is walking enough?

India
November 2, 2010 11:56am CST
Many doctors have said that walking is a good exercise. I do walk regularly. I want to know that if walking alone is enough to keep our body fit? Is walking is equivalent to the exercise that is being done in gym? Upto how many kilometers is fairly good for walking?
3 people like this
6 responses
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
2 Nov 10
Mile per mile, walking and running give the body the same workout. The only thing running has over walking is the reduced amount of time it takes to cover the same distance. No, it's not the same as the workout you get in a gym. Gyms have machines that target specific parts of your body, while walking and running are more general. As far as distance, it takes about 45 minutes of any aerobic exercise to really start helping. If you are just starting your walking routine, start with a goal of 45 minutes and adjust future walks from there.
1 person likes this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
2 Nov 10
Believe what you want, but its' true.
1 person likes this
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
2 Nov 10
No walking is not enough unless that is all you can do. To get fit or stay fit you must do a minimum of 30 minutes of cardio exercise everyday, as well as weight lifting a few times a week. Real cardio exercise is where you sweat and are breathing heavy. If you're not sweating or breathing heavy, you're not working hard enough! Walking doesn't usually make people sweat unless it's already hot outside, and that doesn't count.
1 person likes this
• United States
2 Nov 10
Where are you getting your information? I spend no less than 10 hours a week in the gym, and work closely with aerobic instructors and personal trainers. Maybe I'm not an expert.. but I think I've picked up enough information to know that even if you're fit and healthy you still need CARDIO to stay healthy. Unless you're so out of shape that walking makes you winded.. it's not going to raise your heart rate. In order to give your heart and lungs a good work out you must do something that gets the blood flowing.. that raises your heart rate. The average person should aim to get their heart rate above 160 and keep it there for at least a half hour EVERYDAY. Weights are also important or you'll lose muscle mass.. as typical walking is not enough to give your muscles a good work out. This is of course on top of a healthy, balanced diet. Now.. if my word isn't good enough.. there are thousands of websites out there that will tell you how important cardio exercise is.. here's one: http://healthandwellness.com/healthandwellness/healthyliving/HeartFitness/index.html
1 person likes this
2 Nov 10
Walking is good exercise and enjoy going for walks as its calm and refreshing and much better than sitting inside all day on my days off. Walking even around your garden and back or across around the corner to the shops and back is good to do once everyday because even a little bit of exercise helps your health and is still exercise.
1 person likes this
@youless (112496)
• Guangzhou, China
9 Dec 10
I think my walking is OK. Everyday I go to work and go home on foot. It spends me about half an hour. I already regard it as my daily exercise. I love China
10 Nov 10
Walking is a great excercise as you are using most of your body parts but the best excercise is swimming as you use every part of your body when you swim. If you go swimming once a week you will be fit but it depends how fit you want to be.
@BART78 (2927)
• Canada
11 Nov 10
well, it depends with what you want to achieve, if you want to just active enough to stay healthy and have good cardio-vascular, then walking for 30-45 min. is enough, but if your goal is to lose weight and get fit, you need more than that, you need to gradually increase the intensity of your workout to reach the fat burning zone...