As seen on http://cancersensibility.org/

Way back in 1996, the US Surgeon General issued an important report on physical activity and warned us that regardless of our age, we are just not active enough. Since then, you may have been scratching your head, wondering just how much activity would make the Surgeon General happy.

 That number is 10,000 steps a day.

Walking 10K a day for most people (unless you are a postal carrier, a delivery person, work in a big box store, etc.) is just not going to happen in your normal daily routine.  Most Americans take between 900 and 3,000 steps per day. 

 Wearing a step counter (pedometer) can help you understand where you are in regards to the goal of 10K a day.  Research proves that if you begin to wear one of these inexpensive monitors (I call them “motivational monitors” in my personal training practice), you will increase your daily steps by about 25% immediately.  Why?  Because of that old adage “what you measure, you can change”. 

 Americans are in love with numbers, the number on the scale, the number of calories in our food, our telephone number, our social security number and our ATM number code to name a few.  When you look down at your step counter and see a low number, you are more inclined to structure some time to walk and increase your steps.  It’s a fun, inexpensive and non-pharmaceutical way to:

- Feel better about yourself

-Improve your fitness level

- Decrease your weight

 So, what’s stopping you?  Whether you are 16 or 60, healthy or have multiple heath issues, waking more each day should be in your realm of abilities*. 

 My client, Lori didn’t think she could do it.  She was morbidly obese, used a cane to walk and needed her handicapped car sticker to park close to the building to get into the office.  Knowing that “take a walk” wasn’t going to work in her particular situation, I devised a plan that could work for her; something like this might even work for you.

 Before Lori got into her car, she agreed to walk one time around the car, one hand supporting her as she circled the car.  That’s it!

 Beginning with this small strategy, Lori increased the number of car circles, began to park in a regular parking spot at work, walk farther at the grocery store and even take a flight of stairs.  Increasing her daily steps made a dramatic, positive impact on her self esteem, and she continues to increase her activity level while she watches her weight decrease.

 Are you like Lori, or simply one of the millions of Americans that don’t move enough to support your health?  Today’s a new day, how many steps can you take today toward your 10K goal?

 * Consult with your physicians before starting or changing any physical activity program.

 

 

 

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