# Walking five miles a day... effect on fitness? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 12, 2003, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walking-five-miles-a-day-effect-on-fitness/188026 "2003-07-12T19:58:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2003, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walking-five-miles-a-day-effect-on-fitness/188026/1 "2003-07-12T19:58:00Z")
I just moved office into the city centre. I’ve decided to walk there every day. It’s 2.5 miles each way, and takes 45 minutes at a brisk rate. How much of an effect is doing this (5 times a week) going to have on my fitness, given that I don’t really do any other exercise? ---
**Author:** ![gwendee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@gwendee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwendee)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2003, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walking-five-miles-a-day-effect-on-fitness/188026/2 "2003-07-12T20:52:14Z")
When I landed a great apartment exactly one mile door-to-door from where I worked I walked every day. I made no changes in my dreadful, mostly fried with a side of ice cream diet, and had no other regular exercise. I lost rather a lot of weight. Went from a (women’s US) size 18 to a size 10 with one year. I live at the tippy top of a steep hill, 23 miles from work now. I don’t exercise and I’m pretty flabby again. The one thing I will say is that at that time I was pleased at the weight loss and didn’t notice but looking at photos from then my arms weren’t toned at all. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2003, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walking-five-miles-a-day-effect-on-fitness/188026/3 "2003-07-12T21:12:44Z")
I think I can get round the arms by walking on my hands half the time. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2003, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walking-five-miles-a-day-effect-on-fitness/188026/4 "2003-07-12T21:22:42Z")
A good bit, I would think. I had a roommate who started running 6 miles a day, combined with eating a lot of salads, etc., and he lost I think 40 lbs in about 5 months. This was losing it the right way, without some fad diet that’s counting water weight in its success. ---
**Author:** ![jesleigh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/58f4c7/32.png) [@jesleigh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jesleigh)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2003, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walking-five-miles-a-day-effect-on-fitness/188026/5 "2003-07-12T22:12:16Z")
I walk 3 miles a day in 30 minutes…and it has a huge effect…but they’re right. Your looks willl tone up, but the rest of you won’t. I combine my walk with ab workouts and using dumbells for my arms…well, I do that at least once a month…if I think about it ;). ---
**Author:** ![LolaCocaCola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@LolaCocaCola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LolaCocaCola)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2003, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walking-five-miles-a-day-effect-on-fitness/188026/6 "2003-07-12T22:13:22Z")
As long as you’re getting the old heart rate up, it’s good exercise! ---
**Author:** ![LolaCocaCola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@LolaCocaCola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LolaCocaCola)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2003, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walking-five-miles-a-day-effect-on-fitness/188026/7 "2003-07-12T22:14:39Z")
The only problem is if you’re walking to work in warm weather, you’ll probably get all sweaty 'n stuff by the time you get there. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2003, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walking-five-miles-a-day-effect-on-fitness/188026/8 "2003-07-12T22:33:17Z")
I was going to walk five miles today; but they didn’t have the motorcycle tires I needed in stock, so I decided to take the bike back on Wednesday. I have a little route that I can walk – I haven’t for a while – that’s 1.6 miles. I thinl I’ll start again on Monday (or tomorrow if I get up early). I think paddling will help too, and I do enjoy getting the kayak out on the water. ---
**Author:** ![Epimetheus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c4cdca/32.png) [@Epimetheus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Epimetheus)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2003, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walking-five-miles-a-day-effect-on-fitness/188026/9 "2003-07-12T22:47:55Z")
Wow, walking 3 miles in 30 mins is a pretty damn fast clip. Thats 6 miles an hour! Now I have run quite a bit on a treadmill, and after 4.5 miles an hour I would think that is called RUNNING. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![jesleigh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/58f4c7/32.png) [@jesleigh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jesleigh)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2003, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walking-five-miles-a-day-effect-on-fitness/188026/10 "2003-07-12T23:55:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Epimetheus \* > \*\*Wow, walking 3 miles in 30 mins is a pretty damn fast clip. > > Thats 6 miles an hour! Now I have run quite a bit on a treadmill, and after 4.5 miles an hour I would think that is called RUNNING. 😉 \*\* I rounded for quickness…don’t to impressed. I normally do about 2.7 miles, and it about 33 minutes, but I rounded. Didn’t mean to make myself like overly impressive. really, its just a mix between quick walk/ light jog. ---
