I love walking. I don’t even care about the impacts on my physical health, I need it for my mental health! And it’s something I enjoy doing with family and friends 😊
Same here. I intentionally walk 20 minutes instead of taking the shuttle to and from work to help me prepare for and recover from my work day. It is my time. I wouldn't care about loosing a single pound from it, it just makes me feel better
Great video, Abbey! I love walking for exercise. I used to walk outside when I lived in Oregon but now I’m in the middle of nowhere Arkansas where we probably have my bears, venomous snakes, bobcats etc. in our area than people so I now walk on my treadmill. I used to walk 2-8 miles outside but so far 2 miles on the treadmill is it so far. I also do Pilates for core and a higher protein diet (not Keto), just watch my calories 1200-1500 a day and I can really shed pounds. The mental health alone is worth it. My husband has diabetes and we can control his blood sugar by diet and him walking on the treadmill for at least 15 min. a day. At one point his blood sugar was 550. 😳 Now he gets upset if his blood sugar goes over 100.
Travel anywhere in the world where walkability is prioritized over cars, and you will see healthy, fit people of all ages walking everywhere, living longer, and living in healthier bodies. North America is so car-centric we’ve forgotten that walking is a basic part of human existence. We’re supposed to be walking all through the day!
Very true, although in western Europe for instance people are getting heavier in general - and we do walk a lot, but I think our changing diet is a bigger part of the problem. You do also see more and more (young) people walking less and zipping around on electric steps and such. That also won't help, but I think the biggest culprit is our food. The highly processed stuff just wasn't around when I was a kid. For now our weight numbers are still better than f.i. the US, but the trend isn't great. More and more kids are obese and 30% of adults are overweight. I hope we can turn this around again.
Some of it is also culture (not just infrastructure). I find australia super walkable (I don't own a car and regularly walk for fun) but a lot of my friends would ask me why I don't take the bus or train instead of walking 20 minutes from school. It wouldn't have saved me any time! Invited my friends to my house and they were puffed out half way there. We were walking slightly uphill, that's all. They lived close to their homes as well, I would've walked if I were them! They took the bus! As an adult it's the same issue, one guy from my class (an australian) lived 20 minute walk away from campus and yet would drive in... meanwhile a russian student (from the same class) would walk 1 hr home although they lived on a free bus route. I do wonder how we can fix the culture and encourage people walking. My partner is an australian and isn't afraid to walk, but unfortunately too many here view anything more than 10 mins an unreasonable distance.
This is so true. I spent 2 months in England where it’s way more walkable. I didn’t lose any weight but I lost a lot of fat and gained muscle in my legs! My calves are so toned! Also the food is better quality
@@babygirl4949 It can feel so hard to get up and go, but once I do, I always feel better for having gone for a walk. I know 10k steps isn't based in any actual health based metric, but I like having a goal to reach for, and have been able to not have a day below 10k since October last year. Loads of benefits, but the number 1 is how good it is for my mental health to get outside every day and breathe fresh air.
I love walking to it’s my mind repairing time I just go into my own space enjoying the sun, air and clearing my mind of stress etc and no conversation time. Does that make sense or am I odd that I like my own space for an hour. No I don’t even take my phone so it’s my me time ❤
Walking is great exercise. It won't make you buff, but it'll keep you healthy and can absolutely help you lose weight. I've lost and maintained a 50+ lb weight loss with walking and healthy eating. All movement is good movement.
@@NewAc-gl3wj If they're doing the standard 2 pounds a week for weight loss, then it would be probably around 6 months, give or take a week, to hit the fifty mark. Hope this helps!
Cozy cardio helped me lose 40 lbs and keep it off for years. Leslie Sandstone's 30 minute walking workout with the pink shoes, I can do it in front of a fan in my living room or with a couple modifications in my bedroom if my kids are using living room. You can add ankle or arm weights or a ruck sack, but I have a chronic illness and usually do it without weights. Having something I can do even on my lowest energy days, makes it endlessly valuable to me.
I just bought a treadmill and do the same. I have a fan blow on me. It's delightful. I wish I had bought one years ago. Walking is the easiest way to stay in shape and burn calories.
I have been using the same walk at home app with Leslie for about a week now. It is so HOT in Arizona but need to walk so I use the app indoors with the AC on. 😂
@@kpengle72 I found it when I was bored my first snowy winter in Canada during one of the first lockdowns and have been doing it ever since! I can't imagine trying to exercise outside in Arizona in the summer 🥵
I started five days ago to go on a walk daily, intentional walking not going out with the dog or running errands, and do 10.000 steps daily and honestly it’s helping not only with my weight but also mentally
I'm 63 was formally a couch pillow and one year ago I started keto and walking 2 miles daily. I lost 100 lbs and my legs & butt are looking toned, even muscular ( I walk 50% up hill ) It's therapeutic and now I crave walking! My dogs like it too!
There was one guy on a tlc show, to loose weight he would walk until he couldn't anymore,then call his dad to pick him up, he kept doing this, going farther and farther, increasing his stamina. He even started walking in marathons, he did that in addition to cutting calories. Its a struggle to loose the weight once you get it,but saying walking doesn't count is very limiting for people who cant do more or cant do more yet. Water aerobics is excersizing because you're moving your body against all that water, while saving your joints.
@@AbbeysKitchen his name is casey king and i didn't watch the show he was on, just watched interviews on TH-cam where he talked about his life after getting the stomach surgery that the tlc show paid for. Oompaville is the channel he was interviewed on.
@@Imbatmn57 I think he was from My 3000 lbs Family. Love that guy! It's absolutely crazy how far he has come. His story made me push myself to lose my 50lbs. He has been at an unhealthy weight his entire life. People often don't realize how much harder it is to change habits and behaviors that's been with them since they were young. Casey is a champ to overcome that.
Wow that’s a cool thing that he kept walking further and further! It’s definitely a form of exercise indeed. But btw it’s spelled “lose” weight not “loose” weight. Sorry I can’t help correcting spelling mistakes!
Thank you for bringing up that not everyone has the ability to have a gym membership or enough space for a gym in their house. I've been feeling bad because people are saying walking/running is bad but it's the only thing I can do
Lately, I've been doing pilates in my room with a yoga mat since I can't go to a gym, and I have been feeling better about myself. Maybe it works for you too, just keep moving, it's better than doing nothing ❤
I don’t live in the nicest area so walking outside around my block is not always an option, especially as a female. However, I recently got an under desk walking pad and it’s been so helpful for my mental health and it’s a way to get me moving! Or else I sit at my desk for hourrss!
It helps my mental health (me time), lowers my stress levels (cortisol), contributes to calorie deficit (ok to have the cookie)....but most of all its outside! You're in tune with nature and that alone is fantastic for the soul❤
I see exercise in terms of my energy level and purpose - if my energy levels are low and I only feel like walking today, then walking is my exercise. If I'm super busy and only had time to do chores around the house, then cleaning the house is my exercise for that day. Any movement is good movement.
Yes and no, house chores can actually be detrimental to your health. Many of the movements you make while cleaning are not very good for you, some even bad. Then again, it’s something that needs to be done and if you get in healthy movement like walking, running, and strength training, there’s probably nothing to worry about. I’m just saying this because I’ve heard people wonder why all the cleaning and/or physical work they did in their younger years didn’t help recent problems they have now when I’m fact those problems were likely caused by that.
Walking is incredible for weight loss! During 2020 when my life was in shambles, walking was the only thing that kept my anxiety and depression from consuming me alive. I didn’t even know at that point how beneficial it was for my emotional and mental health just that it was the only thing each day that eased the anguish in my mind and heart. It also helped me along with a balanced diet to shed 40 pounds in 6 months and feel better about myself physically as well. Whatever exercise works well for someone is wellness in itself, but walking has always been a step in the right direction for me!
