{"id":12154,"date":"2025-07-21T05:12:16","date_gmt":"2025-07-21T05:12:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/12154\/"},"modified":"2025-07-21T05:12:16","modified_gmt":"2025-07-21T05:12:16","slug":"how-mall-walking-can-motivate-you-to-walk-more-and-lose-weight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/12154\/","title":{"rendered":"How ‘Mall Walking’ Can Motivate You to Walk More and Lose Weight"},"content":{"rendered":"

Krista Catwood hates to exercise. <\/p>\n

\u201cSome people get an endorphin rush \u2014 I don\u2019t and it feels miserable,\u201d Catwood, a 43-year-old mom in Oregon, tells TODAY.com<\/a>. \u201cExercise can border on suffering.\u201d <\/p>\n

As a drag and burlesque performer, Catwood says exercise should feel fun and silly. \u201cThere has to be a costume and accountability,\u201d she says. <\/p>\n

Enter \u201cFood Court 5000,\u201d an indoor walking group founded by Catwood for \u201cmall walkers\u201d and 1980s enthusiasts. Once a week, the group dresses in neon leggings and acid-washed denim to \u201cpower walk<\/a>\u201d 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<\/a>, like Auntie Anne\u2019s Pretzels and bubble tea. <\/p>\n

Catwood admits she used to giggle at mall walkers when she worked in a mall. Now, she admires them \u2014 along with the electrifying fashion that enriched the 1980s. <\/p>\n

As a self-professed \u201cfemale Richards Simmons,\u201d 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\u2019s sister Melissa Dickerson, who carries speakers blasting music by Paula Abdul, C+C Music Factory and Prince. <\/p>\n

\"KristaKrista Catwood leads a 1980s-inspired weekly walking group called \u201cFood Court 5000.\u201dCourtesy Amoxtli ReyesThe Unique Benefits of Mall Walking<\/p>\n

The benefits of a walking routine are well documented. <\/p>\n

\u201cWalking is a low-impact exercise that offers a wide range of benefits for people of all ages and fitness levels,\u201d Stephanie Mansour, a certified personal trainer and TODAY Fitness <\/a>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.\u201d <\/p>\n

Plus, she says, \u201cIt strengthens the heart and reduces the risk of heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure.\u201d <\/p>\n

According to Mansour, walking also improves balance and coordination, helping to prevent falls and injuries, and improves mental health. \u201cWalking 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,\u201d says Mansour. \u201cWalking also improves cognitive function, enhancing memory and concentration. It provides an opportunity to clear your head, and gain a sense of calm and relaxation.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"KristaKrista Catwood (R) and her group of mall-walkers called \u201cFood Court 5000\u201d wave to shoppers. Courtesy Amoxtli Reyes<\/p>\n

Getting your steps in with \u201cmall walking\u201d offers additional benefits. Mansour says the environment is a reliable, climate-controlled space \u201cmaking it accessible year-round, regardless of weather conditions, which can encourage more regular exercise habits.\u201d <\/p>\n

The \u201cvisual stimulation\u201d of a mall (bright lights, special events, excited children) can make walking feel less \u201cmonotonous\u201d than walking on a treadmill, says Mansour. Stroll by an Orange Julius or Cinnabon stand and you time-travel back to the good \u2018ole days.<\/p>\n

\u201cEmotionally, 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,\u201d explains Mansour. \u201cMentally, mall walking provides an opportunity to connect with others, combatting feelings of loneliness and isolation.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"MembersMembers of \u201cFood Court 5000,\u201d 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<\/p>\n

Catwood founded \u201cFood Court 5000\u201d six months ago. \u201cI gained weight over the last year and a half of dating my partner \u2014 she loves to go out to eat \u2014 and starting a new job in an office setting where I found myself moving around much less,\u201d says Catwood. <\/p>\n

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. <\/p>\n

\u201cWhen your underwear starts to hurt, you know it\u2019s time to figure something out … I needed to work movement into my life that was fun, cheap, and didn\u2019t feel like a chore.\u201d <\/p>\n

Krista Catwood<\/p>\n

\u201cHonestly, I just wanted to fit into my own clothes!\u201d she says. \u201cWhen your underwear starts to hurt, you know it\u2019s time to figure something out. I couldn\u2019t afford a new wardrobe or to join a gym and simply cutting out desserts wasn\u2019t helping. I needed to work movement into my life that was fun, free or cheap, and didn\u2019t feel like a chore.\u201d <\/p>\n

