Walking For Fitness
Improve Your Fitness Level With Exercise
You may or may not have heard about the 10,000 steps a day program where it's said if you walk 10,000 steps, you were walking a distance close to 5 miles (recommended amount). The trouble with this program was that the size of their step may vary from person to person. However, for a healthy lifestyle, this was the recommended amount. With the average person, whose step is around 2.5 long, it will take more than 2,000 steps to walk a mile. Do you really feel like counting your steps every time you go out walking? What many walkers are choosing to use is a pedometer.
A pedometer is a small gadget or device that will tell you how far you have walked. Also known as a step counter, this convenient device makes it very easy for walkers to know when they've reached their target goal. Because its step count is based on the swing of the person's hips, the actual mileage may vary with different individuals of different size. However, it's still regarded as an excellent tool for walkers.
Pedometers are great for providing walkers with motivation. The 10,000 steps guideline is a recommended amount that equals around 5 miles so if an individual leads a sedentary lifestyle, they may only walk 1,000 to 2,000 steps each day so they know they have to increase their steps. The pedometer makes it easy for them to see where they're lacking and need improvement.
Increasing your steps to the recommended amount is easier than you may think. Begin to increase it a little each day. An increase of 500 steps each day is a great way to get up to the 10,000 per day. As soon as you get up in the morning, strap the pedometer around you waist and let it start calculating. At the end of an "average" day, you'll know exactly where you stand and what you need to do for improvement. Each day may be different for you; however, with certain days being more active.
You'll find that wearing your pedometer will also make you more motivated to walk more. At the end of a week, you'll know how much improvement you need and if there is more work required on certain days or if you're equally sedentary every day!
Some things you may want to do to improve the number of steps you take include:
Walking your dog
Taking a walk with a family member or friend
Taking the stairs in buildings instead of the elevator
Park farther away for the store so you have to walk more
Walk to the store if possible
Get off the couch to change the channel instead of using the remote control