During the pandemic I would go on a walk or stretch every time I was stressed or overwhelmed and it was the healthiest I’ve ever been. I also made all my meals during lockdown and I felt better than ever. Wish I had the time to live that way again 🫶🏻
19 thousand steps is insane. For years, I used to walk that much and now, at 38, my feet are bust. I can't do more than 3 miles without pain. Overuse injuries are a real thing.
37 I walk on average at least 13k a day 5 days a week. On busy days easily 19 k. I switch my work shoes out every 6 months . I also have 2 pairs I go between within the 6 months time frame.
Sounds like you’re also inflamed. Maybe look into a diet that lowers inflammation like carnivore or ketovore. My mom went carnivore at 72 and she said her aches and pains just from walking up the stairs or getting into the car are gone, so I think a lot of it can be linked to diet.
THANK YOU! It’s been so peeving me off! Walking is great and a friend used just walking for weight loss and some light weights at home when she got stronger. Some of the happiest and healthiest cities and countries rely on walking for exercise too!
I think its the distinction between activity and exercise. Walking is a form of activity, a method of moving the body. But if you aren't notably raising your heart rate then it doesnt count as exercise. Activity is still fantastic, as becoming immobile and sedentary is INCREDIBLY bad for health. But that doesnt make activity exercise unless you are horrendously out of shape.
It’s also so important to realize that walking is a HUGE stress reliever! I was doing Insanity every day after having my 2nd child and COULDNT lose weight. So frustrating! Through a personal trainer they said I was too sleep deprived and stressed for this and my body was in survivor mode. I ended just focusing on hitting 12000-15000 steps per day (which was actually fairly manageable with a walk, housework, and chasing around a 2 year old and 9 month old!) and did 15 minutes of strength training literally never broke a sweat! I ended seeing results so quickly and felt more energetic, happy, and it was so much more enjoyable! Wish I knew about that with my first baby! Now I can add in a 2 mile run a week and enjoy it and I just do it for stress relief and to have a little me time. So much more enjoyable then forcing myself to do intense miserable cardio!
Walking is the best I do it every day! Trackers are not 100% but I think a number to shoot for is good. We all need those non-scale victories to keep us going, and sometimes distance and strength are the motivators.Great video thank you 💫
Paul Revelia completely changed my mind about walking. I feel like he gave me a permission slip to not kill my self with exercise. I recommend his channel for anyone who is looking for a less black and white view on exercise
Same! I’m so happy I randomly found one of his videos on youtube. I copied one of his challenges and did an hour in the morning and an hour in the evening at 4% at 3mph and I lost 36 lbs in 2 months. This was with eating not so well. Next will be working on eating better now that I feel so much better.
I just love that you covered Charlene Johnson because I’ve been following her for a while and I’ve been taking her advice with walking lately and went and bought myself a weighted vest to walk with as well and I really believe walking is a key in maintaining your health along with good nutrition❤ it’s good for your heart and will help you maintain your weight
I also watched that video by Dr. Lyon and was raged! Walking is good for só many reasons as you.mentioned! During the Covid period I brisk walked évery day for 30 min and it gave me só much joy! The result is that I lost 20 kg, but also I less use my car and walk more by running errands, getting flowers etc. Now I combine it with resistance training 3 times a week, to just improve my health for longevity. But rule of thumb is: weight/fat loss happens in the kitchen. For me, my goal is just to improve my health, my future (I'm 67 and retired since 2 weeks 😂🎉) and be happy! I lóve your content and no BS approach! Love from The Netherlands ❤
@@curiousduck5652get a standing desk. I have an office job and WFH a lot too.. I have a standing desk at work, but at home I stand at my kitchen counter and walk in place as I work. No walking pad needed and I can get 15-17k without even thinking about it. I usually get over 20k when adding in walking the dog and other daily activities.
@@nesh8906 I understand where you are coming from and obviously of the lies that come from the diet industry this is not the worst offender. But people deserve to make their health choices on science.
Weight loss aside walking is so great for your heart and circulatory system. Good for digestion and mental health. Walking does lots so if that’s all you can muster your doing good ❤.
Yes! I started taking a 10-20 min walk before work, around the blocks outside my building- and it had the biggest impact on my mental health, followed by my blood sugar. (Type 2 diabetic)- not weight loss, but overall I felt better and was healthier.
Walking releases all the stress in my shoulders, couldn’t do without it. Shocked to think people would be fooled to not use walking as exercise….its free! Love your work in debunking this stuff. Would love more info on increasing protein into my diet. Thanks heaps ❤
I appreciate this video. It is so hard to get healthy these days, start walking and they saying walking has no benifits, start eating one healthy diet and they say that it is no longer good eat either and you should switch to something else. Every time i turn around, the healthy thing we are doing is being criticized by some experts.
I love to walk daily. But counting steps doesn't work for me . I also put on some music and have a little dance every so often. For me it has to be fun
I'm finding myself on a slippery slope here.. I started with a daily goal of 10K, but now I'm beating myself up if I don't hit it daily. It may be time to ditch the step count and go for time/exertion
I recently got diagnosed with a sleep disorder that made all my insomnia and super low energy levels make so much sense. I absolutely do not have the stamina (or basic understanding) for gym work outs. But i can do walking, im eating better, taking more and more, and longer and longer walks, and its so, so helpful in every way. But I felt guilty for not going to a gym
Try looking up “walking workouts” on TH-cam. There’s videos that are kind of combining dancing and walking in a way that’s fun and easy to do in the living room. One of the many things that’s gotten me into exercise without going to the gym
Step by step, my friend. It's like riding a bike that's been in the shed: you wouldn't take it out and go do the Tour de France on it. Put some maintainence in, maybe do some small test runs, but you're getting there.
I was coincidentally thinking about this a couple hours before this was posted as I was taking my daycare kids on our regular 15 minute walk to the park (so 30 both ways). Since I am pushing a stroller It definitely falls under can talk but not sing. I love hearing that walking is beneficial in general and learning what I can do in other ways to support a healthy body and perhaps weight loss. I also wanted to say thank you for this channel because while held at every size and intuitive eating are principles, you don't ignore that people have a desire or need to lose weight and you help us think about how to achieve it in a safe way. One of the dangers of refusing to mention weight loss is that people can be tempted to go back into harsh diets and other unsafe weight loss methods. Here I feel like everything is very balanced and explained.
I only counted walking as exercise when I was severely obese and got sweaty and out of breath doing it! Now Im normal weight I run and do other cardio for exercise. But I still walk everywhere. Having 3 dogs and never learning to drive means my life has always been about walking. Its invaluable for your mental health and preventing you from being too sedentary (which most of us are these days!).
I used to be weirdly gatekeep-y about fucking lifting or bust. I hated cardio of all forms. Then 9 months ago, I became chronically ill and have yet to be diagnosed. Currently suspicions are POTS and long COVID. The TLDR, having autoimmune conditions, MS, neurodegenerative conditions and other shit ruled out and losing my independence for months on end shifted my perspective. After spending April and May with a cane, I drastically shifted my perspective. As I've been slowly healing, rehabbing myself, and working to recondition myself, I'm NOT above walking and love when I'm feeling good enough to do so.
Yes walking is exercise 😅 Movement is good & yes can help you lose weight. But add in weight lifting too (which Chalene does) I do not track my steps. I don’t like tracking & just go with how my body feels that day so I won’t be obsessive about it. Some days I can do WAY more because I feel good & keep going. Other days I cannot do as much & that’s ok. I’m learning to listen to my body ❤❤❤
I appreciate this video because it’s realistic and still makes me feel good about doing 5K instead of 20K which just isn’t realistic for my body or lifestyle
I recently bought a weighted vest to turn my walking (at home walking treadmill) into strength training and I love it. Its amazing how quickly your body/muscles adapt to it. I'm on 8.4kg out of max 10kg with this particular vest. Recommend! X
I just go for a walk after meals, keeps it nice and simple and i'm not pressed for time (plus it helps with digestion 😎☕) indeed i'm not really doing this for cutting, just general health (i'll keep the walks separate from my gym training) liking the deep dives and due diligence Abby, keep up the awesome work
I lost 170 lbs walking! I started in 2022 and I’m in better shape now than I was in high school! The ONLY exercise I did was walking😄 It’s the perfect exercise. I’m now walking 10 miles daily and feel great! I have got to see so many beautiful places and things during my walks and it has worked wonders for reducing stress and anxiety too.
