Started Walking

[Terk-1]

I've been more faithful in working out with my Wii, but thought it would be a good idea to start walking too, just to get my legs & feet used to the amount of walking I'll have for my upcoming trip. It's just been around a few streets in my neighborhood, but it's nice early in the morning when most people are still sleeping. With each day, I'll make it a little longer. On the mornings it is raining (which seems to be alot lately), I'll either walk around my local mall after work or around the inside of the company I work at (it's big). I do step, boxing, strength training & yoga on the Wii, but I need to get used to all that walking that happens at the World.

 

[LAinSEA]

I live in a very rainy part of the world (normally--we haven't had much measurable rain for over 20 months now!) and prefer to walk for exercise. Because it gets wet through the winter months, I have two pairs of walking shoes to rotate and make sure they dry out between wearings. I also invested in two pairs of "Superfeet" insoles for extra support and it makes a world of difference over what comes in regular shoes for comfort. Two years ago when I went to WDW with parents, sis and nieces, I also walked in my two pairs of Tevas that I knew I would be wearing most days to the parks (again rotating both). I'm glad I did. My feet and legs were used to walking with all footwear.

Find a lightweight umbrella or (my favorite) a lightweight rain jacket--the kind that fits into a little stuff sack and can fit into a pocket or dangle from a beltloop and walk in the rain anyway.

A friend who is a physical therapist told me years ago that exercising through space - like running, walking, ice skating, playing basketball, etc. was much, much better than the excercise I did in front of the TV with an aerobics video (despite my protests that I sweated much much more with the video in the privacy of my own home.) He even went as far as to say that a good walk at a moderate to brisk pace over uneven terrain was better than a treadmill programed to do the same thing at a brisk pace for the same amount of time. I'm not sure why that is, but it is diffinitely better for my mood to get outside and exercise than to use the treadmill or eliptical at work after school.

Laurie (and I'm jealous about your upcoming trip )

 

[windwalker]

I agree with you PT. To start with the walking motion on the treadmill is not the same as on hard unmoving surface. You get your forward motion normally from pushing off with your toes, on the treadmill you are more like riding it with your feet. So you don't work your legs muscles properly.

Brisk walking with your stride coming from your gluts and thighs along with a good arm swing works nearly every muscle in your body.

Walking Panda

 

[disneychrista]

Walking outdoor is GREAT! I started walking again recently and I am really enjoying it. What I dont enjoy is the HEAT! We have been really hot lately (it was 101 at 7pm tonight). Each morning the dog & I go for a 2 miles / 30 - 35 min walk. My daughter (it's her dog) and I split evening walks and those are the ones I don't enjoy.

 

[natashag76]

Hi! I've been walking daily, picking up my DS from camp. Between pushing him and his little bro in the stroller (about 60lbs combined) and trying to do at least 10-15 min on the stationary bike daily, I've lost 2 in on my hips and 3 in on my waist in 2 1/2 months!

 

[FireDancer]

I'll echo everyone and say that the real thing out in the world beats the simulated stuff on a treadmill any day. Now if that is your only option or you use it as a fall back on bad days that is better than nothing, but the real thing is so much better and more fun.

I'm a runner but 30 minutes on the treadmill is a battle of will while the same time outdoors flies by. Mechanically it is better also. You have to create the motion when you are walking, the machine creates the motion on a treadmill or elliptical so you aren't using the same muscles.

A more obvious example is a stair climber vs. real stairs. On the machine you are pushing down the paddles while on real stairs you are pulling yourself up. Walking is the same way only less obvious.

Good luck and I hope your walking pays off on vacation, I'm sure it will for you health.

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

Glad to read that you've begun walking around your neighborhood. It is such a wonderful form of exercise and you get to see things you would not normally if you didn't get out and put in those steps. Here's hoping that you continue to enjoy!

Good thinking to practice the walking before you get on vaca. You will definitely enjoy more.