Walking

I've done 8 miles today, 6 of them on an old railway that's been converted to a cycle path. In fine weather, this is a great form of exercise and as the ex railway is mostly flat, not too taxing.
For those who know West Cumbtia, it's the cycle path from Mirehouse Junction to Cleator Moor, which was a railway until 1980.

I try and walk as much as I can - I actually enjoy it. I often walk into town even though buses are free at my age. It takes 15 - 20 minutes and then I walk all round town doing the shopping. I only take the car if I have a large shop to do. Or it's torrential rain. We also have a country park nearby which is great for a long walk.

I feel pretty fit and as long as I'm able to walk, I will continue to do so. I don't bother counting steps, I just do what I feel like.

To the poster who asked about waterproof jackets, I would recommend Rab or Berghaus. I agree Buffalo are very good but the price is eye watering. Whatever you buy, make sure it has taped seams.

I’m walk everywhere I can. I am lucky here to be surrounded by green lanes and woodland and we border the Transpennine Trail and a lovely country park, so there’s always somewhere to do a round walk without having to use the car. When DH was alive, we were in the Peak District most weeks walking somewhere or other. I miss that. Walking there without him is still painful.

I can't walk distances but I go to sit fit class and move it or lose it class every week . Exercises aren't just sitting down . But if you think it's an easy option . Sit on the front third of a dining chair and march getting your knees as high as you can using your arms going top speed time for 5 mins.. And tell me if that's easy. We use resistance bands,leg weights and circular resistance bands in sit fit . Exercise standing up and balance exercises. Every 6 weeks do circuit training 7 different exercises in pairs using different equipment.
Move it or lose it do exercises sitting down and standing up ,use resistance bands,pom poms ,foam batons,balls ,bean bags,scarfs and do brain teasers.

Started a singing and exercise class 2 weeks ago it's only for 8 weeks .

At home do 7 exercises daily and 500 rotations on my static pedals.

I have used a walking stick since I was 29 and spent years in a wheelchair when the children where very small easiest way to go out as a family . But stopped using it when they where older.

The exercises classes are great as we encourage eachother and you see how everyone improves over weeks . Plus it's a social event and we laugh a lot .

My walking is hap hazard to say the least. I start off in a straight line but can end up someone's drive or into a walk ,fence or bush. Once my brain stops my body gets back to walking in a straight line .

Everyone has a way to keep fit you just have to find what suits you . For me walking isn't it, but my classes and home exercise are my way.

It's great to see so many keeping their bodies active no matter what your limitations are . 🤸

One of the ways that walking helps health is by promoting peristalsis in the gut, so food moves through the gut faster and people are less likely to get constipated. Probably applies to other forms of exercise like swimming and cycling too.

10,000 steps sounds daunting but isn’t that far. I can do 5000 indoors and think 10,000 is probably a number picked out of a hat, similar to the BMI range.
Any walking is good, especially if it’s in the countryside. All that green is very relaxing.

If you have pain. ….. missed word

Nottooold if you can’t manage a walk outdoors then indoor cycling has to be a good second best. Watching the birds in your garden is almost as good as seeing them out on a walk.
Why not try and include a short walk every other day, it doesn’t have to be far but it’s so nice to be outside.
As for age I walk with 90 year olds, but if you have that makes things difficult, whatever age.
Seems to me you are doing ok.

I do about half an hour a day, either just ‘for a walk’ or with a purpose, walking much of the way into town for shopping or for my DL swimming sessions.

IIRC one of the ‘one things’ recommended by Dr Michael Mosley for general health, was walking for even 15 minutes a day. Which seems like very little to many of us, but then some people hardly walk at all, except to and from the car.

IMO the ‘10,000 steps’ advice may have been counter productive, in that I suspect a good many people will have thought, ‘Well, I’m never going to manage that!’ so reason that it’s not worth bothering at all.

I'm 81 and I wish I could walk more but my inflamed hip won't let me do more than a short distance. Intead I bought a cheap exercise bike and I use that to cycle 2km every day. I have it by a window so I can look at the bird feeders in the garden whilst I pedal. I don't know if it's as good as walking though. Can anyone tell me?

Skydancer, I wear my Buffalo wind- and waterproof jacket for walking all year round, either with just a T-shirt under on warmer days or with extra layers when it’s colder with a neck warmer. I was lucky enough to be bought one for Christmas about eight years ago, because they are expensive.

