Walking to get back into shape

[LizardKing]

I do a 5 mile walk every day with a 20 lb pack on. Some days it's close to 100 degrees, so I carry enough water with me. If my car or mower needs gas, I also carry a 2 gal gas can and fill it up at my turn around point. Saves gas by not driving to get gas.

[Matt In Oklahoma]

You guys keep it up!

[EX121]

That's great fallout boy.

[fallout boy]

I lost sixth pounds wlaking!

[EX121]

Thanks for the ideas. I'm now up to about 4 miles in an hour with a 25 lb pack. I've also started doing a local hill climb. I need to start adding some other exercises to the routine, and be more consistent.

I'd like to add to this thread. What I do is walk about 2 1/2 to 3 miles abot 5 times a week with weights. I started with 2 lbs (I know, thats not alot. But if any of you remember rifle PT in basic training...) and now I'm up to 12 lbs dumbbells. One in each hand. As I walk, I do various excercises. I'll tell ya, at the end of that walk, my arms are numb! You all should give this a try.

I started doing this a few years back and it is a great time saving exercise. I've moved up to a lot of time at the gym (especially in the summer) but I still try to wanlt like this 2-3 times a week. In the winter I do it with my ruck.

[Patriot Prepper]

Great job on your training. The key to getting in shape and keeping in shape is consistency. It is better to do it over a longer period of time and to stay with it, than it is to rush trying to be conditioned. People often push themselves too fast and burn out or injure themselves. It you can walk one mile with 25 pounds just keep increasing the distance and the weight but go slow. Also try to integrate inclines into your walking. It is amazing how much more energy and strength it takes to navigate a steep incline.

I used to own martial arts schools and students were often impatient. They wanted to get better as fast as possible. The real impatient ones usually quit after a period of time. The one's who were more consistent and stayed with it, progressed to black belts.

I just got back this week from North Carolina and Tennessee. I did some backpacking on the AT and tried to carry a pack, my 7 pound dog, and ten pounds of video gear in a separate bag. On the Roan Mountain part of the trail it got too rough and I had to bring the video camera back to a vehicle to continue. In fact, I fell from a four foot drop off and tumbled about 15 feet, all the while trying to protect my video camera. Thank God it was in a cushioned case. That's when I brought it back to the vehicle.

If I only trained on flat ground, I would have had trouble on Roan Mountain. Elevation increases, and decreases take totally different muscle groups than walking on flat land. I am a Florida resident and we are flat landers. I know of a few places where I can practice walking on an incline or I use a stair machine. The key is to keep doing it. Never stop conditioning your body.

[Mikeg175]

I carry one in each hand hehe . I was thinking of looking for some kind of weight to attach to it , kind of like when in the batters box and you put a weight on your bat to warm up with . Actually I was just thinking , I'm semi-lying here , one is actually a Streamlight , not a Maglite hehe .

Those 6 and 8 D Cell Maglights make phenominal weapons too! Walking with them is not a bad idea.

[Mikeg175]

I started my walks with d cell maglites . I do my walks at night and carry one in each hand , gives me light , weight workout and protection all in one . Im not sure where to go from there hehe .

I'd like to add to this thread. What I do is walk about 2 1/2 to 3 miles abot 5 times a week with weights. I started with 2 lbs (I know, thats not alot. But if any of you remember rifle PT in basic training...) and now I'm up to 12 lbs dumbbells. One in each hand. As I walk, I do various excercises. I'll tell ya, at the end of that walk, my arms are numb! You all should give this a try.

[splat23]

I also used the water to break in my boots. I would run the water as hot as I could stand it and then walk with them for about 2-3 miles. I would do this a couple of times and would not have an issue.

I also learned in the Army that wearing foot powder and two pairs of wool socks work really well. When you blister it's because of two different skin layers moving back and forth. The socks take the place of those layers by absoring the movement.

I've known guys to wear panty hose to prevent blisters on their feet and ticks on their legs.

I use a variety of boots and wearing them all every now and then to prevent blisters.

[EX121]

Thanks for the input, those are real simular to ones given to me by the physical therapists.

[Lowdown3]

Couple core related exercises for you Ex-

*Lay with your body flat on the ground on your back. KEEPING your from your butt to your legs on the ground during the entire exercise and not using your hands to help you get up, without putting your hands behind your head like a normal sit up- bring your upper half up to where your body is in an L shaped position. The long part of the "L" being your upper half, the bottom part of the "L" having never left the ground at all. Reach and touch your toes while your there then slowly with breathing without just dropping like a rock, go back to the starting position- again your lower half NEVER leaves the contact with the ground at all.

*Leanbacks- kneel down, knees TOGETHER (important). Body straight. Keep your upper body in line- i.e, NOT your head out of alignment with your mid section and as one unit, lean your upper half back as far as you can before falling. Remember to breathe and go slow. Back, spine, head should all be straight and in alignment during it. Most people can do 10 right off the back.

These are NOT "see how fast I can bang them out" type exercises. These are meant to be done slowly, with breathe.

These have done more for my core areas than hundreds of situps ever did. Good luck and start slow.

[EX121]

Thanks for the input & encouragement. I figure that I didn't get so out of shape all at once so I'm trying to be realistic about getting back in shape. I have been trying to walk every other day. I need to add some core building exercises on alternate days. I'm not trying to get back to the fitness level that I was in when I was on active duty, just some better cardio & a better strenght level.