As someone with a chronic illness and gained a ton of weight after losing my ovaries, walking was a bridge to become stronger. I do 10,000-14,000 steps per day depending on my days, at least 5-6 days a week. I can’t do most cardio because of the surgeries I had on my hip; but walking with intermediate yoga has made me so much stronger. I have lost 30 pounds in a year just increasing in my pace and miles. It also has lowered my stress levels as I seek out parks and hiking spots. Everyone’s body and ability is different.
Walking is the best! I had a long yoga phase, a weightlifting phase, and a running phase in the past, and for the past couple years I now walk on the treadmill at a steep incline and I feel so good! It also burns more calories than running for me (at an incline).
Love going on walks, always have! It's also become a family activity on Sunday mornings for myself, my boyfriend and our toddler. It also helped me to get back into shape postpartum. Hoping for the same this time around with baby #2!
I never liked walking until Covid started. Now I'm obsessed with doing multi day hikes. Walking and hiking has improved my health and fitness levels, PLUS it's the best thing for my mental health!!!
Last time I walked 19.000 steps was on vacation in bruxelles where we walked what felt like the entire length of belgium and my feet where DEAD. They hurt so much!
Walking is so great. It's really more intense exercise than it sometimes feels like, especially with some height differences - but even apart from that, if you're doing it outside, preferably somewhere in the green, it's just the best boost for your mental health. It helps regulate your melatonin through exposure through daylight and being in nature has been shown to be extremely beneficial for anxiety, depression etc. Even 10 minutes outside can turn your mood around, even in bad weather. I love it and try to do about 5 km every day, at least.
Hey Abby, i really appreciate and enjoy when you jump into research and clarify what has been well supported with evidence and what hasn't. I know enough to be sceptical about the more extreme claims but i've been reading some pop science articles lately and i was wondering if you could dive in to tell me a )how accurate/well supported it is and b) what is the metaphorical fine print on the research. First, I read that working out twice a week for 150 minutes total is "the same as" 5 half hour sessions per week. The same how? Second, I read that people who ate 20 different vegetables per week have healthier gut biomes and are over all healthier. But like, what is a vegetable? Do tomatoes count? What about tomato sauce? If theres say parsley or basil in the sauce does that count too or is there some minimum amount? The article i read said that it wasn't looking at number of servings or anything like that but I'm sceptical.
One trap of over walking, or exercise in general is the natural demishment of neat. I'm quite heavy and profoundly inactive, around 2000 steps a day naturally, and I forced myself to do 10,000 steps a day, by day 3 all spontaneous movement stopped, I just stopped getting out of my chair I de-aminated to the point my SO noticed. By the end of the week I slept for over 24 hours.... Making changes to your activity level quickly can lead to the whole system shutting down to preserve itself!
I walk because I enjoy it. I'm also nearly 50 years old & I have never driven. I pretty much walk everywhere. So I'll never listen to anyone who says negative statements about walking. They don't know sh!t
I think you should do a musical episode next :D But also thank you for your measured advice, as usual! Walking and just getting outside is such an important part of of my day. Any weight loss is a bonus, mostly I just want to keep moving!
I hate walking but I recently realised how bad I am at it so been trying to do it more. Ironically I love hiking, but I am trying to do more gentle walks between hikes to make hiking easier 😄
To me, walking (briskly because I always leave a little bit to late) to and from work, 5 days per week, helped me tremendously not to feel depressed, not to get sick and just feel good overall! When possible, including movement into just your daily commute is the best way to up your activity without it feeling like a workout.
I'm blessed to live near a beautiful walking trail - and I can say that lots of people believe in the benefits of walking in my neighborhood. :) Also, I have some injuries that prohibit most types of exercise, so walking is best for me. Just do what you can!
I think the distinction here is walking won’t necessarily get you ripped and build muscle but it can absolutely burn fat! I love walking so much, in Barcelona for the summer and walking everywhere has helped me lose weight & I haven’t gone to the gym once (:
I have a high energy dog who I walk 3ish hours total a day. That, plus taking care of my house/yard, etc. as well as my young daughters and husband, my average daily step count (according to my fitbit I wear all day) is around 28,500 steps a day. Some days I'll have less, some days are so busy I get over 33,000 steps a day. Without even trying! And it makes me feel so good 😊 I LOVE walking!
I spended three months doing 5000 steps per day and I'm pretty okay with it, and was my only exercise. Now I have an academia only a few steps from my home and of course i'm building muscles now, but I still appreciate a good walk.
When I changed cities, I had no car in my new city to start off and was forced to walk everywhere (had high-speed public transport but I mean walking to get groceries, walking to and from stops, walking to appointments and errands in a local area) - and I lost a lot of weight quite quickly. I was more than 20 pounds overweight and started to realize I was actually putting in average of 2 hours a days from all the walking, so I started watching what I ate and that combination was enough for the weight to come off quickly. I do agree it's not enough to keep you at peak muscle fitness, though - especially as you get a little older-, and it did nothing for my arm strength. I eventually took up weights for arms, other forms of exercise, too. But it very much can help with weight loss, I can attest!
I’ve started king a lot of different walking videos I find on TH-cam- I don’t know how effective they are long term but they give me a nice mood boost 🤷🏻♀️
Technically, walking isn’t exercise. It’s physical activity. Hahaha. Honestly, walking is so fantastic for health, and can totally be a means of weight loss. It’s also easier on the joints than running. Thanks for sharing. Your dog is adorable! My dog runs away when I saw the word “walk.”
I have low back pain and work from home. I got a wireless headset and a oversized balance ball. I will sit and bounce on it between calls or do hip circles. I can get about a minute between calls so I stand up, go get something from the kitchen, do laundry, play with the cats, etc.
My hyper fixation with counting steps is tempered by studies showing that fitness watches are notorious for miscounting things like calories burned and steps. My own Apple Watch has congratulated me for standing as I sit for consecutive hours at my desk, simply because I raised it to check the time. 😂 It’s a great reminder not to let a desire for perfection prevent you from doing your best and celebrating that.
I started walking long distance daily last year, that combined with better more balanced eating habits lead me to lose 25 pounds that I have managed to keep off! Furthermore, I can walk in the Texas morning heat without breaking a sweat! It has done wonders for my stamina and my outlook on fitness! Highly recommend!
I lost 40 pounds from walking in 2017. Got into a routine and have kept it off ever since. I changed my diet though too. Lots of lean protein, complex carbs, and healthy oils these days. No soda, no fast food. Minimal processed snacks in moderation. I’m 34 and never felt better. I get on average about 15 thousand steps a day. Be committed to your health, don’t be the person who continues to drive with the check engine light on. Your bad eating will catch up with you eventually and let me tell you, once you’re sick it’s a wrap. You need to do much more than walk. It’s a good start though!
Most people have offices jobs and they sit all day so walking is a way to good way of getting some "normal" movement in. Plus, many people don't have the energy after a full day of work to go do some intense workout routine.
That reminds me of a psychotherapists that told me that walking isnt exercise. She was so convinced about that. And i found myself flabbergasted by that. I told her that it is exercise for people being extremely overweight. I can see her not benefitting as much as a muscular thin woman but damn did walking change my life and let me lose weight.
Honestly, walking is great, and I live in a walkable city so walk a lot by default without trying, but it just doesn’t give me the benefits that other activities that raise my heart rate, especially running. I understand not everybody is physically able to run, but if you have nothing stopping you, why not do more than just walking to get the additional benefits?
Would love a video on under desk treadmills & its alleged benefits since that type of walking is generally much slower & potentially much longer than a regular daily brisk walk.
