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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think walking is a good exercise

61 replies

Generallyok · 14/01/2018 10:01

Recently met up with some old friends and they are all into running. Some run marathons and very keen to get me involved. I said that I didn't really like running but do alot of walking. They laughed and said but you don't even have a dog! I live in a beautiful rural area and alot of my walks are up steep hills which do get me breathless and get the heart pumping. I'm 5ft 1 and 7 stone so don t have any weight problems. I'm asthmatic and running really hurts my chest. Aibu that this is the only exercise I get?

OP posts:
Blackteadrinker77 · 14/01/2018 10:04

Walking is great cardio, very under rated in my opinion. 30-60 minutes 5 times a week is a good goal for most people.

They don't sound very nice these new friends.

Blackteadrinker77 · 14/01/2018 10:06

And I say that as some one who runs marathons, but mainly half's due to having time to train for fulls.

Candyandpop · 14/01/2018 10:06

Walking everyday is a brilliant form of exercise. But the key is to walk often.

toomanycreambuns · 14/01/2018 10:08

Not at all, it's great exercise. Do what suits you and ignore your 'friends'.

ClaryFray · 14/01/2018 10:11

When my son started school a 25 minute walk away the weight dropped off me. I still walk it now, plus a bit more.

My 8 year old DS has a Pokemon go app and that takes us on wonderful walks, so he's involved too.

ConstantlyCold · 14/01/2018 10:13

Walking a great excercise - kinder on the knees too.

HippoPotOMoose · 14/01/2018 10:14

Walking is better than sitting on the sofa!

It's proved that walking is also good for your mental state of mind, I love it, no special equipment needed and you can do it whenever you like.

Ignore your 'friends' and keep walking Grin

Youngmystery · 14/01/2018 10:15

I've been doing walking for a week and my legs are already an inch thinner. Your friends arent educated on how good it is. I can't run either because of my knees (broke one and the other is just knackered).

Allthepinkunicorns · 14/01/2018 10:17

I walk pretty much every day its great exercise, when I first started walking everywhere I used to push my ds pushchair and I got really toned arms and a stomach because of all the hills I pushed him up. He's to big for the pushchair now but I still do at least half an hour of walking every day and I maintain my weight.

m0therofdragons · 14/01/2018 10:27

Ime runners cannot fathom why someone wouldn't want to run - I too am asthmatic and have big boobs. Running sucks and I have no desire to run marathons. Men having midlife crisis at 40 and running marathons are known for wrecking there knees (I assume women too). I love walking and do walk pretty fast (probably faster than I can actually run).

LipstickHandbagCoffee · 14/01/2018 10:30

I love a long walk,clears my head and I can reflect & ruminate
Fortunately I have fantastic parks near me, so it’s v convenient

DontOpenDeadInside · 14/01/2018 10:30

I walk the dog for about an hour a day. I tried jogging but I've got problems with my legs which mean they drive up after too much. So I've just bought myself a bike. Going to alternate between walking and cycling and hope the weight drops off.

BattleCuntGalactica · 14/01/2018 10:30

Folks who run can be some of THE MOST patronising arses around. Of course walking is good exercise. Tell them to shut up.

Glintysea · 14/01/2018 10:32

Before I
Injured my ankle I walked briskly for an hour a day. I went down a dress size and looked the best I’ve ever
Looked. I can’t run or do
Much other exercise because of various health problems but I
Can definitely say walking is very good exercise.

CrazyExIngenue · 14/01/2018 10:32

I have two herniated discs thanks to years of running (10 + kilometers, 5 days a week). I'm lucky if I can walk for 30 minutes 3 times a week now without being bed ridden in pain. Sometimes pushing your self physically isn't the answer.

Glintysea · 14/01/2018 10:34

Oh and re knee wrecking my gp said running totally wrecked his and he wished he hadn’t done so much.

HermionesRightHook · 14/01/2018 10:34

Walking is beautiful soothing exercise. I run, too, because I want to keep the cardio right up for skiing, but walking is my base. I get at least forty minutes in a day.

Independentstateofeyebrows · 14/01/2018 10:36

Running is great - weight-bearing, excellent cv workout, makes you feel good. Walking is great - weight-bearing, good cv workout if you up the pace and hit the hills, makes you feel good. Do one, do both, do neither. Live and let live.

Onesmallstepforaman · 14/01/2018 10:37

Walking is really good exercise. Using poles reduces the impact on knees apparently and increases the exercise value. And you have the opportunity to see what is around you.

HoneyDragon · 14/01/2018 10:38

ISOEyebrows has nailed it totally imo.

Independentstateofeyebrows · 14/01/2018 10:40

Running bores are tedious; anti-running bores even more so

ILostItInTheEarlyNineties · 14/01/2018 10:41

Argh they're just being running snobs!

I was running up a hill recently when a woman walked past me to overtake greeting me with a "Good Morning!"
I was too out of breath to reply Grin

formerbabe · 14/01/2018 10:43

I think walking is the best exercise. In the past, the only time I've lost a lot of weight is when I've done a lot of walking. It's been far more effective for me than gym/classes...the only problem is I find walking a bit boring.

Bonjovispyjamas · 14/01/2018 10:48

I watched a programme a few months ago on how so many people in their 30s and 40s were having knee replacement operations,all because of the unnatural pounding on the pavements and pressure it caused to the knees when running,you stick to walking op if that's what you're happy doing?I walk for around 3 hours a day,work related so don't have any choice!

viques · 14/01/2018 10:48

There was an article in the guardian the other day about how we are all walking wrongly. Sigh. There were diagrams and everything. I tried to do it in my kitchen and it would have been easier to walk on my hands. apparently the woman who is advocating this new way of walking will teach you how to do it, for a fee natch!

I do Nordic walking which is supposed to use more energy, though actually I think we do more talking than walking, I mean we are walking but the focus is on the talk, not the walk.