Is walking considered cardio?

[5431]

I have to walk about an hour a day to get to classes etc. My friend says that this doesn't count as cardio, but I think it does. Who's right?

[NOpain-NOgain]

what is cardio to you?

walking burns calories and causes vascularity..

running burns more calories and cause more vascularity..

If your trying to prove to your friend that your getting exercise..
then ye you are..
but it all depends at what hart rate do you consider an excercise cardio-vascular

[matjusm]

I have to walk about an hour a day to get to classes etc. My friend says that this doesn't count as cardio, but I think it does. Who's right?

What do you mean by "cardio"? Its not going to be as effective as running but if you do quite a bit of walking (I walk to all my classes/gym as well) then you'll get a workout from it.

[Cleared]

technically yes , it's cardio if you are doing for an extended period of time.

[MattyG]

Yes it is a great form of cardio.
Low impact.
You can walk at a normal pace, or power walk for an intense workout.

[OldStyleNanny]

I would prefer not to call it cardio. I'd reserve the term for activities that would generally raise your heart rate by a good margin and keep it raised there for a while. Walking is great to burn calories/fat but given that it is very hard to get up to a good heart rate even with powerwalking without breaking into a run, it wouldn't be 'cardio' since it does little to the heart per se.

Btw., have you considered getting an inexpensive bicycle and riding it fast that distance to your class every day? That could be a great cardio! (as long as you don't coast too much)

[InclineVet]

Long periods of it, yes.

[ger2oo5]

I have to walk about an hour a day to get to classes etc. My friend says that this doesn't count as cardio, but I think it does. Who's right?

Of course it is cardio, as in cardiovascular exercise. It might not be the most intense but it does raise your HR and burn calories.

[blkbelt42]

of course!

[__Iceman__]

Deadlifting 10lbs is also technically lifting. Just saying.

[DJAuto]

If it works. My main type of cardio is walking on an inclined treadmill.

[glsfitness]

In ur situation its is considered "getting to class".

Which in turn will benefit you.

Walking is a healthy behavior as is getting a education.

Keep on Stepping

[smokeater]

Is it cardio, yes. Should you skip your cardio workout because you walk to class, probably not. It's one of those little things you can do to help your level of fitness, kind of like using the stairs vs the elevator.

[ppd001]

I have to walk about an hour a day to get to classes etc. My friend says that this doesn't count as cardio, but I think it does. Who's right?

for me cardio is something that gets your heart rate at least at 60%.

[__Iceman__]

Walking is something that you're just supposed to do to get around. Cardio is when you actually put some kind of stress on your cardiovascular system in order to improve it. Unless you're very fat and get sweaty from 5 minutes of walking on a treadmill it's not cardio.

[Muratovic]

I would count it as sometimes you need to hall ass to get to class. But then again normal lesiure walking I wouldnt count. But, me and my friends get a good amount cardio from walking around in the mornings. (probably walk 2+miles everyday)

[tomsfish]

to me,cardio is something you don in addition to your daily routine.today i shoveled snow for an hour,but i dont consider it cardio as i would usually have walked the dog a couple of miles like i do all the time.

tom

[thomasxc]

Definitely cardio, you just need to do it for extended periods of time, uphill, or speedwalk.

[Tyciol]

Short answer: yes. Your friends are gay.

Long answer: your heart is always working, anything you do to expend more energy than usual will increase oxygen consumption and your breathing will increase to suck in more, your heart will increase to circulate it more. Stuff termed cardio is usually stuff that can expend a lot of it while balancing out the tension demands to a lot of different muscles, usually big ones.