It depends. Are you getting your heart rate up on that walk, or stopping every five feet while the dog sniffs everything he comes across? Something is always better than nothing. But if your walks are your cardio, there’s always a way to increase the intensity.
How Do I Know If My Walk Counts?
Pay attention to your heart rate and your breathing. A real cardio walk has you moving at a steady, purposeful pace, breathing harder than normal, still able to talk but not wanting to chat the whole way. A stop-and-go stroll is still movement, and movement matters, but it isn’t doing much for your heart.
Is a Slow Walk Worthless?
No. Something is better than nothing, and a daily walk beats sitting on the couch every time. Just be honest about what it is. A relaxed walk is a good habit. It isn’t a workout.
How Do I Make My Walk Harder?
There’s always a way to turn it up:
- Walk faster. Pick a pace that makes you work, and hold it.
- Find hills. Inclines raise your heart rate without adding time.
- Go longer. Add five or ten minutes every week or two.
- Separate the dog walk from the cardio walk. Let the dog sniff on one walk, and set your own pace on the other.
What I’d tell you: Something is better than nothing. But if the dog is setting the pace, it’s a stroll, not cardio. Pick it up.
Words You’ll Hear
- Heart rate
- How fast your heart is beating. Cardio means getting it up and keeping it there for a while.
- Intensity
- How hard you’re working. Pace, hills and distance all raise it.
- Incline
- Walking uphill, outside or on a treadmill. One of the easiest ways to make a walk harder.
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