Walking

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Walking is effective enough to maintain weight and control pain from chronic disease. It is recommended that adults should do at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity a week as well as two days of resistance training. A survey found that an overwhelming majority of people don't meet these benchmarks. To help you get into the swing of walking, we've rounded up seven reasons why you should take up walking as an exercise.

My work involves a lot of walking, as I'm in outreach And am always out and about with the guys so 12000 + steps are easily done in the week also we have dogs so we are out daily with them but they are both old and arthritic so short and slow strolls is all they can manage now. Me and DH find ourselves, particularly weekends , taking dogs out so they can 'read the news' then we go out again for a good long walk, seems strange not taking the dogs now though....bless them.

During the working day I usually average 15km -25km steps which include climbing ladders & stairs. 9–18km .

I love it. Live in a rural location so it's not really a chore, but I do have a bouncy dog to keep me company. I wonder if you could find someone to walk with? It's a good way to meet new people. Or contact the cinnamon trust, they arranged stand in dog walkers for people who are too poorly or old to walk. Or check out borrow my doggie might be someone local who would be pleased for you to walk their dog. Xx

I am glad you have found something to suit you. I walk 10,000 steps a day outdoors but also have this DVD.

Leslie sansones on you tube does a walk at home session, apparently she is very popular, it's walk a mile at home and one with four miles , it's a fitness video , I rather like her....it's something I can do ???????????

I try to walk everyday because i don't really enjoy other forms of exercise. There is so much to see whilst outdoors in amongst nature and lots of things going on in my head to sort out. I meet people while out for a walk or sometimes I arrange to go with somebody. How could anybody not enjoy walking? Think I'll get my butt off the couch and put my boots on.

I love to walk around our neighborhood but have found it a little boring at times as the scenery does not change all that much! I learned about a walking game that has made it more fun. I pick something to look for (for example, red objects or the letter "D") and spend my walk looking for things that match. Makes it enjoyable

I suppose I might (a bit) if it wasn't for my dog. she is my companion and we have walked millions (according to my app) of steps together. Never bored with her to keep me company!

I love walking but have to have my dog esp as he dictates the length of walk depending on the scents he finds but I only really enjoy it when the weather is perfect, hate walking in the rain or mud or if time is pushed, wouldn't just walk on my own though.

I don't walk anywhere if I can avoid it. It is SO boring! I go to parks with my grandchildren, and that's OK on a fortnightly basis. I love Zumba and go 4 times a week. I also go to aerobics once or twice a week.

The golf course! But not every day 18 holes of golf is just under 5 miles so doing that 2/3 times a week is enough for me. I have several shorter walks- I live near a park so a 30 minute power walk of that going several times round is a good one.
Kacee you don't have to walk miles to get fit by walking there are a number of walking plans on the Internet. I am working through the 6 Week Belly Fat Blasting Walking Plan (on www.myfitness pal. com) which is about HIT walks interspersed with slow walks and rest days. This apparently gets very good results.

I have two walking poles but I don’t use them all the time; mostly when we are walking hilly terrain, as they take a lot of the pressure off your knees coming downhill, or moorland walking when I like a bit of extra support, and to test the ground. A year or so ago, when walking without my poles across a moor, I stepped onto what looked like solid ground and one leg sank up to the knee. I panicked and tried to pull it free and tore the ligaments in my knee. It took a long time to heal and now I never walk on the moors without my poles. Buy the best you can afford; sprung ones are good.

Anyone use walking poles to aid their walks. I have been left with weakness in my left leg after sciatica last year and it really prevents me enjoying any long walks. I can just about manage to walk to town but i dont enjoy it any more as it causes me discomfort and takes me a while whereas before i would just stride out and get quite a speed going.Wondered if a set of these poles would help.

I like a walk, we live near the Thames and a partial walk along the tow path leads to our nearest big town. I try to do that, around 15 minutes each way, more often than driving in, although the latter is necessary when I have heavy shopping. Bushy and Richmond Parks are near us, as is Hampton Court, the gardens where the maze is situated doesn't have an entrance fee and is pretty. The other two are quite spectacular and both have deer, I feel lucky to have them nearby. I always wear trainers these days if I'm walking any distance. My husband does quite a bit of walking when he plays golf 3 times a week which keeps him pretty fit. I also walk on the treadmill at my gym at least 3 times a week, which isn't so lovely but take my earbuds and try and combine it with watching something, as I go in the middle of the day that tends to be Daily Politics or even just the news which alleviates the sheer boredom of just doing steps without anything interesting in sight.

Just back from a two mile stroll through our local bluebell woods and meadows near the river Stour. Beautiful. We live on the fringe of the Black Country which I think may have an image problem? But there are some lovely parts.

Hey, this idea sounds really great and will help to socialize and make new friends.

Is there a Walking for Health Group near you? I meet up with a friend once a week and we natter constantly during 3 mile walk so don't even notice the distance! There are many walking groups in most areas and you may even make new friends.

I would probably walk more if a) I didn't work from home and could get out more and b) there was somewhere to walk to other than the local shops/post office which is about 10 mins there and back. When we had a dog we did used to walk quite a lot but she's long gone and my husband isn't fit enough to walk far.

Some people walk for exercise and some to immerse themselves in the environment. I have a friend who likes to walk but by her own admission, she is not good at noticing what is around her. I will point out some plant or bird or birdsong or other thing, and she, like my DH, will be completely oblivious to it. She will often say “How do you know all this stuff?” Because I rejoice in it and have done from an early age. Each unto his own ?.

Greyduster your DH sounds like mine. He likes long walks which I can’t do but when he comes on a short walk around the farmland near us he seems to treat it as an exercise to get from a to b! I like to stop and admire the view, look at trees and plants etc. Since our old dog died last year I have had to be really strict with myself and try and keep up with the regular walking.

This thread has inspired me to walk more. I go everywhere by bike and find that walking a few hundred yards is very strenuous. Especially up and down stairs or hills. Now I just have to remember to get up 20 minutes earlier as it takes me 30 mins to walk to work and 10 mins on my bike. I'm sure it would do my sciatica good, too.

I always listen to BBC podcasts when I'm out and about, so it wouldn't be boring, and as I pass through an area of natural beauty to get to work, there's lots of nature to watch as well.

Another way to counteract the boredom would be to go with someone else. I often see two or three ladies walking together on my way in to work in the mornings, smiling and chattering. With sticks and all. Having a fixed time to do it and committing yourself to going with someone else would also be a good incentive to go out, whether you feel like it or not, and in all weathers.

MaggieMB, I get that response. But after 20 years other villagers have got used to seeing me striding away while they dawdle with their dogs.

I enjoy walking, and often set off on my own - DH prefers to get his exercise gardening and swimming, though we do occasionally go for longer walks together. I'm lucky that we have some decent walking routes round here, though if I had a bus pass I'd have a lot more choice (only three years to go ). I've twice been told recently by complete strangers that they were surprised to see someone out walking without a dog. People can be very odd!