The government recommends walking 10,000 steps per day. Is it worth the effort?
Well, first of all, it’s very little effort – if you are very sedentary you will probably enjoy it more if you build up to 10K.
I would recommend that you get a pedometer or a Fitbit tracker, set it to your stride length and discover what you currently achieve. You may be surprised – I found that I walked far fewer steps than I had imagined but the good news is that it is easily fixed.
You can easily work out your own ways to get more steps in, try these;
- Park your car further away from the shop, the office, the train
- Get off the bus a stop or two earlier and walk the difference
- Don’t leave things at the bottom of the stairs to go up next time you go – just take them up
- Get up to change the TV channel – don’t use the remote control
- Make a deliberate decision to go for a walk at lunch time – you will find that you are much more productive in the afternoon
- Go for an early morning walk – fresh air before breakfast – it takes a lot of beating!
And why bother walking?
- Burns calories
- Strengthens your back muscles
- Slims your waist
- Is easy on your joints
- Will help to lower your blood pressure
- Will shape and tone your bottom
- Helps to cut cholesterol
- Reduces risk of heart disease and diabetes
- Can help to reduce stress
- Will help you sleep better
- And you can do it practically everywhere, it will cost no more than a pair of suitable shoes and you can do it almost anytime
What’s not to like?
(updated April 2020)
