by Serj
(Pasco, WA)
I work as a security in college. And all I do is just walk around for 4 hours. I was wondering does it do anything, like working out my muscles?
My Answer
I give you the straight answer. NO.
Walking does not do much to workout your muscles.
Strength training with weights or with your own body weight, do much to work out your muscles.
You see, walking is a cardio exercise. It's an excellent exercise that revs up your heart rate, signifying that you "work-out" your heart (and lungs too), keeping it strong and fit, to enable you to pump blood more efficiently.
That way, your heart (and lungs) remains healthy, hence lowering your risk of contracting heart diseases and strokes.
Walking is also a powerful way to help you lose weight.
This is because when you walk, especially at a fast, brisk pace or if you race walk (i.e walk as if you're in a race), you speed up your metabolism fast which causes you to burn off more fat calories from your entire body, to lose weight.
How many calories you burn walking at a fast, brisk pace?
Quite a lot apparently. See the chart on calories burned walking
I don't know how intense is your walking when you "walk around" for 4 hours. Granted that it's not at a fast and brisk pace, it's still good exercise that will benefit your heart and body.
I would however encourage you to take advantage of your daily walking routine by walking say, 30 minutes (out of the 4-hour walk) at a fast and brisk pace, to work out your heart and to speed up your metabolism....