When I first saw your Fitbit video I thought this is crazy I just love my Fitbit, I'm never quitting!!! Last year my fitbit broke down and I decided not buying another and funny enough, I feel so free right now. How many steps I do everyday? I have no idea, but it's ok 💖
I saw Chalene's video recently and really enjoyed it, this was a good complement! I have to say (anecdotally) that personally the thinnest I have ever been in my life (note I didn't say muscular or fit!) was when I walked A LOT. There are two specific times in my life that I have lost a lot of weight, and of course I was much younger then, but during those times, I never changed my diet, in fact I was probably eating terribly because the first time I was in high school and the second time I was in college (and drank on weekends) and both times I lost a ton of weight by walking 30-45min twice per day. Each time I started from a place of being super sedentary to walking 5 days per week minimum. But I do think that if I were to do it again now that I am much older I would definitely need to watch my diet a lot more for a similar effect. But just sayin' - walking is amazing and can transform your body.
I stayed the same weight for 15 years despite dancing basically full time for all of it, because when you push that hard your body demands a lot of food to fuel it. When I was recovering from illness and started going for a walk every day, I lost a chunk of the weight I'd put on during the illness because, while I was moving more than I had been, it wasn't with the sort of intensity that massively ramped up my appetite. I also really grew to appreciate going for a walk after being too ill to manage a proper walk for several years!
Walking is amazing! I walk 2 to 10 miles a day with my dogs. I also recently got into running again while walking after and it has really cut down on my soreness with running. I also lost a lot of weight from biking. If I can I choose to bike over driving now because I am having such a blast!
For me its not about weight loss but about feeling better. To achieve that ive been trying to add different things to reduce my lower back and hip pain. Ive tried weight lifting in an attempt to strength muscles to help my pain. It sorta worked but i never stuck to it cause it felt like a chore. Ive tried indoor cycling but all that did was aggravate my sciatica. Finally i tried simply walking. I bought a small walking pad to start walking. I even taped up a paper monthly calendar to the wall in front of me so i could check off my completed days. After one month of walking 4 days a week (20min/day) i found i had less back and hip pain. It still flares up every now and again but on average its sooo much less before i started walking. The reduced pain is all the motivation i need to keep going
I love walking. I can walk for hours. I have a job that requires lots of walking as well. I have chronic illness so walking is often all I can do. Cardio is off the table for me bc of my illness. Cardio plus pilates and sone strength training keeps me as healthy as I can be.
When I lost the most weight was when I started walking on my treadmill everyday. I put it on a high incline and walked fast enough that it elevated my heart rate. I didn't eliminate any food groups. I only eliminated soda, and I even ate a smart ones brownie every single day. I lost 40 lbs in 6 months. Now about 10 years later I'm starting up again. Slowly but surely I'm losing weight.
@@NewAc-gl3wj I started off slowly. First 20 minutes a day, after a couple of days of that I went for 30, and then 45 everyday, which is usually where I stay at.
I walk about 25k steps per day while on vacation. Basically just walk everywhere and take my time not only to be, but also taking the time to get there is such a great feeling. I do walk on good shoes and I am not interested in gaining nor losing weight
Walking is definitely amazing, especially if you include some more challenging walks or hikes and especially on rest days or days when you just don’t feel fit enough for more. I aim for at least 10,000 steps on average, that works for me and feels good, but I also include my running in that. However, I count walking more as movement, not as a workout, unless it’s a very challenging hike. Cardio training (in my case running and sometimes dancing) as well as strength training is very important and beneficial for health, so I make sure to stick to my workout routine as well. Any doctor will tell you that, so if you can include cardio (so important for heart health, even though so many people skip it completely) and strength, do so! If you’re not yet there, though, or simply can’t do harder exercises, walking is the way to go.
The daily walk is often my favourite part of the day. But now my dog is old (14) we go much slower and less far, and I can feel a negative impact on my mental health as a result. I think I have to get out of the mindset that walks always have to include my fur bestie 😥
@@TLRyder591 interesting. She's 16kg, so it'd need to be a big one! I do have a backpack for her which we got for longer hikes. Maybe I just need to use it more often! (And get extra benefits from the walk for carrying her weight)
fast walking like she says is amazing, love it! I can burn up to 400 calories just fast walking 40 minutes. Walking fast helped finally gain the confidence to jog again bc I was afraid of doing it from zero. Love love walking, low impact, not that exhausting yet it makes you sweat and works your arms and glutes as well! Totally recommend it for anybody who wants to start cardio. In case you don't have time to do it just for "exercise", try doing it to get places, make it a functional part of your day! Last time I fast walked and jogged 8km just to get cookies from a bakery (mother's day present). It was amazing, I felt so good after doing it. the longer I fast walked the easier it felt to just start jogging to get to my destination fasting! Of course, diet is key to lose weight BUT, adding exercise will help you too!
My dad did 2023 km walking in 2023. He lost weight and his leg muscles got stronger. His friends know he can text him for a walk in mornings or evenings. His social life has improved as well.This is easier for older people
I started walking between 30-60 minutes four times a week on my treadmill, often adding inclines and it helped me (along with a much healthier diet) to lose 30 pounds AFTER menopause wrecked my metabolism. I lost six inches from my waistline too!! Walking IS exercise for sure.
I've lost weight the past few months just by walking, and not even a lot (around 8,000 steps) no major diet changes. Indoor walking workouts on TH-cam have been a godsend, as I'm trapped in my small apartment after my toddler goes to bed at 6:30....(I'm the only parent). I'd love to get back to strength training at some point!
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I love walking. I don’t even care about the impacts on my physical health, I need it for my mental health! And it’s something I enjoy doing with family and friends 😊
Yes it does wonders for my mental health. It’s my personal time to myself.
Best way to clear your head
Same here. I intentionally walk 20 minutes instead of taking the shuttle to and from work to help me prepare for and recover from my work day. It is my time. I wouldn't care about loosing a single pound from it, it just makes me feel better
Great video, Abbey!
I love walking for exercise. I used to walk outside when I lived in Oregon but now I’m in the middle of nowhere Arkansas where we probably have my bears, venomous snakes, bobcats etc. in our area than people so I now walk on my treadmill. I used to walk 2-8 miles outside but so far 2 miles on the treadmill is it so far. I also do Pilates for core and a higher protein diet (not Keto), just watch my calories 1200-1500 a day and I can really shed pounds. The mental health alone is worth it.
My husband has diabetes and we can control his blood sugar by diet and him walking on the treadmill for at least 15 min. a day. At one point his blood sugar was 550. 😳 Now he gets upset if his blood sugar goes over 100.
Same here!
Travel anywhere in the world where walkability is prioritized over cars, and you will see healthy, fit people of all ages walking everywhere, living longer, and living in healthier bodies. North America is so car-centric we’ve forgotten that walking is a basic part of human existence. We’re supposed to be walking all through the day!
such a good point!
Very true, although in western Europe for instance people are getting heavier in general - and we do walk a lot, but I think our changing diet is a bigger part of the problem. You do also see more and more (young) people walking less and zipping around on electric steps and such. That also won't help, but I think the biggest culprit is our food. The highly processed stuff just wasn't around when I was a kid. For now our weight numbers are still better than f.i. the US, but the trend isn't great. More and more kids are obese and 30% of adults are overweight. I hope we can turn this around again.
Some of it is also culture (not just infrastructure). I find australia super walkable (I don't own a car and regularly walk for fun) but a lot of my friends would ask me why I don't take the bus or train instead of walking 20 minutes from school. It wouldn't have saved me any time! Invited my friends to my house and they were puffed out half way there. We were walking slightly uphill, that's all. They lived close to their homes as well, I would've walked if I were them! They took the bus!
As an adult it's the same issue, one guy from my class (an australian) lived 20 minute walk away from campus and yet would drive in... meanwhile a russian student (from the same class) would walk 1 hr home although they lived on a free bus route.
