually.

no one is disagreeing that there are higher intensity workout and lower intensity workouts. I am a powerwalker and I support and encourage walking as a form of aerobic activity. there are many ways to workout that can be not as effective if you don't really put yourself into it. I used to attend a water aerobics class and got a fantastic cardio workout, even worked up a sweat in the pool.....while a small gaggling of ladies putted around and gossiped. i doubt their heartrate rose, but mine did

For anyone interested in learning more about racewalking, which is the universal term for athletic walking, such as that in the Olympic games since 1906, look here

 

[Tent Camping Mom]

Whereas weight training or high instensity workouts can burn calories up to 24 after AFTER you finish.

Of course, I agree as I'm a swimmer, cyclist, and do calisthenics and weights but in my opinion for the OP, walking will be more "effective" because she can do it. I have witnessed many overweight people whose only means of exercise was walking, a couple graduated to power walking in marathons. A lot of people don't walk as much as they think they do, that's where a good pedometer would be beneficial. The OP wants to walk at WDW without an ECV, I think that walking is a good start and is an effective means of exercise for her but it wouldn't be for me (unless I power walk for a long time).