The Complete Guide to Walking: For Health, Weight Loss, and Fitness

by Mark Fenton

Mark Fenton’s paperback has sold nearly 50,000 copies, and now contains up-to-date information on pedometers, fighting obesity, nordic walking, getting kids to walk, and building walkable communities, all in addition to his tried-and-true walking program. Fenton has designed an easy-to-maintain exercise program that will get people engaged in a lifetime of walking, illustrated with full-color photos throughout. Chapters are literally step-by-step and walking warm-up moves, emotional well-being, heart health, keeping it fun, logging your workouts, walking in intervals, walking attire, safety tips, walking on treadmills, walking vs. running, healthy eating, heart-rate monitors, building endurance and speed, race walking events, using hand weights, protecting your joints, and much more! Mark Fenton’s guide is as motivating as it is realistic, and promises to become an even bigger seller as consumers become ever more aware of the benefits of walking.

Genres: Nonfiction, Health, Fitness

258 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2001

Reviews

[William Schram · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Complete Guide to Walking is an apt title for this book. Written by Mark Fenton, a man known by the moniker of America’s Walking Guru, the book is one of those that double as a workbook. This is to say that it has sections where you are encouraged to write in the book to mark your progress. This would be appropriate if I owned this book, but it is from the library and I don’t like to write in library books.

I don’t have any issues with this book at all. It doesn’t tell you the basics of walking since it doesn’t expect a small child to read this book, however it does talk about other basics of walking. The book talks about how to pick out the proper shoes, and how to tell when to buy new ones. The book discusses proper posture and other things to reduce the stress on your limbs and joints.

The book is full of quotes and sound advice. For one, the main thing to do with an exercise routine of any kind is to actually do it. Since that is the case, the book recommends getting in the right habit first. As long as you walk, everything else is inconsequential. So then, the main portion of the book is devoted to a 52-week plan. Even if you miss a day, the important thing is to just walk. Walk because it feels awesome. The multiple benefits of walking are listed and well-known to many.

All in all, the book was great. My only issue is that I would have to take this out several times or make my own logbook so that I can record my progress. I do happen to have a watch that contains a pedometer, so I can find out how many steps I have done for the day so that works out well.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great resource. Inspirational. Exercises included. Also includes tips for hiking. Best idea to come from book: sign up on walking tours - now that I'm big on walking I would be interested in such a thing whereas before I would have skimmed it over. My dream would be to walk a part of the Big Wall of China.

[Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

A simple, no-nonsense approach to exercising and feeling better. Walk more. Fenton covers indoor options (gyms, treadmills), what to wear when walking outside, ways to increase your fitness level through walking and other related topics.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely a good read for getting starting in walking and moving right on up to even race walking. I like how the book solely focused on walking and was about getting fit. It was an encouraging read.

[Sarah Nannette Booth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book on walking! I am more motivated to walk more , for my fitness, to stay slim and for my health after reading this book! It also encouraged me to walk more and not make running my main focus for exercise as running is harder on my knees and more of a chance for knee injuries.

[David Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is designed to help you set up your own year-long exercise regimen for walking. It's not bad, but also not great.

I was able to glean some nice insights at times, and others ,meh...

As a USATF track official I do have to state that the section on Race Walking was informative.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Has some outdated info, but otherwise good advice for beginners. I appreciate that strength training is suggested as well.

[Wileyoneone · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book - no longer have

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Changed my life- Now quit reading this review and get out there and walk!