Walking Questions

So, I have sort of become a walking machine since my surgery. I wake up every morning looking forward to it. The first day home after surgery I walked .4 miles, one week after surgery I was over a mile a day, the next week I was doing 2 miles a day, I did that for a couple of weeks, all the while pushing myself to walk faster, and now for the last three days I a have been going 3.1 miles a day. Someone told me that is a 5k, but I have not actually looked it up. So my question is this. I dont really want to walk farther than I am right now, mostly because of the amount of time it takes. I feel like 3.1 miles a day is a sweet spot that I can live with, all the while working on my speed and getting as much of a work out as I can. However is that distance to much to do every day? A friend told me anything over 2 miles a day isnt giving you near the benefit that those first 2 miles are. I actually have the goal of walking 100 miles this month, but it will require me actually walking even farther than the 3.1 a few times. I dont want to over do it, but I want to use my tool to its maximum benefit right now. Any tips or info would be appreciated. Troy

I don't have any profound information for you, just wanted to say I am right there with ya. The last two months we have had a walking program going on at work. The goal was 45 miles in 60 days. I did that in less than the first months. In Nov. I think a almost did 100. I will have to add it up Monday, I think I fell just a few miles short. But a year ago I was over 325 pounds and would have had a hard time doing a mile. I do 2 miles at lunch every day and then I go to the gym and hit their treadmill and do any where from 3 to 5 miles. At the gym I have been gradually working the level up and am now up the highest one, which is 12. I start out for the first 1/2 mile at about a 4 then go to 6 for a 1/2 and keep working up to 12. Their treadmills have a heart rate monitor and that is what I keep track of. Before surgey I had a resting heart rate of any where between 75 to 85, sometimes even higher. This morning it was 48. I had been shooting for the fifty range.  pan head

Hey Troy  I dont think I have ever heard of that two mile thing ??? I ride my bicycle to work ( when ever possable )  , thats about 7.5  miles one way . I love riding .  My feet have neroupathy ( nerve damage ) and the pain can be bad at times . Walking long distance's can be tough for me . So I ride , low impact on the feet . I know when it comes to riding a twenty mile ride on a roadbike is ( in some circles ) is just a warm up .  Twenty miles for me is a middle of the road workout , I have done seventyfive miles before . SO I say walk as many as you can !!!! Nick

Hey there. I'm a fellow walker myself. I started after surgery doing maybe 50 yards, and now I'm up to 3.3 miles. It's important not to push yourself too much. Keep in mind you're walking for your health right now, not to train for anything. I think we guys get into this competition mode, even with ourselves, and sometimes push harder than we need to. The benefits of walking are mainly cardiovascular, ie, improving the heart and lungs. You'll do a little leg toning as well. But it's not a huge source of burning calories, your surgery is taking care of most of that on a daily basis. So walking 6 times a week isn't really going to benefit you much more than walking 4 times a week. (Remember, we're talking about this weight-loss phase of your journey - once you get to goal and maybe want to train for longer distances, it's a whole new story). The important point here is not to get injured. If you don't allow ample rest, you put yourself at greater risk. And then you won't be able to walk at all. So just keep that in mind. I'd say walk no more than 2-3 days in a row, then take one day off to recuperate.

That's great man.   5K walking a day is great exercise at your time post-op.

I've never heard of the 2 mile thing either.   The more time you spend exercising the more you will benefit.   If you don't feel comfortable running yet try to increase your walking times.   Time yourself walking at a fairly slow pace then try to improve upon your time every day.  

Set those exercise goals and go for them!