Walking

I can never get a straight answer from anyone, including physio therapists and doctors, about what is recommended for people who find walking painful.
I am lucky enough to be able to attend a session at a therapy pool once a week for an hour, that means we get about 40 mins actual swim time. This is an excellent way to keep supple(ish) but hardly likely to lose any weight.
I wish, truly wish, my arthritis would allow me to walk lots of miles a week. Any answers? there must be many more in the same position.

Jaxjacky

Don’t mince your words MOnica not much hope for those who struggle with exercise through no fault of their own!

What Monica quoted is facts we should all know whether you like those facts or not. You can do seated exercises at home and at a sports centre plenty available regardless how disabled you are.

I have always walked a lot but didn't find it helped much with weight loss until this past year. We got a puppy and live in a townhouse with only a large wooden deck; he needs 4 walks a day to empty himself and prefers grass to do it on. I lost 12 pounds over the past 10 months taking him on his walks. Before I would do only one long walk a day, now it's 2 short ones and 2 longer ones and they seem to be the fit for me.

Those with arthritis who find walking very difficult could do seated activities to keep mobile and supple. There are plenty of videos on YouTube plus Joe Wicks is really good for motivating we older people.

I am very sad that I can no longer do the walking that I used to do, I enjoyed in particular walking up the dales and used to go up one side of the river and back down the other. When we used to sail of course, when you got off it was shanks pony, and I was happy either walking to go somewhere or just enjoying the countryside. There are good days when I can get out for a bit, but it has to be accepting that I have to see what each day brings., and not trying to measure what I do by time or length but just be glad I can do a bit, My favourite thing soon will be to go to a wood that I know and enjoy scuffing through the leaves. Love the sound of crunching leaves, and looking out for conkers.

I have been lead by professionals to believe that yes, walking is good for you both physically and mentally. If you want to use walking for losing weight you should though do it under pressure ie out of breath, walking quickly, up inclines creating pressure on your body to lose calories. Or, cycle. I have a friend who has been walking 8, 10,12 miles every week with ramblers. That's after driving 30 to 50 miles to get to a different walking track each week. Been doing this for years. Wonder if her hip and knee problems are related.

It’s not the steps or distance it’s getting up and doing something. Some days are harder than others. But the high spot of my week is doing Parkrun on Saturday morning. 5km but u can do a slow walk or a gentle run if u wish! It’s also as much about the Parkrun community check it out.

I have always had to walk a lot due to being too dangerous to drive as I cannot see on my left side.
I try to walk up a steep pathway in the wood every day which takes an hour.. While the lads were with us we were able to get to the Lake District where, before the lads arrived, we often met Wainwright the author.

I started walking more because I realised I was becoming unfit. However, I live in a town so walking is generally on hard pavements through housing, so not especially enjoyable. I am diabetic and I persevere because, to my surprise, even 4000 steps a day makes a huge difference to my sugar levels. I have noticed too that my balance has improved, though my weight is unchanged. So, for me walking has some unexpected benefits. Time will tell if I can keep it up when the weather gets cold.

I just recently re-discovered my love of walking. I am lucky to live near some lovely parks and countryside, but I tend to walk alone as I can go at my own pace and don't get distracted.

I'm up to almost 8000 steps which is good going for me.

It's important to make the most of the good weather while it lasts too...

Yes I love walking. I’m in my 70’s and find it’s the best thing for my body both physically and mentally.
I understand not everyone is able to walk but if you can I’d strongly advise it.

I love walking and do between five and eight miles a day, more on days when I’m with the grandchildren. It is top exercise for the body, brain and spirits.

I love walking, having two dogs I’m out twice a day in all weather.
I do probably 4-5 miles most days 😊

ExDancer

I can never get a straight answer from anyone, including physio therapists and doctors, about what is recommended for people who find walking painful.
I am lucky enough to be able to attend a session at a therapy pool once a week for an hour, that means we get about 40 mins actual swim time. This is an excellent way to keep supple(ish) but hardly likely to lose any weight.
I wish, truly wish, my arthritis would allow me to walk lots of miles a week. Any answers? there must be many more in the same position.

Would one of those exercise machines be a possibility?

A treadmill and/or one of those machines (don't know the name) that are leg exercisers and one sits down and "works" on the pedals.

I swear I've also seen similar machines to the leg exerciser things whereby the machine sort of "exercises" your leg muscles by doing tense/relax type stuff. You are passive and the machine "does the work".

The latter two types of machine do seem to have advertisements for them in the weekend editions of more mid-market type newspapers (yep...ie along with stairlifts, rip out your bathroom to have an adapted shower type adverts). Really cheering stuff not - of the type that makes people feel their age.....but that's pretty much where I've ever seen adverts for them.

