To think walking is a good exercise

[Generallyok]

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?

Yes, really. That's the link I used. 4.78 calories per minute = 286 calories in an hour for a man weighing 156llbs. 156llbs is quite heavy for most women. I did say if you're overweight you would get closer.

So, what actually was the point in your post telling me there was no way unless I was overweight?

Because my previous post said that for most people walking isn't a good calorie burner. It's great for very many things but not (on it's own) for weight loss. I thought your post was in response to mine.

500 calories for an hour walk sounds very dubious. I have no doubt that anyone who eats an extra 100g bag of mini eggs (approx 500 calories) every day because they walk for an hour is going to start putting on a lot of weight.

Walking is a good exercise, and much better than sitting/lying around 24 hours a day barely moving. But let's not pretend it's anything like as good for your fitness as running or an equivalent cardio exercise that really gets the heart rate up and makes you sweat.

What about a compromise of speed walking.

When we first got ddog I dipped down to 7.5 stone! And that was slow walks with a whining 2 year old. Yanbu.

I'm a postie so I walk between 8 and ten miles five days a week. I haven't lost any weight but I haven't put any on for years. Walking 8 miles burns around 350 cals for me. More if the bag is heavier and more if I have lots of stairs.
I've joined the gym and do some cardio classes as well for weight loss along with eating less.
Walking is good for mental health and heart health but it won't get you super fit.

YANBU walking is great.
I lost loads of weight, nearly 4 stone, before my wedding and it was down to walking more!! I decided to walk at least an hour each day (on top of all the other day to day walking about) and it honestly made me feel amazing.
Im pregnant at the moment so this has slid now as I dont have the energy but I hope to start it up again after ive had the baby.

I find it so much more fun than running. Im sure some people genuinely love running though so each to their own!! For me walking is the best!!

I used to meet up with a friend at least once a week for a long walk with our dogs ,and we'd natter away,notice the wildlife, and generally put the world to rights.She the got into running,and became hooked to the point that she was forever training,trying to best personal best times etc.And trying to get me to run.Arranging walks became harder as I got the impression any spare time was an opportunity to run.We lost touch for other reasons,but I do wonder how her joints are now after years of pounding pavements.I've just done a 2 hour walk ,some bits brisk and uphill and that's my kind of exercise ,but each to their own.

Walking is very good exercise but you need to walk quickly and get your heart rate up a bit as the OP says. You can't just shuffle along and expect it to do you any good. Most people walk far too slowly for it to give any cardio benefit.

However running is not bad for your knees! That has been disproved by research. And you don't have to run marathons either, I don't.

I am always surprised at the people who say that they have taken up cycling because their knees can't take running - my knees only hurt when I cycle.

@Iprefercoffeetotea might be worth checking the position of the bike saddle if cycling hurts your knees? I suffered with mine for a while, then someone suggested raising the seat so I was on tiptoe when stopped