I do wonder how we can fix the culture and encourage people walking. My partner is an australian and isn't afraid to walk, but unfortunately too many here view anything more than 10 mins an unreasonable distance.
This is true. Just returned from Greece and we walked everywhere. It was great .
This is so true. I spent 2 months in England where it’s way more walkable. I didn’t lose any weight but I lost a lot of fat and gained muscle in my legs! My calves are so toned! Also the food is better quality
I love walking it's my favorite form of exercise I never have a day I don't want to walk and it helped me lose over 60lbs 🙏💯♥️ Never gonna quit☺️
Amazing!! One of my fave forms of exercise too
Me too I can be dead tired and don’t want to do anything else but I get up and walk for 30 min to an hr without any effort
@@liberallioness4335 same. I could easily take public transport...but i choose to walk...its imperative to my mental health.
@@babygirl4949 It can feel so hard to get up and go, but once I do, I always feel better for having gone for a walk. I know 10k steps isn't based in any actual health based metric, but I like having a goal to reach for, and have been able to not have a day below 10k since October last year. Loads of benefits, but the number 1 is how good it is for my mental health to get outside every day and breathe fresh air.
I love walking to it’s my mind repairing time I just go into my own space enjoying the sun, air and clearing my mind of stress etc and no conversation time. Does that make sense or am I odd that I like my own space for an hour. No I don’t even take my phone so it’s my me time ❤
Walking is great exercise. It won't make you buff, but it'll keep you healthy and can absolutely help you lose weight. I've lost and maintained a 50+ lb weight loss with walking and healthy eating. All movement is good movement.
Yup!
In how many months did you lose 50+ lbs?
@@NewAc-gl3wj If they're doing the standard 2 pounds a week for weight loss, then it would be probably around 6 months, give or take a week, to hit the fifty mark. Hope this helps!
When she said “adding a weighted vest” I laughed because I’m listening to this while I walk around the house with my baby in the carrier 😆
Walking when carrying my work backpack (with laptop, drink bottle, etc.) - weighted vest on a budget XD
Yes! lol and you get that progressive overload as they slowly get bigger!
Haha yep, there’s your weighted vest! The rest of us have to improvise though!
@@vtheory7531I walk to the grocery store and come back with a heavy backpack and bags. That works.
Why are breeders like this 🙄🙄🙄🙄
Cozy cardio helped me lose 40 lbs and keep it off for years. Leslie Sandstone's 30 minute walking workout with the pink shoes, I can do it in front of a fan in my living room or with a couple modifications in my bedroom if my kids are using living room. You can add ankle or arm weights or a ruck sack, but I have a chronic illness and usually do it without weights. Having something I can do even on my lowest energy days, makes it endlessly valuable to me.
I just bought a treadmill and do the same. I have a fan blow on me. It's delightful. I wish I had bought one years ago. Walking is the easiest way to stay in shape and burn calories.
I have been using the same walk at home app with Leslie for about a week now. It is so HOT in Arizona but need to walk so I use the app indoors with the AC on. 😂
@@kpengle72 I found it when I was bored my first snowy winter in Canada during one of the first lockdowns and have been doing it ever since! I can't imagine trying to exercise outside in Arizona in the summer 🥵
I love Leslie Sansone!
Me too! Love walk at home!
I started five days ago to go on a walk daily, intentional walking not going out with the dog or running errands, and do 10.000 steps daily and honestly it’s helping not only with my weight but also mentally
so many mental health benefits
I'm 63 was formally a couch pillow and one year ago I started keto and walking 2 miles daily.
I lost 100 lbs and my legs & butt are looking toned, even muscular ( I walk 50% up hill )
It's therapeutic and now I crave walking!
My dogs like it too!
Keto and zone 2 training 👍awesome
There was one guy on a tlc show, to loose weight he would walk until he couldn't anymore,then call his dad to pick him up, he kept doing this, going farther and farther, increasing his stamina. He even started walking in marathons, he did that in addition to cutting calories. Its a struggle to loose the weight once you get it,but saying walking doesn't count is very limiting for people who cant do more or cant do more yet. Water aerobics is excersizing because you're moving your body against all that water, while saving your joints.
what show is this?!
@@AbbeysKitchen his name is casey king and i didn't watch the show he was on, just watched interviews on TH-cam where he talked about his life after getting the stomach surgery that the tlc show paid for. Oompaville is the channel he was interviewed on.
@@Imbatmn57 I think he was from My 3000 lbs Family. Love that guy! It's absolutely crazy how far he has come. His story made me push myself to lose my 50lbs.
He has been at an unhealthy weight his entire life. People often don't realize how much harder it is to change habits and behaviors that's been with them since they were young. Casey is a champ to overcome that.
Wow that’s a cool thing that he kept walking further and further! It’s definitely a form of exercise indeed. But btw it’s spelled “lose” weight not “loose” weight. Sorry I can’t help correcting spelling mistakes!
@@VKatespecially this word! For some reason this mistake has become ubiquitous.
Thank you for bringing up that not everyone has the ability to have a gym membership or enough space for a gym in their house. I've been feeling bad because people are saying walking/running is bad but it's the only thing I can do
Lately, I've been doing pilates in my room with a yoga mat since I can't go to a gym, and I have been feeling better about myself. Maybe it works for you too, just keep moving, it's better than doing nothing ❤
I don’t live in the nicest area so walking outside around my block is not always an option, especially as a female. However, I recently got an under desk walking pad and it’s been so helpful for my mental health and it’s a way to get me moving! Or else I sit at my desk for hourrss!
can always walk around your house/ apartment. 98 outside and just finished 30 minute in by cool basement
Same!! I love my walking treadmill - especially for the safety aspect! X
It helps my mental health (me time), lowers my stress levels (cortisol), contributes to calorie deficit (ok to have the cookie)....but most of all its outside! You're in tune with nature and that alone is fantastic for the soul❤
I see exercise in terms of my energy level and purpose - if my energy levels are low and I only feel like walking today, then walking is my exercise. If I'm super busy and only had time to do chores around the house, then cleaning the house is my exercise for that day. Any movement is good movement.
Yes and no, house chores can actually be detrimental to your health. Many of the movements you make while cleaning are not very good for you, some even bad. Then again, it’s something that needs to be done and if you get in healthy movement like walking, running, and strength training, there’s probably nothing to worry about.
I’m just saying this because I’ve heard people wonder why all the cleaning and/or physical work they did in their younger years didn’t help recent problems they have now when I’m fact those problems were likely caused by that.
I started walking while working. I'm a crocheter full-time and have been SO productive walking my cul-de-sac everyday while crocheting👏
Fun! Good for you!
Walking is incredible for weight loss! During 2020 when my life was in shambles, walking was the only thing that kept my anxiety and depression from consuming me alive. I didn’t even know at that point how beneficial it was for my emotional and mental health just that it was the only thing each day that eased the anguish in my mind and heart. It also helped me along with a balanced diet to shed 40 pounds in 6 months and feel better about myself physically as well. Whatever exercise works well for someone is wellness in itself, but walking has always been a step in the right direction for me!
Good on you 👏 walking is the best medicine ❤and it's accessible for every able bodied person.
During the pandemic I would go on a walk or stretch every time I was stressed or overwhelmed and it was the healthiest I’ve ever been. I also made all my meals during lockdown and I felt better than ever. Wish I had the time to live that way again 🫶🏻
19 thousand steps is insane. For years, I used to walk that much and now, at 38, my feet are bust. I can't do more than 3 miles without pain. Overuse injuries are a real thing.
Same! I hiked/walked/ran 8-10 miles a day for six years until I broke. I was totally hobbled and had to stop. Now I max out at around 3.
Orthotics
37 I walk on average at least 13k a day 5 days a week. On busy days easily 19 k. I switch my work shoes out every 6 months . I also have 2 pairs I go between within the 6 months time frame.
I am 46 and have been walking 6-10 miles everyday for the last 17 years. The shoes you wear and how often you replace them is VERY important.