**Author:** ![FisherQueen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/58f4c7/32.png) [@FisherQueen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FisherQueen)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2003, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walking-five-miles-a-day-effect-on-fitness/188026/11 "2003-07-12T23:56:33Z")
That sounds nice. In my new job, I’m going to be working only about three miles from home- but I’m living on Price Hill and working in Over-the-Rhine, which (translated from Cincinnatian) means that my home is on top of a tall and practically vertical hill and my job is in the most dangerous neighborhood in the city. So, alas, no walking to work and back. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2003, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walking-five-miles-a-day-effect-on-fitness/188026/12 "2003-07-13T11:44:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by LolaCocaCola \* > \*\*The only problem is if you’re walking to work in warm weather, you’ll probably get all sweaty 'n stuff by the time you get there. \*\* Yeah that has been a bit of a problem - we’ve been having unseasonable weather (i.e. warm in the summertime!) and the rest of the time it’ll be mild but raining. Luckily I’ve got a good deodorant, I’m not a particularly pungent person, and I keep myself clean. I’d say I’m about 15 lbs overweight, and hopefully if I lose a bit I’ll sweat less too. ---
**Author:** ![Dawne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Dawne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dawne)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2003, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walking-five-miles-a-day-effect-on-fitness/188026/13 "2003-07-13T12:26:31Z")
I used to walk just over 2 miles to school in half an hour every day then I’d walk home again later in the day. Since we stopped going for the summer I’ve noticed some extra weight. I can’t wait to go back so that i can see how quickly i loose it again. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2003, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walking-five-miles-a-day-effect-on-fitness/188026/14 "2003-07-13T12:32:44Z")
Sometimes I’ll walk the 2.2 miles to the train station and usually some walking once I get off the train. The 1st few times it takes some out of you, but after a while the walk is energizing and will boost your energy level throughout the day. I find that hot weather can negate this effect though. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2003, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walking-five-miles-a-day-effect-on-fitness/188026/15 "2003-07-13T14:05:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jesleigh \* > \*\*I rounded for quickness…don’t to impressed. I normally do about 2.7 miles, and it about 33 minutes, but I rounded. Didn’t mean to make myself like overly impressive. really, its just a mix between quick walk/ light jog. \*\* That’s still approximately 5mph. Methinks you are doing a light jog all of the time. I’m long-legged (6’3") and cannot _walk_ faster than 4.5mph before it becomes a true jog. Anyway, you are getting a proper “cardio” workout, in gym terms. I assume your heart rate is getting somewhere close to 70% of your max, and that’s a nice place to be for a half hour or more a day. In a while, you will find that your heart rate will drop to a resting rate much more quickly after heavy work. In addition, your heart rate will not increase so much for the same work load. Cardio is good for keeping your heart fit, increasing your stamina, and removing fat. In fact, it’s the only part of a standard workout that removes significant amounts of fat: dumbbells and ab workouts help the muscles, but the fat that is covering the muscles is only removed by regular cardio exercise. You will lose fat from the entire body, not just the parts doing the work. That’s how it works. Sounds like a great way to get a good cardio workout without really noticing it. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Calculus\_of\_Logic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/aeb1de/32.png) [@The\_Calculus\_of\_Logic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Calculus_of_Logic)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2003, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walking-five-miles-a-day-effect-on-fitness/188026/16 "2003-07-13T14:33:59Z")
5 days a week = 25 miles of walking a week or 7:30 hours of exercise a week. so it should help alot. calorie wise, it depends on how much you weigh. [http://www.fitresource.com/Fitness/CalBurn.htm](http://www.fitresource.com/Fitness/CalBurn.htm) [http://www.nutristrategy.com/activitylist4.htm](http://www.nutristrategy.com/activitylist4.htm) [http://www.nutribase.com/exercala.htm](http://www.nutribase.com/exercala.htm) ---
**Author:** ![j.c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/73ab20/32.png) [@j.c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j.c)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walking-five-miles-a-day-effect-on-fitness/188026/17 "2003-07-14T07:19:45Z")
I am short and can walk very very fast like a scuttling bug, so I’m figuring the OP’s time are close to accurate. Hint - you can do a bit of a sponge bath at work. You can either buy some of those cloth wipe things and keep them in your desk, or just wash up in the restroom. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walking-five-miles-a-day-effect-on-fitness/188026/18 "2003-07-14T08:20:46Z")
That gives me an average speed of 3 and a third mph. I could go a bit faster, but it’d make me sweat more (and it also starts to make my nuts ache. Maybe I need new underwear). ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walking-five-miles-a-day-effect-on-fitness/188026/19 "2003-07-14T11:21:37Z")
Ok. I’m not confused anymore. I thought I was discussing the OP’s time above, but I wasn’t. Now after close inspection I realize that we have more than one walking-rate discussed here. 3 1/3 sounds perfect. Have fun! ---
**Author:** ![smaft](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c2a13f/32.png) [@smaft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smaft)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walking-five-miles-a-day-effect-on-fitness/188026/20 "2003-07-14T20:21:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jjimm \* > …it also starts to make my nuts ache. Maybe I need new underwear… Boxer briefs- the ones with a little bit of Lycra. Mankind’s greatest triumph, I’m tellin’ ya. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walking-five-miles-a-day-effect-on-fitness/188026.md?page=2)