This past Saturday 'Get Fit' gifted us a pedometer - and a challenge. Research says that people who walk at least 10,000 steps a day are more healthy. How far is 10,000 steps? About 5 miles.
Our instructions are to record the first week's steps. Our challenge is then to increase our next week's step by 10%. And 10% after that. And 10% after that - until we reach 10,000.
The pedometer can be a real eye opener. One report I read says that a sedentary person walks 1,000 to 3,000 steps a day. Sadly - I fall into this category. In one day at the office - with one meeting outside in which I parked at the back of the parking lots - I only clocked 1,600 steps.
So Tuesday night, I walked to the library. It was a trip on my list - I got my book tapes and steps in one errand. Finished that evening at 5,900.
Besides parking at the end of the lot for distance and taking stairs - do you have any other ideas for adding steps throughout the day?
Our instructions are to record the first week's steps. Our challenge is then to increase our next week's step by 10%. And 10% after that. And 10% after that - until we reach 10,000.
The pedometer can be a real eye opener. One report I read says that a sedentary person walks 1,000 to 3,000 steps a day. Sadly - I fall into this category. In one day at the office - with one meeting outside in which I parked at the back of the parking lots - I only clocked 1,600 steps.
So Tuesday night, I walked to the library. It was a trip on my list - I got my book tapes and steps in one errand. Finished that evening at 5,900.
Besides parking at the end of the lot for distance and taking stairs - do you have any other ideas for adding steps throughout the day?
If you have a long enough lunch or morning/afternoon breaks, you could take a walk around your place of employment. This might not work for everyone depending on where you work, but I'm lucky enough to work somewhere that has multiple buildings connected by underground walkways. If I tried to walk it a couple times each day, I'm sure it would help me work my way up to 10,000 steps. Sometime I think it helps just to take the long way whereever you go (So, if I'm going to the conference room at the end of my hallway, maybe I could make a loop around the rest of the floor to get there.) Every little bit helps. And way to go on working hard to meet your goals!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the suggestion. There are two other women in this building also doing the Get Fit class so I could have walking buddies to make the steps more interesting.
ReplyDeleteThe stairwells in our building are not near the elevator. I used to think that was inconvenient -you helped me see that I could just get more steps by going out of my way and using them.
Hi Mae!
ReplyDeleteThis is St. Vincent De Paw, Dogs On Call Therapy Dog at Meriter Hospital!
Mae, it would really help if you had a 4 legged friend to go on walks with! Walking a dog is an excellent way to get those extra steps on your pedometer. Plus, we like to walk at a fairly brisk pace, bringing up your heart rate to a healthy pace. If you would like to walk with me sometime, I'd love to meet-up!
Woofs and Wags,
Vincent