# How much walking is too much? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 15, 2020, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-walking-is-too-much/847970 "2020-02-15T02:06:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2020, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-walking-is-too-much/847970/21 "2020-02-16T12:19:42Z")
> [@P-man](#): > > Listen to your body. This really is the answer. mmm ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2020, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-walking-is-too-much/847970/22 "2020-02-16T15:51:05Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > I tell people “If you walk outside every day for a month, you will do it for the rest of your life.” > > Keep on walking! a) I don’t think you can walk for a month every day. I walked for about a month one day and the next day I didn’t feel like walking _anywhere_ b) I agree! ---
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2020, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-walking-is-too-much/847970/23 "2020-02-17T15:40:27Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > I’m 65, I have walked outside for at least an hour a day, and usually more, for the past 35 years. I am in great shape, still working and taking care of myself. > > I tell people “If you walk outside every day for a month, you will do it for the rest of your life.” > > Keep on walking! I agree! I started walking for exercise (for myself and the dog(s)) over 10 years ago and haven’t stopped. I started walking 2 miles a day first thing in the morning, then decided I might as well walk again when I got home from work. Now I walk 2+ miles in the morning, 2 miles during my lunch break and 2+ miles after work. On a good day, weather permitting, I walk an average of 7 miles. During the winter months I walk the skywalks for my lunch walk. The other 2 walks are with the dogs and are outdoors. Unless it’s way below 0 or too hot we walk in all types of weather. Within the first year of my walks, I lost 25 lbs and have kept it off! If for some reason I can’t do one of my walks, I feel awful all day. It’s a habit that I won’t break! ---
**Author:** ![Kovitlac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/2bfe46/32.png) [@Kovitlac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kovitlac)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2020, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-walking-is-too-much/847970/24 "2020-02-17T17:12:40Z")
> [@jebert](#): > > I have started walking for exercise every day. Each week I add ten more minutes to the time I am on the pavement. Starting at 40 minutes, I am now up to 100 minutes per day. Is there a point at which additional time will be detrimental to me physically - say harm to knees, hips, feet or some other body part? Or is more always better, and it will just become a matter of running out of will or time? You are not walking too much. Walking is a \*very \*low-impact activity. If you were running, and complaining often of knee or joint pain, that’d be another story. During the summer I’ll take 2 hour walks in the 90+ degree heat and feel none the worse for wear (granted, this is more a weekend thing than every day, but still). Walking shouldn’t cause much wear and tear on the body - if it is, that’s a big problem. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2020, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-walking-is-too-much/847970/25 "2020-02-17T18:50:52Z")
> [@Ellen DeGeneres](#): > > My grandmother started walking five miles a day when she was 61. Now she’s 80, and we don’t know where the hell she is. People have evolved to be walkers. It isn’t always true that more is better, but my brother lost 117 pounds by replacing a bad habit (sitting on the couch eating) with walking. Be careful - it turned into running, then 10Ks, then marathons, and finally Iron Man marathons. You don’t need to take it that far. I walk the dog for an hour a day. He likes it, it’s good for me, everyone is happy. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2020, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-walking-is-too-much/847970/26 "2020-02-17T19:31:16Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > Does spending eight hours a day, six days a week, on my feet walking back and forth at my station on the assembly line count? (Seriously, does standing count as exercise? Turning and moving a part from one table to the next?) It’s far better for you than a sit-down job - well, I’m sure there’s a fair bit of wear and tear on your feet, quite different from that of walking, but there are lots of articles out there that say “sitting is the new smoking”. I’ve tried setting up a standing workspace at home - I’ll put my laptop up on a taller surface, and use it until the battery dies, then sit until it charges, and repeat. When I’ve done that, I’ve wound up with somewhat sore legs because they are doing a lot more work even just standing. [Here’s a website](http://calorielab.com/burned/?mo=se&gr=11&ti=Occupation&wt=150&un=lb&kg=68) with relative calorie counts at various occupations. Me, 34 calories an hour sitting on my tail. Light to moderate assembly line work would be 136 an hour. Standing and talking at work is 88 calories an hour. So, I’d say your job counts. I don’t know what the latest opinion is on “gotta get the heart rate up”. I think that’s less of a concern versus total activity level. ---
**Author:** ![overlyverbose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2020, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-walking-is-too-much/847970/27 "2020-02-17T21:48:33Z")
Do whatever you find most sustainable. 100 minutes a day is quite a while if you do anything after work other than eat and sleep, but if it works for you, go for it. Also, I wouldn’t worry too much about arthritis; I’d read somewhere that running and walking and other weight-bearing exercises are actually good for staving off arthritis because they limit inflammation in your joints. Just find something that makes you feel good. ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2020, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-walking-is-too-much/847970/28 "2020-02-17T23:33:33Z")
It sounds like it might be a good point for you to switch from additional time as your goal, to learning and practicing proper form. Maybe even add in some pre and post stretches. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-walking-is-too-much/847970.md?page=1)