Walking question

[thistlechaser]

After much thought, I have decided on a plan. Since you can't really increase the number of calories walking burns off, the only thing you can do is increase the time spent walking. Problem is, I don't have a multi-hour chunk of time I'd like to give up... but I can handle putting an hour towards it here and there. An hour in the morning, an hour at lunch, an hour at night/after work. That's do-able.

The question is, after I hit an hour once a day, how do you go about duplicating it? Think a person would need to build up slowly again (same speed as you would if you were doing one two-hour chunk instead of two one-hour chunks) or could you just jump right in and walk for the full hour a second time? Or is there no answer and you have to do what your body wants?

(This is a longer term goal, mind you. I need to hit an hour first, then deal with more.)

Thanks!

Comments

[evilgrayson.livejournal.com]

I would say to go with what your body wants. You shouldn't need to build up as slowly again, but it might well start complaining if you suddenly try to just double your exercise straight off.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Hm, sounds reasonable!

[laurelwood.livejournal.com]

I think the build-up-slowly idea is what most fitness professionals recommend. I've seen in Runner's World a few times that runners shouldn't increase their distance more than 10% per week. I know running is more punishing on the body than walking is, so you could probably do a 20-25%-per-week increase safely enough. I like your idea of working up to a one-hour session first, though. Personally, I'd do it the same way, but before I added mileage, I'd try to increase my speed a little first. You could do it just the way you did with your distance- see if you can pass one more house than you did yesterday in the same amount of time, or whatever.

Can you tell that I like your walking-related posts? I know it's dorky to admit, but sometimes when I'm out for a nice long walk, I keep an eye out for you. (Yes, I know. We don't live in the same neighborhood. I told you it was dorky! Of course you look just exactly like you do in your bio, complete with stick kitty.)

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

(Yes, I know. We don't live in the same neighborhood. I told you it was dorky! Of course you look just exactly like you do in your bio, complete with stick kitty.)

*laughs!* If I looked like I do in my bio, I'd never need to walk! ;) Once I fiddled with making a more accurate "stick" figure drawing of myself, and it ended up like something from South Park! Hee.

Ah, I wish I could run! But even if I was normal or underweight that wouldn't happen, so all I can do is dream! Those numbers sound good though. Hm, increasing speed isn't really something I can do right now I think (I'm walking as fast as I can from the first steps, because I want to get and keep my heartrate up), but maybe once I get stronger I can. (Also, I think I might be getting faster without really noticing it: I'm making bigger increases in distance than the increases in time should explain...)

Thanks for the info, and I'll watch for you tomorrow morning! ;)

[gconnor.livejournal.com]

Do you measure your heart rate while walking, from time to time? Depending on how fast you walk, you might be able to get more of a workout by either a) altering the speed, or b) doing something with your upper body while walking, like swinging your arms or something.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

I don't take my pulse, but I do make sure I'm walking fast enough to be panting/have my heart beating fast. I was thinking/wanting to swing my arms (since that's what speedwalkers do), but... I walk on streets in my neighborhood, and I'd rather not have people who know me look at me and think how silly I am (if I walk without swinging my arms, at least they might think I'm just walking to the store or something).

I know it's stupid to worry about what others think, but it's hard not to.