Walking routine as exercise?

[Cantchoosenickname]

Can anyone suggest a walking routine for me please? I have no idea how long/far I would need to walk for it to be classed as exercise.

Possibly not what you're asking but Lucy Wyndhamread on You Tube does indoor walking programs.

@Cantchoosenickname it depends entirely on your starting fitness.

For example a very fit, active person may not raise their heart rate even on a brisk walk - so walking wouldn't be classes as heart benefiting exercise for that person (just extra steps and activity, which is also good). A larger person, carrying more weight as they move, is likely to raise their heart rate much more easily even at a less brisk pace.

The key is to raise your heart rate so that you get out of breath and stay at that pace for, say, half an hour 5 times a week.

In terms of a routine, I'd suggest fitting a "purposeful walk" (ie not just a stroll or amble) into your day 5 times a week for 40 minutes. So walk for 5 minutes at your normal pace, then pretend you're late for an appointment and walk fast for 30 mins, then slow to a normal pace for the last 5 minutes.

we got a dog a year ago.
I do most of the walking.
I walk for about 1 hour 15 minutes, and in that time I walk briskly, get warm, red in the face if going up hill and it takes me a while to cool off when I get home.

Over the year, I have speeded up, so it is now a one hour walk, and I have got fitter, so while I always warm up, so I know my heart rate has gone up, I don't get out of breath on the hills, I coudl carry on a conversation all the time.
I still go red in the face though!

I walk about 3 miles.

I would start by finding a route, maybe off road (we have lots fo footpaths and cylce paths through our town, so no need to walk by traffic) Try walking 1 mile, and see. Your goal is increased heart rate, and about 20-30 minutes exercise with raised heart rate.

If that is too far, start shorter, if not enough to get you going (it takes me about 20 minutes brisk walking no to get warmed up) then increase it.

I use runkeeper app on my phone to track what I am doing, you can use it for walking as well as running.

I find that going out as soon as kids are out of the door to school, means I am done and dusted and home before the day has started properly, so it fits in better