It can be time consuming due to the sheer length and duration, but I have found fat falling off in the places I have most issues (lower abdomen, chest, and back). It’s free, it’s super chill, and I have found it clearing my mind too. In combination with more intense regime, I think it is a a necessary supplemental exercise. I think walking outside is probably better (it feels more natural to me at least), but just a plain ol’ treadmill or other cardio machine will probably get those steps up. Its super low-impact, easy, and do-able.
I’m dropping weight and I’m finding my brain rebooting in some places as well. It’s overall super great and I encourage every Hexbear to increase their step count.
Im glad that’s working so well for you! I was always skeptical about exercise for weight loss because one summer I trained for and ran a half marathon, and my weight stayed exactly the same. But I moved to a new place this year, and I can walk to work every day now, and I’ve had the same experience. I feel pretty good even when I don’t do any structured exercise, I’ve lost a couple of pounds, abd honestly the walk to work is the best part of my day sometimes.
i know what you mean. there’s something to be said just for the mental benefits of a simple activity like walking for cumulatively about 30-45 minutes a day, becoming accustomed to the sights, sounds, smells, and seasonality of a place in the intimate way of walking it. when i was WFH, i used to do a few miles several times a week but now that i have to “back to normal” i’ve been parking about a mile from my office in a quiet neighborhood and walking the rest. apart from a busy intersection or two, it’s one of the most pleasant parts of my day.
that’s a really clever move with the commute. I think it’s hard for most people to justify lengthening their commute but walking/biking isn’t on the same level as a driving commute, it’s much more enjoyable. I’m perpetually running late tho so it’d be hard for me to do something like that I bet
can’t outrun a bad diet and we’re pretty efficient at distance running. eating an extra 300 calories every day costs a couple hours of light exercise or requires you to increase the intensity of whatever you were already doing. building muscle to increase your resting metabolism can help but it’s marginal.
my experience matches yours, the easiest management i’ve ever had was when i could bike year-round and was biking to work or somewhere most days but the bigger deal was tracking calories accurately in conjunction with the increased activity level.
hunger is the real enemy, it’s one of the only sufferings i can actually alleviate at will so it’s pretty impossible to deliberately sit around feeling like shit instead of eating something and both not feeling hungry and getting all the happy brain chemicals.
Just moving is great. I think walking (or equivalent) I good amount everyday is more important than any other point of fitness. Lifting is great, and getting at least 10 minutes of raised heartrate (cardio) is also very important.
But time, energy, and attention are limited, and if you have to pick one thing to try to do everyday, walking a few miles would 100% be what I’d recommend. I don’t have a problem with weight, but I do have one with blood pressure and cholesterol (despite and home cooking; genetics is a bitch), and making myself walk or bike for at least a half hour everyday has helped my blood pressure a lot.
Chalk up another win for stupid mental health walks.
Great work
I think walking outside is probably better
Definitely. It can feel more difficult to do in the winter or summer if you’re in a place with extreme climates, but if you just start doing it, you’ll quickly find yourself figuring out how to dress for cold, windy winter walking, and acclimatizing your body for hot, humid summer walking. You *can *do it, and it eventually will feel fine and normal… but it does suck at first if you’re not used to the elements.
and I have found it clearing my mind too.
The best part. I try to leave my phone at home when I go out, I find that I have a lot to think about, and feel more calm at the end of the walk.
Definitely. It can feel more difficult to do in the winter or summer if you’re in a place with extreme climates, but if you just start doing it, you’ll quickly find yourself figuring out how to dress for cold, windy winter walking, and acclimatizing your body for hot, humid summer walking. You *can *do it, and it eventually will feel fine and normal… but it does suck at first if you’re not used to the elements.
When I was in college in Arizona I was able to walk around in the horrid summer heat pretty damn well. The first few times were hell and especially because I hadn’t gotten the hydration part down. Eventually I acclimitized, got used to just stopping at circle k to top up my drink for like 60 cents and walking 12 miles one direction because Phoenix is designed for cars and fuck you if you dare try to walk. Getting a bike was amazing though. Nice large flat areas to pick up speed and still with 12 mile trips one way, but it took 2 hours, not all day.
How to get more steps when its snowy and icy 6 months out of the year and I live in an upstairs apartment?
I actually don’t mind getting out in the cold its kinda fun in a way (though isn’t it maybe bad for your lungs to exercise in super cold air? idk). but climbing over snowbanks and falling on ice slicks isn’t my idea of a nice walk. I have studded tires for my bike so that still gets use, but its an ebike and I don’t usually go that far, so its not as much exercise as I might like. Barely enough to keep me sane lol
maybe I’ll get slip on cleat things for the ice… but historically it’s been kinda hard to make time to go for loooong walks. Last winter I was walking to the bus (like a mile because buses here suck) and fell so hard I fucked up my laptop inside its bag. And I was being super careful, it was just so icy (fuckers that don’t clear and deice their sidewalks get the wall)
Damn I didn’t really consider that. I live in a pretty warm year long place. Maybe a fitness center of some kind?
yeah maybe. The options are mostly either really expensive or cheap big box places in car-infested shitholes that I couldn’t reasonably get to except by car. I have done this before but never stuck with it longer than a couple months. having to drive to the gym is a bit of a downer lol but its probably still worth
Cheap Winter beater bike? If you can store one, you can prolly store two, at the third is where it actually takes up more space.
Doesn’t really have to do anything other than turn the wheels and brake. Hell, gearing is optional if it’s to replace a nice stroll instead of transportation or go fast.
I get my steps in and then some while working outside year round, and it’s currently the most shitty snowy year here on record. Best way to motivate yourself to get more steps in is when you have the economic gun to your head lmao
yah last year was miserable here for snow (and especially snow clearing, the actual quantity was high but not record breaking). and I actually did get a lot of steps in by taking the bus to a poorly served area when biking got too miserable due to ice rutting. it’s just that it resulted in some gnarly falls
Ah wading through the snow drifts is an outstanding way to get in both cardio and a full-body workout
There are small walking pads you can get for around 250 (cheaper used) which could fill in that space
oh interesting so it’s basically just a treadmill without a big frame/handles? I could possibly do that while I work… Compelling idea honestly. Not sure I’d stick to using it but anything’s better than sitting at a desk and then sitting on a couch and not moving at all…