I’ve always liked going for a walk. I’ve always had fairly sedentary jobs but a few years ago I changed to doing a few jobs which meant I was walking a lot, often very quickly so I really got a lot of miles in each week just working, and then walking for fun at weekends. Never did anything for my weight but it did really help my osteoarthritis! I’ve changed jobs again and I don’t walk as much, but I also go to the gym three times a week to do cardio and weights. We live in a small town so we walk everywhere and I have a leisurely 20 minute walk to work but I walk home a lot quicker!

Well done to everyone who walks, a short distance or a long one, it’s all good.

I am determined to do more walking this winter.
Can anyone recommend waterproof clothing? My jackets are only showerproof. I want to be able to walk in wind and rain so obviously won’t be using an umbrella.

I can only walk with the assistance of a walking frame so my targets are slightly reduced!

An hour and a half is probably about 3.5 miles.

Well done jocork and LaCrepescule. I only started walking at 50 and am glad I did. It’s never too late.

Yes, I love walking and well done on what you’ve achieved. I hate the gym and haven’t been swimming for a long time and find walking the perfect exercise.
It doesn’t even seem like exercise because I’m with the dog (he’s such fun) and I love being out in nature.
I don’t know how many miles I do but am out walking for an hour and a half every day.

A few years ago I asked my adult children to buy me a Fitbit as I needed some motivation to be more active. I gradually built up to about 8000 steps a day which I sometimes exceeded. Just walking didn't initially help me lose weight but a change in my medication did as I was put on diuretics which reduced the swelling in my legs making walking and movement in general easier. During the pandemic I lost some weight while working from home as I didn't get tempted by the snacks brought in by colleagues. I retired soon after we returned to the workplace and as things got back to normal and activities started up again I joined a 'simply walk' group which meets once a week for an hour's walk locally followed by a sociable coffee together. Over a few years I lost over 4 stones in weight, a conbination of being more active, medication changes and better eating habits. I'm diabetic and despite the increased exercise my sugar levels were still too high so I was prescribed ozempic. I've been on it for nearly 3 years now and that has caused me to lose another 2 stones. I've now reduced the dose as I don't want to lose more weight, and some of the side effects are quite a challenge, but having lost all that weight I feel much better and fitter. Some days I still don't move enough but on good days I often reach 10,000 steps. Walking is good exercise as it is weight bearing without putting too much stress on joints while running can be too damaging for the joints. My blood pressure is much better since I lost the weight and became more active too. I have learnt to increase my walking in small ways. I often walk to places when I used to drive quite short distances. When I do drive somewhere I try to park a bit further away from my destination in order to include a short walk, even it it is just parking at the furthest point of the supermarket car park from the door. Using the stairs instead of a lift where appropriate. These small changes made a big difference to my fitness. I'm still aware that I'm slowing down as I age, but if I hadn't made these changes I dread to think what state I'd be in now.

Cumbrianmale56

It depends on your age as well, I'm 57 and can walk up to 10 miles a day, but someone who is 77 might find this too much. However, anything is better than sitting in front of daytime television.

Or posting on Gransnet! Wait- that's me...

Cumbrianmale. I am 77 and often walk up to 10 miles, but not every day.
As crossstitch says a walk is always worthwhile and an enjoyable thing to do, whether it’s one mile or 15.

Don’t take offence, M0nica! I was just attempting to be amusing. It clearly failed!
I enjoy your posts. Always have, so I’m sorry if I offended you.

M0nica

Jaxjacky

Don’t mince your words MOnica not much hope for those who struggle with exercise through no fault of their own!

Part of my post seemed to have removed itself. I wrote AI says before people who do not exercise.... onwards, because it was just that

But whether you can exercise or not does not alter the accuracy of what AI says nor justify not spelling it out in a general way.

crossstitch this is my response to your post, except I wrote it and it is on page 1 of this thread. There really doesn't seem to be much else I can say.

M0nica

Walking is good for the health if not for weight loss. people who do not exercise increases their risk of getting many chronic diseases, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers, and lack of exercise contributes to obesity and mental health issues like depression. It can also lead to a decline in cognitive function, reduced bone density, and a shorter life expectancy, with physical inactivity being a major global health concern.

Oh M0nica, I wish you’d told me that before I got type 2 Diabetes, Cancer and a slight heart issue. I am now waiting in fear for all the other issues you mention, that I am not yet experiencing, to hit me like a ton of bricks!
Seriously, thanks for the info. If it makes just one person walk more, it will have been worth saying.
I am definitely going to walk more from now on! (It would help if it stopped raining though!)