We are into the home stretch as we enter Month #5 of our 6 healthy habits. Woohoo!
Are you feeling great? I hope the momentum of healthy habits is building for you…
I want you to know that you’re not alone. I’m right there with you. Living these same habits every day!
So far we’ve focused on improving our daily & weekly regimen with:
- Drinking more water,
- Starting or getting more exercise,
- Sleeping 7 to 8 hours per night, and
- Eating more nutritious food.
These are some of the core essential elements that provide significant benefits to your healthy lifestyle. And this week we will add “Walking” to our list. Walking has been proven to be a healthy habit. Something we need to be doing all the time, even though I saved it for nicer weather.
Our bodies are powerful and resilient. And we’ve got to keep moving to remain healthy and strong.
Walking is low impact. Yet it’s great exercise in so many ways. For example: At a brisk pace, walking not only strengthens your legs and core. It gets your heart rate up. It aids in circulation and breathing. And helps to clear your head – I do some of my best thinking and problem-solving when I’m on a walk (next best place is the shower). And if it’s sunny, you get to boost your Vitamin D production. Just remember the sunscreen.
Dr. Mehmet Oz recommends 10,000 steps per day (aka “10K a day”). And he’s not the only one.
By the way, logging 10,000 steps is no small feat. You’ve got to be deliberate and make time for it. Otherwise you will struggle to get anywhere close to hitting that goal every day.
Let’s clarify some things in a brief Q&A:
(Q1). What counts as a step?
(A1). Everything. But as with most things, quality matters. The faster or brisker your pace, the better. We are all at different fitness levels. And you will know when the steps you’re taking are meaningful, and when they’re not. Regardless, find a way to get to 10K a day!
(Q2). How do I track my daily step count?
(A2). The easiest way is with your smartphone. Or you can use a pedometer (fitness band or smartwatch).
(Q3). How do I track my progress?
(A3). Your smartphone. As an iPhone user, I use the built-in Apple Health app. It automatically tracks your step activity, as long as your phone is with you when you’re moving. It also displays your “daily average” steps on a dashboard. Plus a whole lot more health-related data. There are plenty of health-related apps on the Android. I’m just not aware of an all-inclusive one like the iPhone offers.
(Q4). Why 10,000 steps?
(A4). Well first off, 10,000 steps equates to approximately 5 miles. Based on my research, I discovered that 10,000 began as an arbitrary number. 10,000 steps was originally created as a promotion by a Japanese pedometer company. But since that time, studies have confirmed that 10,000 appears to be the sweet spot where people lose weight and gain control of their health & wellness.
This brief article is packed with useful information about activity, ways to increase your step count, and top picks for pedometers, fitness bands, and smartwatches.
Will you commit to 10K a day?
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