American is becoming obese at an alarming rate and the rest of the world is following close behind and this is a fact. Not only are we eating more, an more of the wrong stuff, but we are also exercising less or getting no exercise at all. With our health being in steep decline, doctor and hospital visits are at all time highs. With just a brisk 30-minute walk a day, this can turn that around.
The thing is, it is actually getting worse. We have heart and cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, stroke, out of control blood sugar levels, diabetes, obesity, and more. According to the U.S. Surgeon General, it is recommended we get at least 20-30 minutes of moderate activity each day and many of us are falling far short of even that.
An average person takes about 3000 to 5000 steps a day, and some even much less and this has been shown in studies. Aside from the fact that we are not getting the exercise our ancestors did a hundred or so years ago, we also tend to eat more refined foods. For some of us, most of steps we take are from the easy chair in front of the TV to the fridge so we can fill up on snacks. As part of our jobs, some of us, myself included, would just sit at a computer.
What many fitness experts recommend is that we walk 10,000 steps a day to maintain our weight and overall good health. 10,000 steps are approximately 5 miles, give or take depending on the length of your stride. What you need to do is buy and wear a pedometer so that you can count how many steps you take each day. Don’t forget to follow the directions that usually come with the pedometer. By doing this for a week or two, you will then get a good average step count. Reaching 10,000 steps or more each day would be your goal. Although there is nothing magical about 10,000, it will put you in the right ballpark.
A person will burn about 100 calories walking a mile, depending on age, size, and fitness level and this is the general rule. You will burn more calories the heavier you are.
To increase your steps, you can become creative on ways. You can go for walks at lunchtime at work. How about going for walks with your spouse or children? You can even walk the dog. Instead of driving, walk to the store or park at the far end of the parking lot. Use the stairs instead of the elevator. For twice a day everyday, take brisk 2-mile walks around the neighborhood (aerobic walking). What you need to do is whatever works best for you. You will need good walking shoes and socks to prevent injury when walking for exercise (like aerobic walking).
Go to your favorite search engine and type in “10,000 steps” to learn more about this life saving, life changing program. There is a lot on this information.
Show your health & beauty and not your age! You can repair, even reverse, the aging process. It’s never too late to turn back time.
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