Observation on walking and on "throwing up" from training...

As I sit and watch people walking on the treadmill I have a few observations to share:

Face the fact that walking is a daily activity that is not that intense.

Face the fact that you will reach a speed walking where you will no longer be walking - it will be some hybrid "fast walk" that has the shoulders rounded forward, weight shifted forward and a very altered gait - This does you no good!

Yes you can alter the treadmill walk by moving the elevation etc...but you will still run into the altered gait hybrid thing.

Walking CAN be a great activity but it quickly loses "exercise" benefit - so don't start yelling at me as an "anti-walker".

Walking MIGHT be a great place to begin an exercise program - IF you don't bring any asymmetries, restrictions and/or joint mobility issues to the activity.

Walking IS a great addition to and part of an overall healthy lifestyle - IF the above joint/asymmetries issues are taken care of.

Walking on a treadmill is NOT the same as walking outside - outside you have the actual proprioceptive, visual and vestibular input of moving your body through space - on the treadmill your body is expecting that input but not getting it - this is confusing to the body and that is why people will typically get "dizzy" for a moment when they stop the treadmill.

Accept that walking is walking and use it as the wonderful daily activity that it is but you will need something additional for continued Cardiovascular benefit.

Such as: 10-20 minutes of Kettlebell swing/snatches/complexes or 10 minutes of interval work on an Airdyne bike or Concept 2 rower - Then finish your training with a 20-30 minute walk and ENJOY the walk - don't try to make it something it is not.

Also there was some question today on the forum about whether throwing up as a result of a workout is or is not a desirable thing:
In my opinion it is not a desirable thing and is unnecessary.

Anyone can make someone throw up - it means very little and isn't that hard to accomplish.
Simply put together a circuit or exercises with very little rest and viola you will have your throwing up. So what?

Actually coaching someone to improve their movement skill, coordination, strength etc... takes talent and skill. Actually guiding someone to the successful attainment of their goals takes intelligence and skill. Making someone throw up takes none.

A very small percentage of the human population needs to visit the ragged edge of human performance and even then you can accomplish a lot without the puke.

What if you actually trained with your results in mind - not the workout?