Does anyone here walk for exercise?

Since I am no longer working and really have nothing to do, I thought I would start walking to get some exercise. I haven't exercised in a LONG time, probably since my son was a baby or even before he was born, when my husband and I would bike...he's now almost 12. Bad me, I know.

I started today, and was supposed to meet an old friend that I haven't seen in over 15 years, but she forgot what day it was and didn't show up. hehe Oops! I waited for 1/2 an hour and then just decided to walk by myself. This was at one of our malls that has a LOT of walkers in the morning before the stores open.

I walked for 1/2 an hour before the stores opened and it started getting too busy, so I stopped. I enjoyed it, but I wish I had brought my ipod since my friend didn't show up. lol In just half an hour I got blisters on both of my heels. Any suggestions for how to prevent that?? I wore New Balance walking shoes that I used when I worked as a CNA at the hospital, but they never really got broken in. I wore short socks with the tab to keep them from falling into my shoes...maybe that was the problem? I'll try wearing taller socks tomorrow.

I have to say, though, that I completely got my butt kicked by those elderly people that walk there. I started walking behind this one lady but she quickly left me in the dust, and when I was about 3/4 of the way around she came up behind me again. I thought "Are you SERIOUS?!?" lmao I guess I need to pick up my pace. lol

Ooh, I don't think people walk in places like that here (or maybe they do and I'm never around early enough!)

I do walk in my local area for exercise - well, honestly, I prefer to run, and run 3-5 times a week, but when I want something more gentle or to bring someone along, I love a nice long walk

Dana and I love to go for walks. I would wear higher, tighter socks for sure and that should help, plus the more you walk, the more your feet will built up a resistance.

Enjoy!

I walk to work 1.4 miles, and when I get there I do ALOT of speed walking for 10-12 hours a day. Then I take the bus home because I'm usually exhausted after all that.

I used to, but I also wore shoes that were designed for walking. I also tend to walk an average of 3.2 mph (according to treadmills) and in 20 minutes I've walked a mile.

I'm supposed to walk 30 minutes a day, being pregnant and all, but I KNOW I can't reach the 3.2mph mark, lol. I get winded going up the stairs now.

Just make sure to stretch well before and after too!!

Good luck!

I walk quite a lot because I have dogs, I love walking. The only advice I can give re the blisters, when I have new hiking boots I always wear plasters where they rub to start with after a few walks the boots are softer so I can stop useing the plasters.

I've walked 3 miles a day in the winter and up to 7 miles a day in the summer for the last eight years now. I'm not allowed to walk right now because of knee surgery, but my doctor promises me that I can start walking again next spring.

I was to the point where I could walk a 14-minute mile, 3 miles in a little under 45 minutes over my lunch break. During the summer nights, after dinner, DH and I would go out and walk about 4 miles. Lots of stretching both before and after.

Yep, you need an ipod! I found that listening to music always helps when you're walking alone and it keeps me in step with faster songs. I always wore heavy socks. Tried New Balance shoes, but I kept falling down when wearing them....I don't know why.

Originally Posted by Winchester

Tried New Balance shoes, but I kept falling down when wearing them....I don't know why.

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See, maybe it's my shoes. I felt like I was wearing clown shoes yesterday. Every step my toe SLAPPED down on the ground, all you could hear there...out of all those other walkers...was MY feet slapping the ground. No matter how I tried to step, it did that. These are marketed as "walking" shoes, and I bought them at the actual New Balance store... *shrug*

I have some Keen sandals (similar to these http://www.zappos.com/keen-newport-seed-pearl-air-blue) that I've always taken on vacations and stuff when I know we are going to be walking a lot, so maybe I'll use those until we have enough money to get better walking shoes.

It is one of my favorites as far as exercise. For me it is a mind clearing type of wonderful to get out in nature and enjoy the scenery walking around.

Walking is great exercise, and free too! We have people walking the malls here too, and I've always thought what a great idea that is in the colder weather.
I try to walk a lot and have been aiming for an hour a day this year. It's good to get out and exercise and you don't need to hit the gym or wear fancy gear.

I walk to and from work in the summer and only to work now with it being dark on night and I'm on my feet all shift but its toned my legs and I've lost a little weight

DH and I just started walking. I have been very sedentary since last year when I broke my ankle and then had a pulmonary embolism. First it was that I couldn't walk (at all) due to the broken leg, then when that got better I was winded all the time from the embolism. The embolism is finally going away, but I still have regular pain in my ankle (which the doctor says will continue and either stay the same or worsen as I age... joy )

We have been going 3x a week either to a local park or the mall on rainy days. We have been taking it very gently to start off with since I still get winded easily, just a couple leisurely trips around the trail/mall. He used to be big into running but a few months ago he stopped and has gained some weight since we got married, so now he walks with me about half the time and then runs when we are at the park, or power walks at the mall.

