Krista Catwood hates to exercise.
“Some people get an endorphin rush — I don’t and it feels miserable,” Catwood, a 43-year-old mom in Oregon, tells TODAY.com. “Exercise can border on suffering.”
As a drag and burlesque performer, Catwood says exercise should feel fun and silly. “There has to be a costume and accountability,” she says.
Enter “Food Court 5000,” an indoor walking group founded by Catwood for “mall walkers” and 1980s enthusiasts. Once a week, the group dresses in neon leggings and acid-washed denim to “power walk” a 3.5-loop around the Lloyd Center in Portland. While the point is fitness, mall walkers love the lively chatter, ample rest stations and post-workout snacks, like Auntie Anne’s Pretzels and bubble tea.
Catwood admits she used to giggle at mall walkers when she worked in a mall. Now, she admires them — along with the electrifying fashion that enriched the 1980s.
As a self-professed “female Richards Simmons,” Catwood leads the pack wearing her blonde ponytail in a scrunchie, metallic fuchsia lipstick, a bright tracksuit and a fanny pack. Bringing up the caboose is Catwood’s sister Melissa Dickerson, who carries speakers blasting music by Paula Abdul, C+C Music Factory and Prince.
Krista Catwood leads a 1980s-inspired weekly walking group called “Food Court 5000.”Courtesy Amoxtli ReyesThe Unique Benefits of Mall Walking
The benefits of a walking routine are well documented.
“Walking is a low-impact exercise that offers a wide range of benefits for people of all ages and fitness levels,” Stephanie Mansour, a certified personal trainer and TODAY Fitness contributor, tells TODAY.com. She adds that walking can help you “maintain a healthy weight by burning calories and boosting metabolism while also strengthening the bones and muscles.”
Plus, she says, “It strengthens the heart and reduces the risk of heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure.”
According to Mansour, walking also improves balance and coordination, helping to prevent falls and injuries, and improves mental health. “Walking has a positive impact on mental and emotional well-being as it reduces stress, anxiety and depression by releasing endorphins, which are natural mood boosters,” says Mansour. “Walking also improves cognitive function, enhancing memory and concentration. It provides an opportunity to clear your head, and gain a sense of calm and relaxation.”
Krista Catwood (R) and her group of mall-walkers called “Food Court 5000” wave to shoppers. Courtesy Amoxtli Reyes
Getting your steps in with “mall walking” offers additional benefits. Mansour says the environment is a reliable, climate-controlled space “making it accessible year-round, regardless of weather conditions, which can encourage more regular exercise habits.”
The “visual stimulation” of a mall (bright lights, special events, excited children) can make walking feel less “monotonous” than walking on a treadmill, says Mansour. Stroll by an Orange Julius or Cinnabon stand and you time-travel back to the good ‘ole days.
“Emotionally, mall walking can tap into feelings of nostalgia and comfort, as many people associate malls with positive memories of social interactions and leisure activities of years past,” explains Mansour. “Mentally, mall walking provides an opportunity to connect with others, combatting feelings of loneliness and isolation.”
Members of “Food Court 5000,” a mall-walking group, stretch it out at the Lloyd Center in Portland, Oregon. Courtesy Amoxtli ReyesIn Search of a Fun, Affordable Way to Lose Weight
Catwood founded “Food Court 5000” six months ago. “I gained weight over the last year and a half of dating my partner — she loves to go out to eat — and starting a new job in an office setting where I found myself moving around much less,” says Catwood.
While her weight has fluctuated a bit over the years around pregnancies (she has an 11 year old and was a gestational surrogate twice), this was the first time that Catwood struggled to lose weight.
“When your underwear starts to hurt, you know it’s time to figure something out … I needed to work movement into my life that was fun, cheap, and didn’t feel like a chore.”
Krista Catwood
“Honestly, I just wanted to fit into my own clothes!” she says. “When your underwear starts to hurt, you know it’s time to figure something out. I couldn’t afford a new wardrobe or to join a gym and simply cutting out desserts wasn’t helping. I needed to work movement into my life that was fun, free or cheap, and didn’t feel like a chore.”
And so “Food Court 5000” was born. The group welcomes anyone who vibes. “We are a friendly, joyous, blur of neon, waving at kids, shop owners, security guards,” says Catwood. “Everyone knows us.”
Not only does it provide a fun, social environment, but a dose of motivation and accountability, too. “You have to look like a mall walker by pumping your arms in a power walk,” says Catwood. “Otherwise you’re just walking in the mall — you’re not mall walking.” Catwood often yells into her mic, “Get those arms moving! You can do it!” If someone slows down, a buddy pauses to walk alongside them. The group’s mantra: There is no shaming at ‘Food Court 500.’”
Leslie Kelinson (L) and Krista Catwood (R) lead the way in their walking group “Food Court 5000” at the Lloyd Center in Portland, Oregon. Courtesy Amoxtli Reyes‘I Feel Seen’
At 80 years old, Leslie Kelinson says her peers can’t match her brisk pace. “I am a fast walker,” Kelinson tells TODAY.com, proudly adding that she is the eldest member of “Food Court 5000.”
Kelinson relies on “Food Court 5000” for feeling “fabulous.”
“If I don’t walk, I get a little bitchy,” says Kelinson. “It’s medication for feeling at the top of my game.”
For Kelinson, “mall walking,” exceeds fitness. “I have met people there who I would never have met,” she says. “They are way younger than me and live totally different lives than mine. I enjoy them so much. It’s enhanced my life.”
At her age, Kelinson craves community and belonging. “As you get older, you sort of drift away,” Kelinson notes, adding that in the group, “I feel seen — people notice me … I feel important because I am the senior member and yet, I am just as great as the rest of them. People notice me for that.”
How to Try Mall Walking
If you’re intrigued by the idea of “mall walking,” Mansour says most everyone can partake in a few easy “steps” — no pun intended.
Find a location. “Identify a local mall that opens early for walkers or has designated walking hours,” says Mansour. “Wear comfortable walking shoes and clothing, and bring a water bottle to stay hydrated.” Ease into it. Start with a comfortable pace and duration. “Even 5 minutes a day can make a difference,” Mansour says, suggesting to gradually increase time and intensity as stamina builds. Bring a buddy. “Walk with a friend or join a mall-walking group for motivation and social support,” says Mansour. “Make mall walking a regular part of your routine by setting specific days and times each week to walk, turning it into a consistent and enjoyable habit.”
Krista Catwood says that while mall walking did help her lose weight, the biggest benefit was how it changed her mindset on exercise.Courtesy Melissa DickersonBeyond Weight Loss: An Attitude Change About Exercise
Catwood says the 10 pounds she lost through “Food Court 5000” is inconsequential.
“It was a catalyst to re-think how I can seek out … more fun activities that … get my heart rate up,” says Catwood, adding that changing her attitude toward fitness, “Has relieved a lot of unnecessary pressure and shame that I was putting on myself.”
Catwood is now roller skating, jumping at the trampoline park, dancing and — her personal favorite — exercising to 80’s and 90’s aerobics videos by Jane Fonda and Richard Simmons.
“Mall walking” is Catwood’s self-care.
“Moving my body, getting offline and into my community has really been beneficial to my mental health,” says Catwood. “When we’re out there blasting our tunes and laughing through the halls of the mall, it’s joyous.”