Walking: A Complete Guide to the Complete Exercise

Walking is an update to his earlier book Aerobic Walking. Being a walker I appreciated this book for the information and the encouragement it provides.Meyers was 79 years old when he wrote the book, and has had his share of physical problems during his life - including two knee replacements and, 10 years before he wrote the book, a nearly fatal massive blockage in his heart.Through all his health issues he has continued to walk, and is certain that he has reached his current age only because of it.The book spends a lot of pages comparing walking and running. As we all know, runners have injuries - in fact in any given year a runner has a 50 - 50 chance of suffering an injury that will alter or stop their training. When I was running my training was often interrupted by a torn Achilles tendon. Walkers, on the other hand, seem to remain remarkably injury free.A common theme in the book is that walking just doesn't get the respect it deserves. Walking is perceived as a "beginner's exercise", only done when for some reason the athlete can't engage in more strenuous exercises such as running. Meyers relates an incident in which, when he was 62, he was teased by a 20 year old runner during one of his walks. He challenged the youngster to a 2 mile walk, and handily beat him (thanks to the specificity principle - which states that our body does best what it does most).I completely relate to this story - back when I was training to run marathons some friends asked me to join them for a bike ride from Houston to Huntsville (about 70 miles). As I had previously done century (100 mile) bike rides and was in pretty good shape I rode with them. About half way through the ride I realized that my legs were trained for running and had lost the conditioning needed for propelling a bike. It was a miserable ride.After a through discussion of lifestyle, stretching, posture, strolling, brisk walking, aerobic walking, and walking for weight loss, Meyers expounds on what he calls high-intensity walking.Research on walkers and runners has, somewhat surprisingly, demonstrated that an athlete can obtain the same level of fitness, as measured by their oxygen intake, by walking as they can by running. Admittedly, this result only follows from high-intensity walking - defined here as walking at a pace of 12 minutes a mile or faster. Although clearly runners will cover the ground faster than walkers, a walker doing high-intensity walking can be every bit as fit as the most highly trained runner.Meyers has a chapter on how regular walkers can progress to faster paces (and higher fitness levels). The most important trick is to bend the arms at the elbow to shorten the natural period of your arm swing.The book has some not so good news for anyone walking to lose or control their weight. While exercising 3 or 4 days a week will certainly improve your overall health in many ways, it may be necessary to exercise 6 or 7 days a week to have an effect on your weight.Meyers ends the book with chapters on race walking (an under-appreciated sport), the medical aspects of walking (useful in cardiac rehabilitation, stroke, hypertension, and other diseases), and mental benefits (it's good for the brain as well!).All in all an enjoyable read about a subject I am interested in. The book has many practical suggestions for getting the maximum benefit from your walking, and incorporating a better diet into a healthy lifestyle.Recommended.

The seller graded the book as 'good.' I think the condition was at least VERY Good!The book gives common sense advice about walking. The section on 'walking shoes is very informative, even though in 2007 there were few 'walking shoes' to choose from. Now there are many, but the advice to get walking shoes rather than running shoes seems very sensible. He explains the mechanics of feet hitting the ground do not seem to have changed with newer books.One example of how dated the book is, 'If you have a cell phone.'He starts with those who. are just starting, and progresses to serious, long distance race walkers.I hope a new edition is forthcoming, but this edition is worth the read!

It does not matter if you are a couch potato or a 30-mile a week runner looking for a cross training exercise, this book is for you! As a runner this book helped me dispel the illusion most runners have and that is this: Walking is for wimps and old people. I gave it a try. I figured if the author, a 60 year plus man, could walk 5 miles in 55 minutes, a runner, like me, should be able to do it too. After mile 3 (when I had to stop) I knew I had found the perfect cross training exercise. ALL the benefits of running with out injury! This book explains that walking is actually the BEST excercise that you can do and gives many examples of hard data to back up this claim. It will teach you techniques every walker at every level should know. If you are serious about staying fit or getting fit, buy this book! The only bad thing I have to say about this book is this: You can tell from the authors tone in writing that he has been on a quest to prove that walking is the best, most natural, exercise the human body can do. That walking is for everybody, not just old men and women. So why then does the cover of the book have a picture of an older man and a woman? I would have added a picture of a young man doing a good walking workout as well.....

I have a family history of early male deaths from heart disease. Many years ago a friend gave me this book & said “you need to read this book!!” I did read it & it made perfect sense & I believe it has helped me to stay healthy by simply walking & exorcise. I think I gave the book to a friend so I recently purchased another copy. I think it is a good book for anyone with a family history of heart disease!

I just started a walking program and got the book a week later. It had a lot of good tips on how to start a program with a lot of facts to support Walking as a great way to get and stay fit. I have been walking for almost a month now, and it has helped me in so many areas. I was having back pain, and it has helped that. I was having hip pain when I sleep, and it helped that. It has just made me feel better all over. I am overweight and by Walking and can feel myself losing weight and getting in better shape. You have to eat right to lose the weight, but a Walking program is just a critical. I am already up to 3 miles and am now working on going at a faster pace. My lower body feels much stronger. He does a good job motivating you, especially since the author is in his late 70's himself. Walking may have just saved my life!

I went through a phase of wanting to get back into exercise but I've never been good at jogging. I bought this book and a pedometer to try to get into it. I have left the book half way through. I get the concept that running is bad for your joints and walking is better, the author really doesn't have to ram it down your throat. You could skip the first 3 chapters I think. I will pick it up again when the weather improves but for now I have some of the concepts still in my head. A good intro for beginners.

If you're considering the benefits of walking & taken it to the next level then this is the book you need to get motivated

Glad I bought this. Started walking for fitness and this provided a good start point

A very good walking excersise book,provided with good service.Thank you.

very good book gives enthusiasm to start walking more