What's the Difference Between a "Walk" and "Cardio"

[yogapam]

Sophie - I have to agree, the Island is a lovely place to walk and hike. We have so many beautiful trails, parks, and beaches. I used to live in a rural neighbourhood just outside of Calgary and coyotes were a concern there. A neighbour lost her small dog to one, he went out for his late night pee break never to be seen again. We often heard the coyotes howling at night, very eerie!

[cherimac]

I walk my dogs in my neighborhood but I don't consider it cardio~they stop and sniff too much.

I put my pedometer on for a 12 minute Leslie mile and it records roughly 2000 steps, which is supposed to be roughly a mile.

[AnMrsDe]

Originally Posted by Kathryn

I would definitely not relegate walking to just 'less-intense' cardio.

Walking can be any intensity of cardio, depending on technique, speed, etc. What matters is what heart rate range you are working at. So a casual stroll would be in the 'recovery' 50-55% of max HR range, while an intense interval workout or fast tempo walk can get you up to the lactate threashold/anaerobic threshold. And incorporating hill repeats can make a walk more of a muscle-strengthening workout.

I don't consider DVD 'walking' workouts to be like actual walking. They are more walking-style aerobic workouts. There's no way a supposed 5 mph Leslie walk is the equivalent of an outdoor walk at a 5 mph average.

ITA! My HR usually gets up to 75-100% of my max HR range on my speed walks - especially going up my 90% inclined-hills in my neighborhood. But mostly it's flat so I can concentrate on my speed moreso. I walk by a lovely surrounding lake with lots of trees, etc. so it's a very nice (and safe) neighborhood to walk in. Sure beats mall walking!

Nothing gets my HR pumping as high and the endorphins flowing like my speed walks since I really push myself. This coming from an Insanity graduate and a HiiT lover.

I think I calculated Leslie's workouts one time and they weren't even close to the actual speed she projected them to be. I'm guessing I usually walk between 4.25-4.75 mph (probably faster) and I KNOW I'm not coming close to that speed doing her walking workouts! Nope.

[shoegoddess]

Originally Posted by yogapam

Cindy - I love your Maxine cartoon!

The older I get the truer it is