Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Has anyone tried walking to lose weight?

54 replies

TheSweetLittleBunny · 29/01/2008 09:18

I don't want to join a gym because I just want some peace and quiet and some space. Most gyms have TV and music and are quite busy.

I see a woman walking around the perimeter of our park every day, rain or shine - just taking big fast strides. I think to myself "I could do that" but I just can't motivate myself.

I did the Race for Life last year and walked the 5k circuit - it took an hour. Since then I have not walked except to pick up DS from nursery.

Anyone tried walking. Did it work for you? I need to lose 3.5 stone .

OP posts:
hippipotami · 29/01/2008 11:45

Well, I really hope you lose weight with walking.
I am doing the MoonWalk (half moon, 13 miles) in May.

I am currently 8 stone overweight, and am a real couch potato. So the Half Moon is going to be a challenge.

I walk briskly for 45 minutes 3 or 4 times a week. As the weeks go by I home to increase the amount of time I walk for, as I am hoping to complete the Half Moon in under 4 hours.

I feel this is a massive challenge, but without it I will forever be 8 stone overweight and miserable.

(I am not expecting to have lost the whole 8 stone by May, that would be madness, but would love to have lost at least 2)

hippipotami · 29/01/2008 11:46

hope, not home

batters · 29/01/2008 12:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ancientmiddleagedmum · 29/01/2008 12:07

I got a pedometer as keep reading that you need to walk 10000 steps a few days a week for health/weight loss. Also read that if you are walking at around 140 steps a minute then it's fat-burning - I think I have that right but don't quote me. I feel so much better now I am walking a bit more - you will laugh but my walk each day is to Starbucks for a massive latte. I know that sort of defeats the point, but it does give me the motivation! I have had less headaches and mood swings since walking, and just feel like the blood is running around my veins a bit better iykwim!

EffiePerine · 29/01/2008 12:12

Sounds like agood idea . Start off small (say an extgra 10 mins walking a day) and increase gradually, so you don't get tired at the beginning and slack off! Try increasing time of walk, speed and difficulty (add in a hill, for eg.). Small gradual changes are likely to mean that the weight comes off AND you can keep it off

Original poster
TheSweetLittleBunny · 29/01/2008 15:01

Well I went to nursery the long way and DS rode back on his bike - so in total had 30 mins of fresh air and exercise. I felt so good afterwards that I did not want to go back indoors. I even hung the clothes outside today instead of putting them in the dryer.

I was going to join WW on Thursday. But I am not sure if it is right for me. But the good thing is that I could walk there - so that's an incentive.

We are going on holiday in June and I want to lose 2.5 stone by then - that's half a stone a month starting in Feb.

OP posts:
Original poster
TheSweetLittleBunny · 29/01/2008 15:02

That Half Moon challenge sounds like it will be tough Hippipotami. Good luck with it

OP posts:
Maidamess · 29/01/2008 15:06

I walked a charity marathon ( the full 26 miles) a couple of years ago and my backside has never looked tighter. The training was great, fresh air, chatting,some very early starts but it is sooo addictive, and so nice to be outside.

Do it, go on. Get your stuff on so you can't change your mind once you are out, or wander home and put 'Loose Women' on the telly. No on has ever gone for a walk and then thought 'Why did I do that?'

Once you start seeing a change, and if you power walk you will you will def. eat less too. Get an MP3 and some mini hand weights and left right, left right......

hippipotami · 29/01/2008 15:52

Thanks sweetlittlebunny, and keep the comments about great backsides coming Maidamess!

I am doing the Half Moon with a group of mums from school, as one of them is currently suffering breastcancer. So it was our way of doing something for her and other breastcancer sufferers.

We are doing our first training session tonight, we are aiming for an hours powerwalk.
Will let you know tomorrow how I got on

Original poster
TheSweetLittleBunny · 29/01/2008 19:36

Definitely inspired now. I did enjoy my walk this morning and I am looking forward to tomorrow's. When I am a bit fitter I will start powerwalking in the park. I am aiming to be a luscious bunnylicious size 12 by June

OP posts:
hippipotami · 29/01/2008 21:00

Well, I am back, and aching all over....
We walked at a decent pace (well for a bunch of beginners)
According to the pedometer we did 3 miles in 50 minutes. I am shattered, but mentally I feel very bright, alert and great

I probably won't be able to move tomorrow though...