Sounds like you’re also inflamed. Maybe look into a diet that lowers inflammation like carnivore or ketovore. My mom went carnivore at 72 and she said her aches and pains just from walking up the stairs or getting into the car are gone, so I think a lot of it can be linked to diet.
THANK YOU! It’s been so peeving me off! Walking is great and a friend used just walking for weight loss and some light weights at home when she got stronger. Some of the happiest and healthiest cities and countries rely on walking for exercise too!
I think its the distinction between activity and exercise.
Walking is a form of activity, a method of moving the body. But if you aren't notably raising your heart rate then it doesnt count as exercise.
Activity is still fantastic, as becoming immobile and sedentary is INCREDIBLY bad for health. But that doesnt make activity exercise unless you are horrendously out of shape.
It’s also so important to realize that walking is a HUGE stress reliever! I was doing Insanity every day after having my 2nd child and COULDNT lose weight. So frustrating! Through a personal trainer they said I was too sleep deprived and stressed for this and my body was in survivor mode. I ended just focusing on hitting 12000-15000 steps per day (which was actually fairly manageable with a walk, housework, and chasing around a 2 year old and 9 month old!) and did 15 minutes of strength training literally never broke a sweat! I ended seeing results so quickly and felt more energetic, happy, and it was so much more enjoyable! Wish I knew about that with my first baby! Now I can add in a 2 mile run a week and enjoy it and I just do it for stress relief and to have a little me time. So much more enjoyable then forcing myself to do intense miserable cardio!
Walking helped me lower my blood pressure from 151/115 to 130/80 in a month of 10,000 steps a day. Its exercise!
Walking is the best I do it every day! Trackers are not 100% but I think a number to shoot for is good. We all need those non-scale victories to keep us going, and sometimes distance and strength are the motivators.Great video thank you 💫
Paul Revelia completely changed my mind about walking. I feel like he gave me a permission slip to not kill my self with exercise. I recommend his channel for anyone who is looking for a less black and white view on exercise
Same! I’m so happy I randomly found one of his videos on youtube. I copied one of his challenges and did an hour in the morning and an hour in the evening at 4% at 3mph and I lost 36 lbs in 2 months. This was with eating not so well. Next will be working on eating better now that I feel so much better.
I just love that you covered Charlene Johnson because I’ve been following her for a while and I’ve been taking her advice with walking lately and went and bought myself a weighted vest to walk with as well and I really believe walking is a key in maintaining your health along with good nutrition❤ it’s good for your heart and will help you maintain your weight
oh dang…I forgot about Chalene Johnson. I used to do Turbo Jam back in the day.
Walking is probably the most accessible and versatile. It's very beginner-friendly to still being recommended and done by advanced lifters.
I also watched that video by Dr. Lyon and was raged! Walking is good for só many reasons as you.mentioned! During the Covid period I brisk walked évery day for 30 min and it gave me só much joy! The result is that I lost 20 kg, but also I less use my car and walk more by running errands, getting flowers etc. Now I combine it with resistance training 3 times a week, to just improve my health for longevity. But rule of thumb is: weight/fat loss happens in the kitchen. For me, my goal is just to improve my health, my future (I'm 67 and retired since 2 weeks 😂🎉) and be happy! I lóve your content and no BS approach! Love from The Netherlands ❤
I come from a background of disordered eating and overexercising. I used to be a HIIT junkie. Now all I do is lift, walk, and yoga.
Same.. but I'm now finding myself being hard on myself if I don't hit my 10K daily goal. :/
How am I just now learning that 10k steps was all marketing?!? I've believed this my entire life (I'm 30) Wow. Thank you for your work ❤
It's way too many for me, anyway, working from home I hardly get any unless I intentionally go out of my way to walk
@@curiousduck5652get a standing desk. I have an office job and WFH a lot too.. I have a standing desk at work, but at home I stand at my kitchen counter and walk in place as I work. No walking pad needed and I can get 15-17k without even thinking about it. I usually get over 20k when adding in walking the dog and other daily activities.
If you're interested in learning more about the history of 10K steps, I recommend the Maintenance Phase podcast episode on it!
Honestly, so what if it is? IMHO, getting people moving is always a good thing, no matter what.
@@nesh8906 I understand where you are coming from and obviously of the lies that come from the diet industry this is not the worst offender. But people deserve to make their health choices on science.
Weight loss aside walking is so great for your heart and circulatory system. Good for digestion and mental health. Walking does lots so if that’s all you can muster your doing good ❤.
Yes! I started taking a 10-20 min walk before work, around the blocks outside my building- and it had the biggest impact on my mental health, followed by my blood sugar. (Type 2 diabetic)- not weight loss, but overall I felt better and was healthier.
Walking releases all the stress in my shoulders, couldn’t do without it. Shocked to think people would be fooled to not use walking as exercise….its free! Love your work in debunking this stuff. Would love more info on increasing protein into my diet. Thanks heaps ❤
I’m newly diagnosed with PCOS. Walking 3-5xs a week for 2-3 miles has been a game changer!!!🚶🏾♀️
I appreciate this video. It is so hard to get healthy these days, start walking and they saying walking has no benifits, start eating one healthy diet and they say that it is no longer good eat either and you should switch to something else. Every time i turn around, the healthy thing we are doing is being criticized by some experts.
I love to walk daily. But counting steps doesn't work for me . I also put on some music and have a little dance every so often. For me it has to be fun
I'm finding myself on a slippery slope here.. I started with a daily goal of 10K, but now I'm beating myself up if I don't hit it daily. It may be time to ditch the step count and go for time/exertion
I recently got diagnosed with a sleep disorder that made all my insomnia and super low energy levels make so much sense. I absolutely do not have the stamina (or basic understanding) for gym work outs. But i can do walking, im eating better, taking more and more, and longer and longer walks, and its so, so helpful in every way. But I felt guilty for not going to a gym
If walking is what you're able to do, that's amazing!! The gym is not the only way to get in activity
Try looking up “walking workouts” on TH-cam. There’s videos that are kind of combining dancing and walking in a way that’s fun and easy to do in the living room. One of the many things that’s gotten me into exercise without going to the gym
Step by step, my friend. It's like riding a bike that's been in the shed: you wouldn't take it out and go do the Tour de France on it. Put some maintainence in, maybe do some small test runs, but you're getting there.
I was coincidentally thinking about this a couple hours before this was posted as I was taking my daycare kids on our regular 15 minute walk to the park (so 30 both ways). Since I am pushing a stroller It definitely falls under can talk but not sing. I love hearing that walking is beneficial in general and learning what I can do in other ways to support a healthy body and perhaps weight loss.
I also wanted to say thank you for this channel because while held at every size and intuitive eating are principles, you don't ignore that people have a desire or need to lose weight and you help us think about how to achieve it in a safe way. One of the dangers of refusing to mention weight loss is that people can be tempted to go back into harsh diets and other unsafe weight loss methods. Here I feel like everything is very balanced and explained.
I only counted walking as exercise when I was severely obese and got sweaty and out of breath doing it! Now Im normal weight I run and do other cardio for exercise.
But I still walk everywhere. Having 3 dogs and never learning to drive means my life has always been about walking. Its invaluable for your mental health and preventing you from being too sedentary (which most of us are these days!).
I used to be weirdly gatekeep-y about fucking lifting or bust. I hated cardio of all forms. Then 9 months ago, I became chronically ill and have yet to be diagnosed. Currently suspicions are POTS and long COVID. The TLDR, having autoimmune conditions, MS, neurodegenerative conditions and other shit ruled out and losing my independence for months on end shifted my perspective. After spending April and May with a cane, I drastically shifted my perspective. As I've been slowly healing, rehabbing myself, and working to recondition myself, I'm NOT above walking and love when I'm feeling good enough to do so.
