Do you walk / run for exercise?

[model_mom]

When I see people walking or running I know it would be good exercise for me but I never seem to have the desire to stick my foot out the door for the first time. Do you run/walk and how many miles do you go? How far should you go if you are just beginning?

 

[orlem]

I am a runner, not fast but I run about 40 miles/week. It's my opinion that it doesn't matter how far you go, especially for a leisure runner/walker. It's good to just get 20 minutes of exercise, to raise your heart rate, about 3-5 times a week. You have to always do it at the same time every day, and only do as much as you are comfortable with, so that it becomes part of the routine rather than a task.

 

[NYC_Dreams]

I run and walk on a regular basis. I usually walk for about 1-2 hours and run for about 1 hour. I'd suggest you start with walking (especially if you don't really feel like exercising/are not motivated (yet)). Just take a 30-minute walk. Try to do that as often as you can. (when you have time: before or after work/school, on lunchbreaks, at night?). You can keep walking for 30 minutes, but maybe after a while you feel like going for a longer walk? I usually take my iPod with me so I won't get bored. I love walking: listening to music, observing people, being outside and burning calories! It's really great and it doesn't take much time at all!

As for running, I'd say start slow. Just put on your work-out clothes and go running outside until you feel like it's enough. (even if it's just 15 minutes!) Don't force yourself to go a certain amount of time/miles. Running is pretty hard in the beginning (at least, it was for me) so don't force yourself. After a while you'll see that it gets easier.

They're both great work-outs. Just see what feels right for you.

Hope that helped! Good luck!!

 

[model_mom]

Right now there's a foot of snow outside and it's freezing so I have a good excuse to put it off. But when it turns warmer I've got to get started with something and walking sounds like my best choice. Two blocks from my house is a walk/run/bike trail so its not like I'll be running in traffic or anything. I have good walking shoes that are still in the box . I've made up my mind that I'm going to do it,now all I have to do is make my feet and body listen.

 

[Sloan]

model_mom - I think that we share a brain! Just yesterday I was thinking that I need to start getting up early in the morning and walking/running and then I log on TFS to see your topic! I wish that we lived closer, so that we could walk together.

 

[model_mom]

Me too. It's so much easier when you have someone to talk to and it keeps you mind off of your muscles screaming STOP.

 

[SiN]

is the trail plowed? if so, that foot of snow is not an excuse

start with walking, it's easy, and better for winter, as the clothing required for winter walking vs. winter running is not so extreme/expensive (which is my problem - can't spend lots on winter running gear).

once spring comes, you will want to take the next step, running/jogging.

I walk every workday on my lunchbreak, for ~35-40 mins (break is 45 mins) and it started as relative leisurely something to do, and now it's 'every day a little faster and/or further'.

i admit, it's easier to do on lunch, when i can't talk myself out of it, as theyres nothing else to do anyways.

good luck!

ps - I like to incorporate arms into it too, just do a set or 2 of arm circles/raises/whatever.

 

[PrinceOfCats]

1 hour walk every day and a 20 minute run. I walk everywhere, I almost never get driven anywhere around town or use public transport (it's not the transport I object to, it's the public). In a machine-age it's quite liberating to do something for yourself.

 

[DressageChick]

I walk almost everywhere. Except school, because me and my friend tried it once and it took us 1.5 hours. I used to run outside for around 40 minutes, about 4 times a week, but I've gotten kind of lazy because of the awful weather. When it gets better though, I'll start again.

 

[strawberry daiquiri]

I love walking here, there and everywhere. And then back again...

 

[gruveechik]

i cannot run
i enjoy long strolls - does that count as exercise?
i usually walk 1 mile to work and 1 mile back, every day, or just 1 mile to work and then transit back.
during winter, i have to take transit, but i work and live in the same neighbourhood, so i do a lot of my shopping and errands on foot.
i totally need more exercise!

 

[urd]

If I'm too lazy to do any other exercise, then I just walk to everywhere. Thas about 1,5 hours of walking everyday.

 

[breathe0xygen]

I love walking here, there and everywhere. And then back again...

yes! I love doing that too.
I usually wander around town, which gives me tons of exercise... shopping kills me too because I walk from place to place, and back again all over. When I get the motivation, I run for a mile and go home...

*edit* I realized I didn't answer to MM's question
When I used to have time on my hands I would run everyday after school for one mile and then try to increase the distance every half mile...
Running is a good way to exercise, and if you want to start I say start with baby steps, and when your comfortable with it extend the time or distance you run.

 

[EdK]

model mom it depends on what your goals are. do you want to burn fat or do you want to strengthen your heart. If your goal is to burn fat, i suggest you run for about 20-30 mins at 70% of your 1 min max speed then power walk for about 30-45 mins at about 40-50% of your 1 min max speed. 1 min max speed is a speed that you can run your hardest for 1 minute max. If you just start off walking its useless because you need to deplete the glycogen stored in your muscles. And also ladies you have to remember that more is not always better, if you run too much or walk too long your muscles actually become catabolic because there is no glycogen in your muscles, so a lot of that weight you lose will be from muscle mass not fat. I've always learned that losing more then 1 pound a week is not healthy.

 

[model_mom]

Todays the day, Thanks for all your help. I'll let you know how it goes. MM

 

[BrothaG]

I don't - I stay in shape no matter what I eat or do.

 

[Austin]

Hmm I just came back from a walk actually, and I was gonna start a new thread to ask dieting questions, but I guess it'd be alright to ask here, right?

I know you can't just eat healthier and lose weight, and that it involves exercise too. But walking doesn't really feel like that much exercise to me...I walked for half an hour and it didn't really do much. I feel like all I am doing is working out my leg muscles and sort of making my heart beat go a teeny bit faster.

Also, what are some good diet plans? I hated the Atkins diet.

 

[marc jacobs addict]

walk/run between 5 and 10 miles a day on the treadmill. i loove it. i've lost weight, i have more energy, and i just feel better as a whole... and with a treadmill i can watch tv at the same time

 

[Austin]

Boooo I have no treadmill hah

So i've cut out snacking at night, and I'm walking during the day, and doing some crunches at night. is there anything else I can do?

 

[Luna]

haha.. I can't run for too long... I was sick when I was little and it scarred my lungs... so now I have a bit of a breathing problem... buuutttt.. I do love going to the eliptical at my gym. I tried going on the treadmill but got all disoriented and fell off... the horror!

GL MM!