To not understand the need for "walks"

[walkingDisaster22]

Anyone else similar to me and not understand the need for walks or enjoyment in walking.
My in laws are obsessed with walking and think i'm odd (or maybe a sloth!) for not wanting to go out daily walking.
Where is the enjoyment in mud and rain? I would rather chill with a good book. Please tell me I'm not on my own?

I'm a dog walker but I don't enjoy walks without a dog with me.

I walk for probably 4-5 hours a day on average but on the weekends I love lazing around at home doing nothing - I send DH out with our beagle then instead

I also believe humans are designed to move and be outdoors and if we don't we are storing up problems in the future. So it is kind of like buying and eating vegetables, I di it because I believe I should. Plus like veg it does seem to make me feel better.

I also like to sit and read a book though!

Different strokes for different folks. I’ve always loved walking, both the beauty of walking in the countryside and the excitement of walking city streets. You see so much. I like walking with other people and on my own. If it’s a familiar walk I often listen to an audiobook. Luckily I have a dog who lives for his walks so I do both.🤣

I'm with you, I just don't get it at all.

Not alone @walkingDisaster22 !
Walking to get from a -b is fine, to exercise the dog fine. Otherwise no, I would prefer to do diy or anything else instead. Just depressing dodging all the rubbish even in the middle of nowhere.

I love to walk.

I love it curl up with a good book.

You can’t do them both at once (although audiobooks exist, so if you really want to be distracted you can be) but you can do both as part of a well-rounded life.

Moderation in all things is usually a good idea,

I can't stand walking unless i'm with a group of people and we're chatting and cutting up. It's too slow, I get impatient lol I prefer to run, but unfortunately can't anymore.

@Almostwelsh

I detest walking since lockdown. Reminds me of prison exercise. I don't mind walking with a purpose - to get somewhere.

I do exercise, but not by walking.

You have said more or less exactly what I was going to write.

Walking is something I do most days but it must have a purpose or forget it. There is a park right outside my back gate and there are circuits for the walkers to achieve their steps/km goals. I know I am lucky to have it so close, but on the rare occasions I use it, it feels like a prison yard!

There are some other lovely walks around me, but they must have a coffee shop or bookshop or somewhere nice to sit down or forget it. And they do, one particular 4km walk there and back goes down a steep hill to the river. There are picnic benches and I adore watching the swans/ducks gliding by. I bring my own coffee but going back up the bloody hill is a killer!

Just do it because you enjoy it, not because you have to. Most exercise when done because "I should" ends in failure.

I refuse to walk in the rain and wind and of course the dark.

Oh I hate walking in wind or windy rain.

I'm with you!

Love walking, can’t understand people who stay in the house all day . Each to their own I guess

I don't like exercise but do loads of walking. It's exercise that doesn't feel like exercise and you don't need fancy pants trainers or a jazzy outfit. I have an energetic dog that needs two good walks a day. I love seeing the seasons change and the fresh air always makes me feel better about life. I must admit I don't care for enthusiastic hill walking-types and really dislike climbing mountains, particularly with people who are too busy showing off their speedy hiking skills to take in a view or a beautiful landscape. Happy to walk for miles on the flat.

I am also a compulsive reader, OP. Like you, I love a good book.

@Thesefeetaremadeforwalking

Can't stand it - boring !

A walking holiday would be my idea of Hell

I take other exercise.

Very much enjoying either the juxtaposition of your username and this post. Is it irony or sarcasm?

It's interesting. I did not like walking before lockdown. I mean, I'd occasionally do a proper all-day mountain walk, went tramping for 3 days in NZ but anything less than that, I turned my nose up at.

I like exercising, I run, do daily HIIT sessions, weights & walking wasn't intense enough.

I've changed completely since Covid. I love walking now. Short walk to break up the work day, realised I live close enough to beaches & absolutely love getting to one as much as I can (I've live here for nearly 20 years & managed to be unaware I was pretty close (with a drive) to beaches). I think I have learnt that everything doesn't have to be intense & exhausting, going sit a walk & chatting to someone, getting a coffee on the way, can be lovely.

I do like long walks tho, at least a few hours.

Eldest DC loves them too, younger two absolutely hate them but will occasionally concede.

Also, I've realised I sleep better after a decent walk, than say, a really tough cardio session. That might exhaust me but not in a relaxing sleepy way.

I go for a 2/3 hour walk every day, longer when the weather is nice. I walk in the countryside, in woods and forests and on beaches. I don’t do any pavement pounding!

Me too OP

Just do it because you enjoy it, not because you have to. Most exercise when done because "I should" ends in failure.

Totally agree, @PegsandBags, finding your preferred type of exercise is crucial or it’s just a chore. I’m a swimmer, absolutely love it. If I’m reincarnated, I want to return as something aquatic!

I'm a sloth but daily walk does improve my mental health and just makes me feel better.

• for, not sit

I’m on the fence here. I do enjoy a good walk when I’m in the mood, but I also thoroughly enjoy sitting on my lardy arse doing absolutely nothing. That rarely happens to be fair. Smug walkers with their backpacks and headbands get on my last tit.

I’ve always had a dog and the dog has been my reason to have been on the walk. There’s only been once ever where we found ourselves walking along a beach to a pub and we didn’t have the dog, we both said how weird it felt 😂 I’ve now got a baby so my reason for walking is either to get him to sleep or to exercise the dog. I do running for exercise so I’d do that if I was going alone but I’m with you on the finding walks weird thing

I feel like this about swimming.

Not the question at all, but still find it deathly dull.

@Thesefeetaremadeforwalking

Can't stand it - boring !

A walking holiday would be my idea of Hell

I take other exercise.

Your username is quite ironic, then, @Thesefeetaremadeforwalking!

We are indeed all different. I would loathe a treadmill. Much more interesting getting out of the house.

DH hates walking, unless its to go somewhere, but then he finds it too slow. He tends to run or cycle to get outside for exercise. OP, your PIL probably find it a form of exercise they can do easily.

I prefer to exercise outside (walking or cycling, not a runner) than in a gym. Find being out in the fresh air more invigorating than doing the same amount of exercise indoors. 1