Yes walking is exercise 😅 Movement is good & yes can help you lose weight. But add in weight lifting too (which Chalene does) I do not track my steps. I don’t like tracking & just go with how my body feels that day so I won’t be obsessive about it. Some days I can do WAY more because I feel good & keep going. Other days I cannot do as much & that’s ok. I’m learning to listen to my body ❤❤❤
❤❤❤❤ thank you for the inspiration
I like a variety of working out from walking, running, hiking, swimming, kayaking and HIIT!! I am open as long as I feel good afterwards.
Chalene is awesome. I’m older, so I love having a TH-camr giving me advice that’s closer to my age. Also-Thanks for the work you do Abby!!!
I appreciate this video because it’s realistic and still makes me feel good about doing 5K instead of 20K which just isn’t realistic for my body or lifestyle
I recently bought a weighted vest to turn my walking (at home walking treadmill) into strength training and I love it. Its amazing how quickly your body/muscles adapt to it. I'm on 8.4kg out of max 10kg with this particular vest. Recommend! X
I just go for a walk after meals, keeps it nice and simple and i'm not pressed for time (plus it helps with digestion 😎☕) indeed i'm not really doing this for cutting, just general health (i'll keep the walks separate from my gym training) liking the deep dives and due diligence Abby, keep up the awesome work
I lost 170 lbs walking! I started in 2022 and I’m in better shape now than I was in high school! The ONLY exercise I did was walking😄 It’s the perfect exercise. I’m now walking 10 miles daily and feel great! I have got to see so many beautiful places and things during my walks and it has worked wonders for reducing stress and anxiety too.
As someone with a chronic illness and gained a ton of weight after losing my ovaries, walking was a bridge to become stronger. I do 10,000-14,000 steps per day depending on my days, at least 5-6 days a week. I can’t do most cardio because of the surgeries I had on my hip; but walking with intermediate yoga has made me so much stronger. I have lost 30 pounds in a year just increasing in my pace and miles. It also has lowered my stress levels as I seek out parks and hiking spots. Everyone’s body and ability is different.
Walking is the best! I had a long yoga phase, a weightlifting phase, and a running phase in the past, and for the past couple years I now walk on the treadmill at a steep incline and I feel so good! It also burns more calories than running for me (at an incline).
I love to walk before work, I work remote and starting the day with easy movement and fresh air helps me to set the day with better mood! 🤩🤩
Love going on walks, always have! It's also become a family activity on Sunday mornings for myself, my boyfriend and our toddler. It also helped me to get back into shape postpartum. Hoping for the same this time around with baby #2!
I love this for your family
I never liked walking until Covid started. Now I'm obsessed with doing multi day hikes. Walking and hiking has improved my health and fitness levels, PLUS it's the best thing for my mental health!!!
I love Chalene. She makes sense to me.
Last time I walked 19.000 steps was on vacation in bruxelles where we walked what felt like the entire length of belgium and my feet where DEAD. They hurt so much!
I love walking in nature and/or with a friend. A lot of the focus is on losing weight but I feel so much better within myself when I walk 🦆 🏃♀️🌳 😊
Walking is so great. It's really more intense exercise than it sometimes feels like, especially with some height differences - but even apart from that, if you're doing it outside, preferably somewhere in the green, it's just the best boost for your mental health. It helps regulate your melatonin through exposure through daylight and being in nature has been shown to be extremely beneficial for anxiety, depression etc. Even 10 minutes outside can turn your mood around, even in bad weather. I love it and try to do about 5 km every day, at least.
Hey Abby, i really appreciate and enjoy when you jump into research and clarify what has been well supported with evidence and what hasn't. I know enough to be sceptical about the more extreme claims but i've been reading some pop science articles lately and i was wondering if you could dive in to tell me a )how accurate/well supported it is and b) what is the metaphorical fine print on the research.
First, I read that working out twice a week for 150 minutes total is "the same as" 5 half hour sessions per week. The same how?
Second, I read that people who ate 20 different vegetables per week have healthier gut biomes and are over all healthier. But like, what is a vegetable? Do tomatoes count? What about tomato sauce? If theres say parsley or basil in the sauce does that count too or is there some minimum amount? The article i read said that it wasn't looking at number of servings or anything like that but I'm sceptical.
One trap of over walking, or exercise in general is the natural demishment of neat. I'm quite heavy and profoundly inactive, around 2000 steps a day naturally, and I forced myself to do 10,000 steps a day, by day 3 all spontaneous movement stopped, I just stopped getting out of my chair I de-aminated to the point my SO noticed. By the end of the week I slept for over 24 hours.... Making changes to your activity level quickly can lead to the whole system shutting down to preserve itself!
I walk because I enjoy it. I'm also nearly 50 years old & I have never driven. I pretty much walk everywhere. So I'll never listen to anyone who says negative statements about walking. They don't know sh!t
I think you should do a musical episode next :D
But also thank you for your measured advice, as usual! Walking and just getting outside is such an important part of of my day. Any weight loss is a bonus, mostly I just want to keep moving!
Walking is THE BEST, most natural form of exercise. I walk six miles about four times a week, and have done for years. I adore it. I'll never stop.
I hate walking but I recently realised how bad I am at it so been trying to do it more. Ironically I love hiking, but I am trying to do more gentle walks between hikes to make hiking easier 😄
Walking is awsome
To me, walking (briskly because I always leave a little bit to late) to and from work, 5 days per week, helped me tremendously not to feel depressed, not to get sick and just feel good overall! When possible, including movement into just your daily commute is the best way to up your activity without it feeling like a workout.
I'm blessed to live near a beautiful walking trail - and I can say that lots of people believe in the benefits of walking in my neighborhood. :) Also, I have some injuries that prohibit most types of exercise, so walking is best for me. Just do what you can!
I think the distinction here is walking won’t necessarily get you ripped and build muscle but it can absolutely burn fat! I love walking so much, in Barcelona for the summer and walking everywhere has helped me lose weight & I haven’t gone to the gym once (:
I have a high energy dog who I walk 3ish hours total a day. That, plus taking care of my house/yard, etc. as well as my young daughters and husband, my average daily step count (according to my fitbit I wear all day) is around 28,500 steps a day. Some days I'll have less, some days are so busy I get over 33,000 steps a day. Without even trying! And it makes me feel so good 😊 I LOVE walking!
I spended three months doing 5000 steps per day and I'm pretty okay with it, and was my only exercise. Now I have an academia only a few steps from my home and of course i'm building muscles now, but I still appreciate a good walk.
When I changed cities, I had no car in my new city to start off and was forced to walk everywhere (had high-speed public transport but I mean walking to get groceries, walking to and from stops, walking to appointments and errands in a local area) - and I lost a lot of weight quite quickly. I was more than 20 pounds overweight and started to realize I was actually putting in average of 2 hours a days from all the walking, so I started watching what I ate and that combination was enough for the weight to come off quickly.
I do agree it's not enough to keep you at peak muscle fitness, though - especially as you get a little older-, and it did nothing for my arm strength. I eventually took up weights for arms, other forms of exercise, too.
But it very much can help with weight loss, I can attest!
I’ve started king a lot of different walking videos I find on TH-cam- I don’t know how effective they are long term but they give me a nice mood boost 🤷🏻♀️
Technically, walking isn’t exercise. It’s physical activity. Hahaha. Honestly, walking is so fantastic for health, and can totally be a means of weight loss. It’s also easier on the joints than running. Thanks for sharing. Your dog is adorable! My dog runs away when I saw the word “walk.”
I have low back pain and work from home. I got a wireless headset and a oversized balance ball. I will sit and bounce on it between calls or do hip circles. I can get about a minute between calls so I stand up, go get something from the kitchen, do laundry, play with the cats, etc.
I’m so glad I found you, you’re great! Thank you for all the info!!!
My hyper fixation with counting steps is tempered by studies showing that fitness watches are notorious for miscounting things like calories burned and steps. My own Apple Watch has congratulated me for standing as I sit for consecutive hours at my desk, simply because I raised it to check the time. 😂 It’s a great reminder not to let a desire for perfection prevent you from doing your best and celebrating that.
