Saturday, October 9, 2010

Walking isn't really exercise




Thats what my husband has said to me numerous times, "Walking isn't really exercise."  Now I have to admit that he jogs as his form of exercise but to tell me that my walking isn't exericse is wrong. 

I decided to check it out and see what the difference is in jogging and walking.  I can walk 4 mph so that means for a thirty minute walk I burn 269 calories.  If my husband jogs for thirty minutes he burns 325 calories.  I walk 5 days a week at least and he only jogs 3 days a week.  So 269 calories times 5 equals 1345 calories for me and 325 calories times 3 equals 975 calories for him.  That means that each week I burn 470 calories more than him exercising so how can he say that my walking isn't exercise. 

Then I decided to check out the benefits of walking and the benefits of jogging to see how they differ.

Benefits of walking:
It reduces your risk of dying from heart disease or stroke
It lowers your risk of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, colon cancer, and diabetes
It lowers high blood pressure (hypertension)
It protects against falling and bone fractures in older adults
It may help protect against certain types of cancer, such as breast cancer
It increases the number of calories your body uses, which helps to control your weight
It helps control joint swelling and pain from arthritis.
Helps keep your bones, muscles, and joints healthy
Reduces anxiety and depression, boosting your mood
Helps you handle stress
Helps you feel more energetic
Helps you sleep better
Reduce high cholesterol
Reduce body fat
Help with overall flexibility

Benefits of jogging:
Improves mood
Improves cardiovascular health
Helps with weight loss
Tones muscles
Improves sleep
Reduces risk of stroke
Reduces risk of heart attack
Lowers blood pressure
Helps prevent ageing
Helps to build strong bones
Strengthen muscles
Stress relief
Creates endorphins
Improves your stamina and energy levels
Clears your mind

Looking at both of these lists it looks like to me that walking and jogging have alot of benefits in common.  Jogging is something I am trying to work up to but when you weigh 230 lbs thats alot of weight to be jogging with.  I know jogging is probably alittle better for you then walking but at least I'm doing some form of exercise and not just laying around doing nothing. 

What do you think about this, do you see walking as a good form of exercise or do you agree with my husband?  Don't be afraid to tell me the truth because I want to know if there is a real reason why he would be saying this or if because he is a runner he just doesn't think walking is good enough.

16 comments:

  1. My husband says the same thing...but doctor's say it is exercise, so I'm going to believe the doctors!

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  2. I walk EVERYDAY! I mean I change it up and use weights, and use gym equipment as well, but I totally agree... you have to start somewhere... i would love to be able to jog... but right now... being a bit overweight... I dont want all my chubbiness bouncing all over the place...So walking works for me! I am so glad you posted how many cals you can burn! that is so good to know!!

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  3. I really liked this post..and awarded you the Versatile blogger award. Walking is underated. When I was 345 lbs I started walking --10 minutes, then 15 minutes, then more . There was a street with a hill that seemed impossible to me. I wasn't sure I could do it and had to build up my nerve. I thought about asking my husband to be on standby to pick me up if needed.

    But I tried it. It wasn't that big a deal. It became my favorite walk. It seems silly now. I can jog / walk intervals on that hill, love riding my bike there. That memory represents this whole journey to me. I put up the stumbling blocks and then fight myself and my fears to overcome them.

    I still walk many days a week, but primarily do zumba/ kickboxing / wt training / yoga. Once a week, I fast walk for 1 hour straight just because I can tell that my body freaks out at that. It isn't the zumba or the other stuff..it's that 1 hour walk. I usually drop pounds when I do that. So yeah, walking is good. Jogging is too, but at over 200 lbs it puts a lot of stress on joints. So for me, the longterm effects of jogging make it a not so good option.

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  4. If it gets you moving and gets your heart rate up, that's all that matters. You keep it up!

    I read a book from Charlie Hills, his blog is Back to the Fridge. He wrote several chapters on the marathon that he walked. Yes, a marathon. You ask HIM if that was exercise!!!

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  5. I'm glad I'm not the only one that enjoys walking and see's it as a great form of exercise. Until I lose some more weight and build up my endurance I just can't jog that long. I see it this way if my heartrate is up and I'm sweating and pushing myself as hard as I can then I'm exercising. Thanks for your positive comments on walking.

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  6. Is walking exercise? You don't need our answer--the answer is in the excellent facts you turned up. Great job on the research!

    Some say that walking is better for you than jogging because it is less damaging to joints--and you can do it longer. The longer the cardio goes, the more benefit--as your numbers show.

    Great post!

    Deb

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  7. I'll have to check that out Debbie. We posted at the same time and I said the same thing if I'm moving and my heartrate is up then thats exercise to me.

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  8. Walking isn't exercise? Tell that to the 113 lbs of fat removed from by body by doing just that. Energy expended is exercise. If you are moving you are exercising. Do it consistently enough and you will see results.

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  9. I believe the key is raising your heart rate. When you are done you should be sweaty. If you are, it is exercise.

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  10. I agree with Kimberly completely! I lost over 100 pounds and never became a runner or jogger. And I've kept it off for 5 years. Moving your body burns calories. Burning calories aids in weight loss, and your body will respond accordingly :)

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  11. Although I would love to eventually call myself a runner, I'm not there yet either. They both have the same benefits, but at my weight, there's a lower risk of injury in walking. I already have a knee that I injured years ago before I put on the weight, so the impact of jogging makes it scream. I would do what your body is capable of now, it's still more than what we were all doing before, right?! Once I've taken more weight off, I may try and kick it up a notch, but I refuse to risk hurting my knee and not being able to do anything for a week or 2!

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  12. Walking is absolutely a great form of exercise. In fact, it has been the bulk of my exercise while I have lost nearly 100 pounds. Last year I walked over 750 miles. While I haven't done that this year, it isn't because I don't believe in it. I do.

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  13. Thank you for the reassurance that I am doing the right thing. I am hopeful that one day I will be able to jog but if not I know I can still use walking to lose the weight.

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  14. I totally agree with you, Christina, and I'm sure you probably couldn't find a Doctor out there who wouldn't agree with you either. It's medical fact that walking is one of the best forms of exercise so definitely KEEP IT UP and just ignore that hubby of yours. :)

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  15. Thank you Stephanie I always love getting your comments. Don't worry I've already ignored him....lol

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  16. Walking is the BEST form of exercise and don't let your husband convince you otherwise. As Nancy Sinatra said "Keep walkin' ..."

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