A daily walk is so underestimated

[QwertyWitch]

A daily walk is crucial to wellbeing (if physically able)
Emotional, physical and mental. It should be promoted more but many people don't realise the importance of it.
I wonder if people got scared off 10k steps a day but even 4K steps does a lot of good.
Should there be more promotion?

No people often underestimate it and can be quite scathing about it- doesn’t build up a sweat etc.

"In nature"? You clearly don't live in my neighbourhood. 😁

I do it most days, although I sometimes don't on the depths of winter.

The problem with walking is it's so slooooooooow. Give me a bike every time

I love walking. I'd happily go everyday if I could.

But sadly dogs off the lead are pretty much everywhere and I'm terrified of them so places I can easily walk are restricted. I could walk round our estate but most people don't even bother with a lead as it's 'so close to home'.

I do have an active pre schooler though so I get out and about with him everyday even in the wet but it's not always a solid, fast walk! More of a stop start as splash in puddles, look at leaves etc.

I've been aiming for 10k steps daily since January this year. Have very much felt the benefits, and have on occasion managed up to 17k steps.

It does help being retired, but doesn't always help being 60 and having rheumatoid arthritis.

Thanks! I don't drive and given the timings it seems my shopping trips adequately provide my steps! not every day though. On State Pension I can't afford to be shopping every day!😏

I go for a 35 minute walk every day at lunch time, my lifestyle is very sedentary otherwise as I WFH. It's a bit of a boring walk around housing estates tbh, but gets me some fresh air, away from a screen and I listen to an audiobook.

If I don't do anything else active that day I can usually get to 8000 steps fine, but normally get over 10,000.

I do more active exercise in the evenings 2-3 times a week.

100% agree. I did very little walking until I looked after my dds dog for a year. I then started walking twice a day. I’m someone who hates the Gym and has to have a purpose to what I do. Too easy to just not bother before I had the dog. Dog went back to daughter, and without the daily walks I started feeling sluggish and generally unfit. We’ve now got a dog of our own, and back walking again. Feeling tons better for it. Mentally and physically.

Because walking does things for you physically and mentally that a bath doesn't. For me it massively improves my digestion too!

I know people don't like the posts they see as judgmental, but you surely don't think posters are wrong when they say that (not all, but) the vast majority of people could easily go for a bit of a walk during some of the time they usually spend doing something pretty mindless and pointless like scrolling on their phones? I know I would benefit from more walking and less time on my phone.

I easily get 10K steps in anyway without going for an official walk. DH goes for a walk if he's working g form home and just sitting at his desk all day. He pretends it's his commute. My actual commute is a 3 mile walk, which is easier to walk than to ride. A decent 20 bike ride does much more for me mentally than the same old walk to work. I feel 12 years old again!

I say a swim every day is the way to go for health and happiness, but appreciate not everyone can afford that.

I can't walk far.

I'm in a really unhealthy cycle where I'm sedentary and obese (I got ME when I was a walker and slim and have spiralled down over the years)

Id really like to start with a few minutes a day and build up and this has encouraged me.

Everything aches but it's a viscous cycle. It would ache less if I lost weight... I used to love coastal walks and struggle with walking now because it's uncomfortable but I'm realising I should try and work at it again even if it's not as easy and enjoyable as it is for many.

I need to not be sedentary all day too and not sure how to counter that when I have so little energy. I'd love help. I might start a thread. I tried going to the physio at the Dr and was just told it would all be easier if I lost weight...

I walk everyday. I have a dog he needs a walk. He loves it but as a greyhound he particularly loves to sprint, most of the time I love it too but I much much prefer the boost from team sports or exercise classes. DH runs a lot and that gives him his boost. Physical exertion is essential for a healthy life no matter what weight a person is but there are loads of different ways of staying physically active.

If kids have been in school, running around at afterschool, by the time they have have finished dinner at 7:00 dragging them out for a walk just isn't going to happen.

I amazes me that MN can't accept that everyone's life is as easy as theirs.

I agree. If you dont enjoy walking then dont do it. I personally hate baths - they make me feel drained and lethargic.

I dont think anyone is saying people should be forced to walk if they dont want to.
Just that perhaps at least try a walk instead of mindless scrolling on social media etc and many people on this thread have said that they tried it and it massively lifted their mood- surely thats a good thing!

It is massively promoted , from articles everywhere, to daily steps recommendations, to advice from GP to every fucker and his dog advising walking for any and all issues.

It can have mental and physical health benefits, it's free, it can be lovely, it works for most people. It's still not a universal panacea , because nothing is and it bugs me that people claim it is.

Go for a walk around the block/to the shops, you'll feel better. No I won't. Go away.

I used to walk loads and it'd take at least 2 hours, maybe 2 1/2 hours to do 10,000 steps.

We have a big park and the canal network both about 10 to 15 mins away and then open countryside is about a 15 to 20 mins walk away as we live almost on the very edge of town. I’m retired now, I aim to walk for one hour a day as a minimum. I belong to a couple of walking and hiking groups but walk alone as well. I have done many walking holidays. I can’t manage as far as I used to unfortunately.

I sympathise - it’s hard to get started on these things when you’ve lost the habit and can’t get very far.

I think it was Flylady who said to put your shoes on and walk to the end of the road ( or 2 minutes) then turn round and walk home. Then build up from there .

Sorry but there's no way you get 10k steps with a 35 minute walk and sedentary lifestyle 😅😅😅

So true OP. When I am organised enough to walk the 50 minutes to work in the morning, or get a 45 minute walk after work my days goes so much better.

Sorry but there's no way you get 10k steps with a 35 minute walk and sedentary lifestyle

I do, although note I did say I exercise 2-3 times a week, by sedentary lifestyle I should have sedentary job sorry. I sit at a desk most of the day. But yes I get 8-10,000 steps most days, 10,000 tends to be on the days I exercise, and weekends when I'm not chained to a desk.

Takes me about hour and 25 to do 10,000 steps in one walk, less time if I split it, which I often do, go out in the morning and then again early evening, love to listen to a audible book or a podcast, apart from when I hit the lovely fields bit of my walk then I enjoy the sound of the birds and just nature really!

kublacant nice post ! And am with you robin baby steps, you can start! good old fly lady. I first found her when she was very large and non glam, sat on her porch then showed you her really cluttered house. At the time I was really struggling and though it was super surreal to be listening to a lady id never meet, in a village far far away, it was SO reassuring to see someone normal, looking and struggling too. And her baby steps is a good one. If the end of the drive is too overwhelming , go halfway down . Thank you for reminding me this!
It’s a shame she’s gone all glam!

I usually get about 13-14000 steps in a regular day. I WFH but once ds goes to school and before I log on i’ll do a circular walk which is about 2.5 miles. Will do it again at lunchtime. Then after work I usually rope one of the dc into coming out with me again. Mostly because I have a dodgy back and walking a lot does help keep it in check. I really notice it if i skip a few days (I’ve skipped a lot as it’s now the holidays and we’re all out of routine!).
So I do it for physical health reasons but I definitely feel more crabby when I haven’t been out.