Walking for Exercise

Well a few years ago I was walking daily, up at 6:30 am and out the door to put in anywhere from 5-10 km before getting ready for my work day.  Now this pace was worked up from casual walking to finally power walking with my short legs!!!  After some 6-18 months my bad knee finally just said Enough was Enough! and when I got it checked out it was just about bone on bone and was told to ease up on the pace for sure, even the distance to calm it down.  Darn and I had lost a good 20 lbs during that span and was liking my stamina and endurance along, which was lacking, along with myself in general.

So now some 2 years later I'm going on my dream adventure and have chosen many walking tours with beach and park like excursions so naturally have to build that all up again plus try to lose some lbs too.  Some time into this program again my knee was aching some - got it checked out right away - can't have that worsening on my trip.  Happens it's worse than before and basically bone on bone, no knee replacement just yet but into the future, so now have a walking only brace to use and take with me but after a few weeks it still was not taking the ache away.  So in for a cortisone shot and some anti-inflammatory meds (for the trip in case) and VOILA between the two walking is much more tolerable with periodic rub downs of A535 and no pills so far. That is really good.

Then with my new toy, Galaxy S 4, I have electronic fun/help in S Health app included on my phone.  YEAH and I know how to use that app at least!  I did a couple of Ooopsies but think I'm recording my sessions correctly now and today was the FIRST day that I did my route comfortably plus a bit more challenge to it also.  Anyways here's what I've got in my log, my weight too but that's mine alone - LOL!:

Pedometre (which is different from the Exercise-Walking option):
July 28th - 68 steps - distance 0.05 km - 2 kcal burnt - 1 step ran???
July 29th - 7,663 steps - distance 6.34 km - 379 kcal burnt - 1,302 steps ran
July 30th - 20,297 steps - 7,025 steps ran - distance 17.37 km - 1,168 kcal burnt - counted the whole day not just my walk in error - forgot to shut the app off
Aug 2nd - 13,974 steps - 8,146 steps ran - distance 12.67 km - 949 kcal burnt
Aug 3rd - 7,969 steps - 66 steps ran - distance 5.97 km - 324 kcal burnt - walking downtown on errands
Aug 4th - 823 steps - 6 steps ran - distance 0.54 km - 31 kcal burnt - shopping etc
Aug 5th - 16,291 steps - 2 steps ran - distance 12.09 km - 648 kcal burnt

Exercise - Walking
July 29th - duration 2:49:28 - distance 7.31 km - ave speed 2.6 km/hr - 400 kcal burnt - both levels of Polo Park shopping mall with shopping - too hot outside
Aug 2nd - duration 1:36:15 - distance 7.53 km - ave speed 3.8 km/hr - 402 kcal burnt - Wellington to Harrow St.
Aug 3rd - duration 51.54 - distance 4.44 km - ave speed 6.5 km/hr - 237 kcal burnt - walked twice around Kildonan Park with Michelle - speed is off as there were times stopped for picture taking
Aug 3rd - duration 34:08 - distance 0.40 km - ave speed 0.8 km/hr - 21 kcal burnt - wanted to see about grocery shopping - you should see the crazy map - LOL!!!
Aug 5th - duration 2:19:33 - distance 11.00 km - ave speed 3.8 km/h - 588 kcal burnt (my usual route from first walking stints just not power walking - just before Wellington Crescent/Lanark Park turned at the railway tracks across from Polo Park) - also walked around the Legislative Bldg and did the front steps till 100 up were reached (one tour is 90 steps up and then down again and I want to make sure I can do it)

Within the Formal Garden

Michelle - left side of bridge entrance to gardens

right side of bridge entrance to gardens

So I think I'll continue using the Exercise-Walking option as it seem more realistic and really I KNOW I don't run so not sure how the pedometer got those readings.  Some days I sit out but if I can get up 7:00ish I try my darnedest to head out the door before it gets too warm.  But I also know I'm not up to matching Angela's nor Eileen's steps/speed but found an equal walking partner within Michelle so will have to give that a try again one day and for sure when I come back!  Maybe even out to the Assiniboine Park trails???