And so \u201cFood Court 5000\u201d was born. The group welcomes anyone who vibes. \u201cWe are a friendly, joyous, blur of neon, waving at kids, shop owners, security guards,\u201d says Catwood. \u201cEveryone knows us.\u201d <\/p>\n

Not only does it provide a fun, social environment, but a dose of motivation and accountability, too. \u201cYou have to look like a mall walker by pumping your arms in a power walk,\u201d says Catwood. \u201cOtherwise you\u2019re just walking in the mall \u2014 you\u2019re not mall walking.\u201d Catwood often yells into her mic, \u201cGet those arms moving! You can do it!\u201d If someone slows down, a buddy pauses to walk alongside them. The group\u2019s mantra: There is no shaming at ‘Food Court 500.’\u201d<\/p>\n

\"LeslieLeslie Kelinson (L) and Krista Catwood (R) lead the way in their walking group \u201cFood Court 5000\u201d at the Lloyd Center in Portland, Oregon. Courtesy Amoxtli Reyes\u2018I Feel Seen\u2019 <\/p>\n

At 80 years old, Leslie Kelinson says her peers can\u2019t match her brisk pace. \u201cI am a fast walker,\u201d Kelinson tells TODAY.com, proudly adding that she is the eldest member of \u201cFood Court 5000.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kelinson relies on \u201cFood Court 5000\u201d for feeling \u201cfabulous.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cIf I don\u2019t walk, I get a little bitchy,\u201d says Kelinson. \u201cIt\u2019s medication for feeling at the top of my game.\u201d <\/p>\n

For Kelinson, \u201cmall walking,\u201d exceeds fitness. \u201cI have met people there who I would never have met,\u201d she says. \u201cThey are way younger than me and live totally different lives than mine. I enjoy them so much. It\u2019s enhanced my life.\u201d<\/p>\n

At her age, Kelinson craves community and belonging. \u201cAs you get older, you sort of drift away,\u201d Kelinson notes, adding that in the group, \u201cI feel seen \u2014 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

How to Try Mall Walking<\/p>\n

If you’re intrigued by the idea of “mall walking,” Mansour says most everyone can partake in a few easy \u201csteps\u201d \u2014 no pun intended. <\/p>\n

Find a location. \u201cIdentify a local mall that opens early for walkers or has designated walking hours,\u201d says Mansour. \u201cWear comfortable walking shoes and clothing, and bring a water bottle to stay hydrated.\u201d Ease into it. Start with a comfortable pace and duration. \u201cEven 5 minutes a day can make a difference,\u201d Mansour says, suggesting to gradually increase time and intensity as stamina builds. Bring a buddy. \u201cWalk with a friend or join a mall-walking group for motivation and social support,\u201d says Mansour. \u201cMake 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.\u201d\"KristaKrista 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<\/p>\n

Catwood says the 10 pounds she lost through \u201cFood Court 5000\u201d is inconsequential. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a catalyst to re-think how I can seek out … more fun activities that … get my heart rate up,\u201d says Catwood, adding that changing her attitude toward fitness, \u201cHas relieved a lot of unnecessary pressure and shame that I was putting on myself.\u201d <\/p>\n

Catwood is now roller skating, jumping at the trampoline park, dancing and \u2014 her personal favorite \u2014 exercising to 80\u2019s and 90\u2019s aerobics videos by Jane Fonda and Richard Simmons. <\/p>\n

\u201cMall walking\u201d is Catwood\u2019s self-care. <\/p>\n

\u201cMoving my body, getting offline and into my community has really been beneficial to my mental health,\u201d says Catwood. \u201cWhen we\u2019re out there blasting our tunes and laughing through the halls of the mall, it\u2019s joyous.\u201d <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Krista Catwood hates to exercise. \u201cSome people get an endorphin rush \u2014 I don\u2019t and it feels miserable,\u201d…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":12155,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[46],"tags":[6647,102,56,54,55],"class_list":{"0":"post-12154","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-fitness","8":"tag-fitness","9":"tag-health","10":"tag-uk","11":"tag-united-kingdom","12":"tag-unitedkingdom"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12154","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12154"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12154\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12155"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12154"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12154"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12154"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}