We eventually want to work up to where I can at least maintain a jog, and start going every day if possible. But that is long term. Important to start slow and work up to things.

About the blisters - I wear hiking boots to support my bad ankle. Breaking the shoes in might help, but when I do wear sneakers I prefer the ones that are designed for running, even though I am only walking. Taller socks might help also. The description of the noise of your shoes sounds to me like they are too big?

CruiserMaiden has a point that your shoes might be too big. I had my New Balance shoes fitted. The guy who fitted me said that he has always fitted shoes by the width across the foot instead of length. According to him, I needed a size 10 shoe! They were comfortable, so I thought they'd be OK. But after I fell down the third time, I decided not to wear them anymore. They, too, slapped down as I walked. And the toes of the shoes "dug in" to the surface. I got to the point where I didn't think they were safe to walk in.

I bought a pair of Nike running shoes (size 8) and was very happy with them. Heavy socks. Wore them around the house for about a week or so to break them in a bit before wearing them outside on the walk.

I truly love walking. I had my routes planned out and knew exactly how far I walked from the various houses or businesses along the way. At work, I walked alone (b/c people didn't want to have to walk as fast as I was), so I used my cell phone, then later on my iPod, for music. At home, DH would walk with me. We'd get up early in the morning on weekends and head out....one route was 4.2 miles, another was 6.3 miles. We'd pick one and head out.

Never did walking at the mall...I'd have to drive to the mall and that didn't make sense to me, although a lot of older people seem to really enjoy mall walking....they probably feel safer than being outside. Whatever works.

I'm really hoping that I'll be able to start walking again next spring. I'd recommend walking to anyone.

Originally Posted by CruiserMaiden

The description of the noise of your shoes sounds to me like they are too big?

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Originally Posted by Winchester

CruiserMaiden has a point that your shoes might be too big. I had my New Balance shoes fitted. The guy who fitted me said that he has always fitted shoes by the width across the foot instead of length. According to him, I needed a size 10 shoe! They were comfortable, so I thought they'd be OK. But after I fell down the third time, I decided not to wear them anymore. They, too, slapped down as I walked. And the toes of the shoes "dug in" to the surface. I got to the point where I didn't think they were safe to walk in.

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I don't think they are too big, and they aren't awkward to walk in at all. I wear anywhere from a 7.5 to an 8.5, depending on the shoe, and these are an 8. I wore them for 6 months when I worked at the hospital, and they never bothered me, but then again it was mostly carpeting there. At the mall it's all hard surfaces. Maybe it just sounds different b/c I'm not used to walking on a hard surface?

Next spring I will walk somewhere outside, but I will still drive to a walking trail or something as we will live in the country and walking on gravel roads doesn't sound safe (for me or my ankles lol). Right now I drive to the mall b/c DH doesn't want me walking by myself anywhere, and it's getting pretty cold out and will soon snow. I don't want to walk in the snow. lol

Actually, I loved walking in the snow! DH bought me all kinds of outerwear and even when it was snowing outside, I'd change my clothes at lunch and head out. Very quiet and peaceful. (Unless the wind was howling, then not so nice!) Last winter, I even went out during an ice storm a few times....DH had bought me some Yak Trax for walking in icy conditions. I was a solid sheet of ice til I got back into work. I do have a very large golf-type umbrella and that was coated, too. But I was warm and all I could hear was the pinging of the ice pellets as they hit. Very cool.

I'm a die-hard walker. I never ever thought I'd be walking outside during snowing or freezing rain. But as long as I'm warm, I'm good to go. Last January I walked over 120 miles for the month and I live in central PA. Not too shabby.

But you have to realize that my walking route at work goes through a very nice neighborhood, so I never had to worry about anything.

Walking is my main exercise. Having back problems,knee problems, and asthma doesn't give me many options. I love walking outside this time of year, especially in the cemetery. Don't like walking with others, or I could hit our local mall (with all the other old folk ). I also walk thru my house, which I know sounds odd, but we have an older home with a central staircase so I'm basically walking in a large circle. DH got me an MP3 player last Christmas, and I don't know how I ever managed to walk without it.
When I walk outside, it's pretty leisurely. When I'm inside, I get winded. My chiropractor tells me to walk for 22 minutes at a time; apparently, that's enough to keep my knees from giving out, but enough to get all the benefits.

Well, according to my pedometer I walked about 3 miles today, a total of 6245 steps. I don't know how accurate the mileage on the pedometer is. *shrug* I could have done more, but the friend I walked with went slower than I would have liked to (which is weird for me since I tend to be a slow walker). I'll just have to make up for it on the days I go by myself when I can go faster.

I walk alot... I also belong to the due to illness and issues club it is one of the few things that I can do... I hate walking shoes(note I do wear kids shoes since I have wee little feet) , always found basketball or running to work better... My ave is 4-6 miles a day, easy to do when you do not have a car..