okay, I need opinions...please!

I just told my coworker how far I have walked so far and she said, you know, even though you walked that far so far, it doesn't count if you are trying to lose weight, you need to walk this in a steady pace, as in walking it all at the same time? what do you all think? thanks!

What do I think?

That your friend is an idiot.

Any exercise is a good thing, regardless of the pace or the length.  Naturally, the longer you walk and the faster you walk, the better.  But that you walked at all should be applauded.

she is a coworker...LOL and I agree but it helps to hear this..I have walked1.18 miles so far per my pedometer...LOL thanks dear!

I agree...walking is walking..its movement.....any movement is some form of exercise..Dr. Averbach never said walk at a certain pace, he just said get out and do some walking...keep it up girl...sounds like you need a walking partner...too bad your not in glen burnie....

I would love a walking partner, too bad I don't still live in glen burnie! LOL...I sometimes wish I still did...

 I have MS (as i have mentioned before).  I had to start my exercise program with walking SMALL BLOCKS of time, multiple times a day.  No one said i had to walk it all at once.  Walking is walking and exercise is exercise.  i have built up to a  hour a day (all at once) when i feel well enough to do that much.  Your co-worker doesn't know hat she is talking about.  

susan...I didn't know that you had MS...sorry to hear that...my coworker thinks she knows everything...about everyhing..LOL thanks dear!

I actually had this question addressed by a personal trainer that the governemnt brought in on a committment to fitness program they tried to lanch here.  From the "expert" - with walking you should have a  tri-fold effort.

1) Wear a pedometer for a day or two and measure how many step you normally take in a day with everyday activities.  For those of us with average lifestyles, it should be somewhere between 5,000 and 7,500.  Then on a seperate occassion measure how many steps you take during a half hour brisk walk (where you can speak and are not winded, but your heart rate is up).  Add the amount of brisk walking steps to the number of average daily steps and you have a new daily pedometer goal.  Around 10,000 is generally considered an active lifestyle.

2) In reaching your pedometer goal, you also need to occassionally increase your heart rate.  You can do the 30 minute walk, (or more, if you had a particularly sedentary day); or you can walk in shorter periods of time, such as 10 minutes 3 to 4 times a day.  The key to the shorter spurts of time is that you must still raise your heart rate for at least a 7 minute period to gain cardio and fat burning benefits (so if it's just from the office to the bank, do it briskly, and add an around the block if you need another minute or two).

3) Throw in those one minute workouts as well, such as a flight of stairs, instead of the elevator.  They may not be long enough to burn fat, but they contribute to your overall energy and stamina levels, still have muscle toning benefits, and help you reach your pedometer goal. 

Home from work late and still haven't made your goal - he suggest walking the dog (good for you both), or dancing around the living room.

I pulled these notes from index cards, but can't find the trainer's name - it was from 4 years ago (remember when Mcdonalds was handing out those pedometers?!)  I'll bet there is a pedometer program on-line somewhere as well.

Good Luck

Char,

Does she mean it doesn't count because it's what you normally walk during a work day rather than above and beyond your normally activity? 

no, she means for it to count, you need to actually get out there and walk for 30 minutes or more at a time, believe me, I have the coworker from H*LL...