Go for it bunny, it is fab

foxinsocks · 29/01/2008 21:03

I lost around 10kg this way after having ds (who was only just over 14 months younger than dd so I had the weight from that pregnancy still to lose too).

I had to trek over a bridge with a tandem buggy every day to drop dd off at nursery and the weight just started to fall off. My feet used to ache at the end of every day from all the walking. It definitely worked though.

Maidamess · 29/01/2008 21:07

Hipp, make sure you stretch after your walks. And pref. before too

hippipotami · 30/01/2008 07:53

Thanks Maidamess, that is probably where I went wrong...

I don't feel too bad this morning, a little bit achy that's all.

Will stretch from now on, thanks for the tip

As we were walking we were overtaken by two women, who were powerwalking at a fabulous pace, we were very at how easy they made it look!

Original poster
TheSweetLittleBunny · 30/01/2008 09:15

Well done hippipotami - wow 3.5 miles that's really briliant. You'll soon be powerwalking too at this rate .

OP posts:
hippipotami · 30/01/2008 09:27

I live in hope sweetbunny....
Mind you, I have lots and lots of weight to lose, so until that happens I will not look elegant whilst walking I sort of lumbered last night. But hey ho, I will get there!

Original poster
TheSweetLittleBunny · 30/01/2008 09:37

I know what you mean about the lumbering. That's kind of what put me off walking in the first place. Why is it that all the people who run/powerwalk round the park look as if they don't really need to? I wonder if they started off overweight - or are they just enjoying showing off their wonderfully svelte bodies to the rest of us.

OP posts:
hippipotami · 30/01/2008 16:29

I think they just enjoy showing off

Mind you, if I had a lovely svelte body, I would show it off too

mimsum · 31/01/2008 23:17

I've recently started walking lots as a group of mums from school are doing the Moonwalk (full marathon) in May

my problem is I just find walking really boring! I'm used to cycling everywhere and love that sense of speed and my normal 'exercise' is swimming which I love cos you just sort of zone out

dh got me an ipod yesterday though which has made walking a lot more fun

Ledodgy · 31/01/2008 23:21

I'm going to start walking again once i'm 6 weeks post birth. I lost nearly 4 stone on Slimming World combined with walking last year. I'd do a brisk walk with the pram for an hour ever day after dropping dd off at school it was great to be able to switch off as ds used to nap. I stopped when I wa spregnant as I was too knackered. Now I have 2 in the pram it will work me out even more I hope!

cat64 · 31/01/2008 23:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

puffling · 31/01/2008 23:44

You need to walk fast and regularly for long periods.

Scramble · 31/01/2008 23:46

I prefer walking to the gym.

I find the trick is to alternate routes or I get bored, some days its the country park, shore, round the village (peering in windows ), river side etc.

You could add things like timing yourself on a rout then seeing if the next time you do that route getting a faster time. Or see how far you get in a specific time.

Brisk purposefull walking is the key.

Make sure you have good supportive walking shoes or trainers, cheap trainers will leave you legs and feet aching.

Original poster
TheSweetLittleBunny · 01/02/2008 08:51

My walking plan has been curtailed by yesterday's foul weather. But I will walk to pick up DS from nursery - even though it is freezing out there - at least it's not raining. Have told DH to leave DS's bike at nursery so that he can cycle back, which means I can walk a bit faster!
Also plan to do a "power walk" tomorrow around the lake in my park, then walk briskly there and back = about 4 miles there and back.
Just with that little bit of walking that I did earlier this week and watching what I eat I have lost 4 pounds

OP posts:
hippipotami · 01/02/2008 10:05

Hello, have just got in from a 45 minutes brisk walk with the dog. It was lovely, and my skin is tingling from all that fresh air!

I didn't walk yesterday due to the bad weather (dh had taken the dog out before going to work so I did not have to) so went to the pool for a brisk 45 minute swim instead.

mimsum - I will see you on May the 17th then!! (well, as one of the faces in the crowd) I salute you for doing the Full Moon, we are starting with the Half Moon, but may tackle the full one next year.

Let me know how your training goes, if only to make me panic about not doing enough!