It’s true that America is becoming obese at an alarming rate, and the rest of the world is following suit. We’re eating more (and eating more of the wrong foods) and exercising less or not at all. Our health is deteriorating dramatically, and hospital visits are at an all-time high. Just 30 minutes of brisk walking a day could reverse this. We have it anyway, and it’s getting worse. Heart and cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, stroke, uncontrolled blood sugar levels, diabetes, obesity, etc. The U.S. Surgeon General recommends at least 20 to 30 minutes of moderate activity every day, but many of us fall far short of that. Studies show that the average person walks about 3,000 to 5,000 steps a day, and some walk much less. Let’s face it, we’re not getting as much exercise as our ancestors did 100 years ago, and we tend to eat more refined foods. For some of us, most of our walking is from our TV chairs to the refrigerator to grab a snack. For others, like me, we sit in front of our computers all day as part of our jobs. Many fitness experts recommend walking 10,000 steps a day to maintain your weight and overall health. 10,000 steps is about 5 miles, depending on the length of your steps. To count your daily steps, you should buy and wear a pedometer. Follow the instructions that usually come with your pedometer. Do this for a week or two and you should have a good average step count. The goal is to reach 10,000 steps or more every day.
There is nothing magical about 10,000, but you can get into a reasonable range. The average person burns about 100 calories per mile, depending on their age, height, and fitness level. The more you weigh, the more calories you burn. Be creative and increase your step count. Take a walk during your lunch break at work. Take a walk with your spouse or children. Walk your dog. Walk to the store instead of driving, or park at the end of a parking lot. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. I walk a couple of miles around my neighborhood twice a day (cardio walking). Do what works best for you, but do it! If you are walking for exercise (like cardio walking), you will need good walking shoes and socks to avoid injury. Go to your favorite search engine and type 10,000 steps to learn more about this life-saving, life-changing program. There is a wealth of information out there.
Filed Under: Exercise
Tags: 000 steps, 10%, active, calories, cardiovascular, diabetes, exercise, fitness, health, cardio, miles, miles, obesity, pedometer, shoes, stroke, walking, walking
Posted by May Healthy Lifestyle