People need to decide what walking they do, serious walkers or ambling amble. I don`t call that ambling a proper walking exercise. It is just an activity stopping at every lamp post with a dog, however I see lots of good walking on this thread

I need to get my walking over and done with, on my own each time so I do a short walk with a steep hill, just enough for my age. I much prefer cycling for my exercise, more gentle on joints. My balance on a bike is excellent, can almost be still while on my bike.

In summary, proper exercise walking is very good, ambling is no different to walking around the house with a duster, apart from the mental health aspect of course

This is some advice I read for elderly walkers:

Take small steps, don't stride
Make sure you walk with heel down first
Arms should be swinging naturally by your side- this helps balance and prevents falls
Don't look down- this is the main cause of falling. Obviously you need to look ahead for things you may trip on but your eyes should focus on the horizon straight ahead as much as possible- this also helps your eyes and ears to work together to maintain balance and prevent falls.

I don't own a dog, but I suspect walking with one would make this kind of mindful walking difficult.

It depends on your age as well, I'm 57 and can walk up to 10 miles a day, but someone who is 77 might find this too much. However, anything is better than sitting in front of daytime television.

M0nica

Walking is good for the health if not for weight loss. people who do not exercise increases their risk of getting many chronic diseases, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers, and lack of exercise contributes to obesity and mental health issues like depression. It can also lead to a decline in cognitive function, reduced bone density, and a shorter life expectancy, with physical inactivity being a major global health concern.

Oh M0nica, I wish you’d told me that before I got type 2 Diabetes, Cancer and a slight heart issue. I am now waiting in fear for all the other issues you mention, that I am not yet experiencing, to hit me like a ton of bricks!
Seriously, thanks for the info. If it makes just one person walk more, it will have been worth saying.
I am definitely going to walk more from now on! (It would help if it stopped raining though!)

M0nica

Jaxjacky

Don’t mince your words MOnica not much hope for those who struggle with exercise through no fault of their own!

Part of my post seemed to have removed itself. I wrote AI says before people who do not exercise.... onwards, because it was just that

But whether you can exercise or not does not alter the accuracy of what AI says nor justify not spelling it out in a general way.

crossstitch this is my response to your post, except I wrote it and it is on page 1 of this thread. There really doesn't seem to be much else I can say.

Don’t take offence, M0nica! I was just attempting to be amusing. It clearly failed!
I enjoy your posts. Always have, so I’m sorry if I offended you.

Cumbrianmale. I am 77 and often walk up to 10 miles, but not every day.
As crossstitch says a walk is always worthwhile and an enjoyable thing to do, whether it’s one mile or 15.

Cumbrianmale56

It depends on your age as well, I'm 57 and can walk up to 10 miles a day, but someone who is 77 might find this too much. However, anything is better than sitting in front of daytime television.

Or posting on Gransnet! Wait- that's me...

A few years ago I asked my adult children to buy me a Fitbit as I needed some motivation to be more active. I gradually built up to about 8000 steps a day which I sometimes exceeded. Just walking didn't initially help me lose weight but a change in my medication did as I was put on diuretics which reduced the swelling in my legs making walking and movement in general easier. During the pandemic I lost some weight while working from home as I didn't get tempted by the snacks brought in by colleagues. I retired soon after we returned to the workplace and as things got back to normal and activities started up again I joined a 'simply walk' group which meets once a week for an hour's walk locally followed by a sociable coffee together. Over a few years I lost over 4 stones in weight, a conbination of being more active, medication changes and better eating habits. I'm diabetic and despite the increased exercise my sugar levels were still too high so I was prescribed ozempic. I've been on it for nearly 3 years now and that has caused me to lose another 2 stones. I've now reduced the dose as I don't want to lose more weight, and some of the side effects are quite a challenge, but having lost all that weight I feel much better and fitter. Some days I still don't move enough but on good days I often reach 10,000 steps. Walking is good exercise as it is weight bearing without putting too much stress on joints while running can be too damaging for the joints. My blood pressure is much better since I lost the weight and became more active too. I have learnt to increase my walking in small ways. I often walk to places when I used to drive quite short distances. When I do drive somewhere I try to park a bit further away from my destination in order to include a short walk, even it it is just parking at the furthest point of the supermarket car park from the door. Using the stairs instead of a lift where appropriate. These small changes made a big difference to my fitness. I'm still aware that I'm slowing down as I age, but if I hadn't made these changes I dread to think what state I'd be in now.

Yes, I love walking and well done on what you’ve achieved. I hate the gym and haven’t been swimming for a long time and find walking the perfect exercise.
It doesn’t even seem like exercise because I’m with the dog (he’s such fun) and I love being out in nature.
I don’t know how many miles I do but am out walking for an hour and a half every day.

Well done jocork and LaCrepescule. I only started walking at 50 and am glad I did. It’s never too late.