Moderate or strenuous exercise?

[Bazza1234]

Various western Governments Heath Departments have recommended that people get 150 minutes per week ( 5days x30 minutes each day) of "moderate exercise" - or half that of "vigorous exercise" . For the purposes of this post, I will call moderate exercise to be brisk walking and vigorous exercise to be jogging/running. I have been running for the past 4 years and have probably averaged about 120 minutes per week of vigorous exercise. I am now fairly "fit" ( even at the age of almost 71) but a few months ago ( 5 actually) I wasn't watching where I was going, fell in a gutter and fractured a bone in my foot - which appears to be very reluctant to heal. A very common problem apparently with bones in the foot and especially for older people. I want to keep my good cardiovascular fitness and go to the gym - but I con't particularly enjoy stationary bike riding, treadmill walking, indoor rowing etc (although I have been doing it) and yearn to get outside onto the roads and trails again. However I am "so fit" and have such a low resting heart rate because of this that even walking at my fastest pace does not get my heart rate elevated to what I would call a vigorous" level. So I am starting to experiment with Nordic walking using hiking poles. I did my first 5 klms using these this past weekend. I was by myself and attempting to use them with correct form - using my arms to assist my legs to propel myself forward. I felt that it was a good workout - probably not as fast as I can walk without the poles but it showed good promise for the future - if it eventuates that I am unable to continue running.

[Realfoodieclub]

I like the fact that there are many different forms of walking all giving a slightly different result. I look forward to hearing your assessment of the sort of exercise you are getting from your Nordic walking. I have tried it and found my core muscles got a great workout from using the poles and that was just after a slow 2km walk.

[skysue16]

I have always thought Nordic walking looks pretty energetic, an all round work out. Best of luck with it 👍

[Mike1942]

Hi Bazza1234. As you so rightly pointed out elsewhere ,we are a bit older than most on this forum

I too thought Nordic Walking was the only way left after a calf muscle injury last Xmas. But with the firm hands of my physio on my leg , I was soon "up and running "again. Keep up your exercises any way you can. I wore 1/2 kg ankle weights for a month. A bit extream maybe , I but I lost no muscle mass in my left calf. Mike