Yesterday I discovered that the slower I go the longer I can walk without "resting". I walked 7 laps without stopping to rest. Then I walked the other 10 (to make a mile) without a rest. I walked 13 laps without stopping on the 2nd mile. I don’t walk very fast to start with (everybody passes me) but I was able to do this by slowing down even more. 17 laps make a mile and I usually do 1 lap in one and a quarter to one and half minutes. Yesterday it took me just a little over 2 minutes to do a lap.

My question is this;

Would it be better to go the whole mile at a slower pace (a little over 2 min per lap) & not stop to “rest” or go back to my usual “speed” (1 ¼ to 1 ½ minutes per lap) and stop occasionally for a 30 second breather?

quote:

Originally posted by p7eggyc:
[...]if you are looking at exercise more from a calorie burning perspective than a cardio workout, then it doesn't matter.[...] Peg

Yes, right now I am more interested in burning calories than in getting my heart rate up to a certain point.
There is nothing wrong with my lungs but I feel out of breath (as if I had been running the Peachtree ) very quickly because I don't have enough red blood cells to carry the oxygen from my lungs to the rest of my body. The counts are within the "normal range" but at the very bottom of that range so my heart and muscles never get the optimum amount of oxygen.
That is why I have to stop and rest, not because I am tired. And it is even worse just after I have eaten. My body can not digest food AND exercise at the same time.
I have my blood levels checked every 6 months and next month is my next test. I will not actually see the doctor until Feb. 2009 (unless I just run into him in the office) and I hope to be down to 150 by then. Fitday says it will take a 1 1/2 lb loss per week to do that.

I'll also chime in here to say that if you are looking at exercise more from a calorie burning perspective than a cardio workout, then it doesn't matter. I believe the formula is mass/distance = calories burned and it's the same regardless of what speed you do it. I personally find that to be VERY motivating as if I have to start looking at heart rate, pace, etc. it will probably be less likely that I'll actually get out there and do it. Bad 'all-or-nothing' response for me around that. I am probably not getting full benefit for my heart but my focus is really on weight management.

Peg

I tend to agree with Dawn that if by walking slower, you can stop the rest breaks, that would maximize the cardio benefit.

On the other hand, I think it's great that you are walking consistently.

You can also try mixing it up. One day walk slower with less stops and an other day, do your usual.

Again, the important thing is that you are exercising regularly : )

From what I know of cardio exercise, you should walk at a pace that is comfortable enough for you to talk and not have to rest.

As you build up stamina, you'll be able to walk faster for a longer distance without having to stop.

So, slow down and go farther without stopping, then in a couple of weeks, pick up the pace a bit and so on and so on.

There is interval training, where you kind of go back and forth between going "all out" and then going at a slower pace, but I think that is normally done when you're in better shape and trying to push yourself harder.

Given your medical history, it might be something you want to discuss with your doctor to see which is better for you.

Dawn