It is a fact that America is becoming obese at an alarming rate and the rest of the world is following close behind. We eat more (and more of the wrong things) and exercise less or not at all. Our health is deteriorating sharply and doctor and hospital visits are at an all-time high. Just a brisk 30-minute walk a day can reverse this. Whatever, we have it, and it’s getting worse. Heart and cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, stroke, out-of-control blood sugar levels, diabetes, obesity and more. The US Surgeon General recommends getting at least 20-30 minutes of moderate activity every day, and many of us fall far short of that. Studies show that the average person takes about 3,000 to 5,000 steps per day, and some take much less. Let’s face it, we just don’t get the exercise that our ancestors did a hundred or so years ago and we tend to eat more refined foods. For some of us, most of the steps we take are from the chair in front of the TV to the fridge so we can stock up on snacks. Others, like me, sit at the computer all day as part of our work. Many fitness experts recommend walking 10,000 steps per day to maintain our weight and overall health. 10,000 steps is about 5 miles, give or take depending on the length of your step. You need to buy and wear a pedometer to count how many steps you take each day. Follow the instructions that usually come with the pedometer. Do this for a week or two and you will get a good average step count. Your goal is to reach 10,000 or more steps every day.
There’s nothing magical about 10,000, but it will get you in the right ballpark. Typically, a person burns about 100 calories running a mile, depending on their age, height and fitness level. The heavier you are, the more calories you burn. Get creative to increase your steps. Go for a walk at lunchtime at work. Go for a walk with your spouse or children. Walk the dog. Walk to the store instead of driving or park at the far end of the lot. Use the stairs instead of the elevator. I take brisk 2 mile walks around the neighborhood (aerobic walking) twice a day every day. Just do what works best for you, but do it! You need good walking shoes and socks to avoid injuries when walking for exercise (like aerobic walking). Go to your favorite search engine and type 10,000 steps to learn more about this life-saving, life-changing program. The information is plentiful.
Filed under: Exercise
Tagged with: 000 steps, 10%, brisk, calories, cardiovascular, diabetes, exercise, fitness, health, heart, mile, miles, obese, pedometer, shoes, stroke, walk, walking
Published by May Healthy Lifestyle