I started walking long distance daily last year, that combined with better more balanced eating habits lead me to lose 25 pounds that I have managed to keep off!
Furthermore, I can walk in the Texas morning heat without breaking a sweat! It has done wonders for my stamina and my outlook on fitness! Highly recommend!
11:27 yep, I guess that's me. I walked 33k steps so far today, and I did cut my walk short yesterday at 20k to plug in my fitbit ;-)
I walk daily after my workout- not in place of my workout. Walking is great but it can never compete with weight training.
I lost 40 pounds from walking in 2017. Got into a routine and have kept it off ever since. I changed my diet though too. Lots of lean protein, complex carbs, and healthy oils these days. No soda, no fast food. Minimal processed snacks in moderation. I’m 34 and never felt better. I get on average about 15 thousand steps a day.
Be committed to your health, don’t be the person who continues to drive with the check engine light on. Your bad eating will catch up with you eventually and let me tell you, once you’re sick it’s a wrap. You need to do much more than walk. It’s a good start though!
I’m watching this while walking on my treadmill
As I recover from CFS walking is my form of exercise.
I loved loved loved this video!! So well explained, thank you Abbey!
Most people have offices jobs and they sit all day so walking is a way to good way of getting some "normal" movement in. Plus, many people don't have the energy after a full day of work to go do some intense workout routine.
That reminds me of a psychotherapists that told me that walking isnt exercise. She was so convinced about that. And i found myself flabbergasted by that. I told her that it is exercise for people being extremely overweight. I can see her not benefitting as much as a muscular thin woman but damn did walking change my life and let me lose weight.
Honestly, walking is great, and I live in a walkable city so walk a lot by default without trying, but it just doesn’t give me the benefits that other activities that raise my heart rate, especially running. I understand not everybody is physically able to run, but if you have nothing stopping you, why not do more than just walking to get the additional benefits?
Would love a video on under desk treadmills & its alleged benefits since that type of walking is generally much slower & potentially much longer than a regular daily brisk walk.
When I first saw your Fitbit video I thought this is crazy I just love my Fitbit, I'm never quitting!!!
Last year my fitbit broke down and I decided not buying another and funny enough, I feel so free right now. How many steps I do everyday? I have no idea, but it's ok 💖
I saw Chalene's video recently and really enjoyed it, this was a good complement! I have to say (anecdotally) that personally the thinnest I have ever been in my life (note I didn't say muscular or fit!) was when I walked A LOT. There are two specific times in my life that I have lost a lot of weight, and of course I was much younger then, but during those times, I never changed my diet, in fact I was probably eating terribly because the first time I was in high school and the second time I was in college (and drank on weekends) and both times I lost a ton of weight by walking 30-45min twice per day. Each time I started from a place of being super sedentary to walking 5 days per week minimum. But I do think that if I were to do it again now that I am much older I would definitely need to watch my diet a lot more for a similar effect. But just sayin' - walking is amazing and can transform your body.
The fact i found this video during my after dinner walk is funny. I like walking its easy and free. Plus its low impact
Beautiful views, Abbey. I like the study’s. Cheers
Another Abbey video!!! 🎉 can’t wait to watch
yay enjoy
I stayed the same weight for 15 years despite dancing basically full time for all of it, because when you push that hard your body demands a lot of food to fuel it. When I was recovering from illness and started going for a walk every day, I lost a chunk of the weight I'd put on during the illness because, while I was moving more than I had been, it wasn't with the sort of intensity that massively ramped up my appetite. I also really grew to appreciate going for a walk after being too ill to manage a proper walk for several years!
Walking is amazing! I walk 2 to 10 miles a day with my dogs. I also recently got into running again while walking after and it has really cut down on my soreness with running. I also lost a lot of weight from biking. If I can I choose to bike over driving now because I am having such a blast!
yess so happy for you
For me its not about weight loss but about feeling better. To achieve that ive been trying to add different things to reduce my lower back and hip pain. Ive tried weight lifting in an attempt to strength muscles to help my pain. It sorta worked but i never stuck to it cause it felt like a chore. Ive tried indoor cycling but all that did was aggravate my sciatica. Finally i tried simply walking. I bought a small walking pad to start walking. I even taped up a paper monthly calendar to the wall in front of me so i could check off my completed days. After one month of walking 4 days a week (20min/day) i found i had less back and hip pain. It still flares up every now and again but on average its sooo much less before i started walking. The reduced pain is all the motivation i need to keep going
I love walking. I can walk for hours. I have a job that requires lots of walking as well. I have chronic illness so walking is often all I can do. Cardio is off the table for me bc of my illness. Cardio plus pilates and sone strength training keeps me as healthy as I can be.
When I lost the most weight was when I started walking on my treadmill everyday. I put it on a high incline and walked fast enough that it elevated my heart rate. I didn't eliminate any food groups. I only eliminated soda, and I even ate a smart ones brownie every single day. I lost 40 lbs in 6 months. Now about 10 years later I'm starting up again. Slowly but surely I'm losing weight.
Eliminating soda is great and can be a HUGE game changer! One of my college friends dropped 30 lbs from simply cutting out soda!
How many minutes did you walk daily?
@@NewAc-gl3wj I started off slowly. First 20 minutes a day, after a couple of days of that I went for 30, and then 45 everyday, which is usually where I stay at.
I walk about 25k steps per day while on vacation. Basically just walk everywhere and take my time not only to be, but also taking the time to get there is such a great feeling.
I do walk on good shoes and I am not interested in gaining nor losing weight
Thanks, Abbey!! You are so helpful. Love your channel!
Walking is definitely amazing, especially if you include some more challenging walks or hikes and especially on rest days or days when you just don’t feel fit enough for more. I aim for at least 10,000 steps on average, that works for me and feels good, but I also include my running in that.
However, I count walking more as movement, not as a workout, unless it’s a very challenging hike. Cardio training (in my case running and sometimes dancing) as well as strength training is very important and beneficial for health, so I make sure to stick to my workout routine as well. Any doctor will tell you that, so if you can include cardio (so important for heart health, even though so many people skip it completely) and strength, do so! If you’re not yet there, though, or simply can’t do harder exercises, walking is the way to go.
The daily walk is often my favourite part of the day. But now my dog is old (14) we go much slower and less far, and I can feel a negative impact on my mental health as a result. I think I have to get out of the mindset that walks always have to include my fur bestie 😥
Pet stroller! I have one for my cats.
@@TLRyder591 interesting. She's 16kg, so it'd need to be a big one! I do have a backpack for her which we got for longer hikes. Maybe I just need to use it more often! (And get extra benefits from the walk for carrying her weight)
fast walking like she says is amazing, love it! I can burn up to 400 calories just fast walking 40 minutes. Walking fast helped finally gain the confidence to jog again bc I was afraid of doing it from zero. Love love walking, low impact, not that exhausting yet it makes you sweat and works your arms and glutes as well! Totally recommend it for anybody who wants to start cardio. In case you don't have time to do it just for "exercise", try doing it to get places, make it a functional part of your day! Last time I fast walked and jogged 8km just to get cookies from a bakery (mother's day present). It was amazing, I felt so good after doing it. the longer I fast walked the easier it felt to just start jogging to get to my destination fasting! Of course, diet is key to lose weight BUT, adding exercise will help you too!
My dad did 2023 km walking in 2023. He lost weight and his leg muscles got stronger. His friends know he can text him for a walk in mornings or evenings. His social life has improved as well.This is easier for older people
I started walking between 30-60 minutes four times a week on my treadmill, often adding inclines and it helped me (along with a much healthier diet) to lose 30 pounds AFTER menopause wrecked my metabolism. I lost six inches from my waistline too!! Walking IS exercise for sure.
I've lost weight the past few months just by walking, and not even a lot (around 8,000 steps) no major diet changes. Indoor walking workouts on TH-cam have been a godsend, as I'm trapped in my small apartment after my toddler goes to bed at 6:30....(I'm the only parent). I'd love to get back to strength training at some point!