Throw out the 10k step goal and just move!

Why are 10,000 steps mentioned as the magic number?

10,000 steps a day equals 5 miles which is a lot of miles.  It also seems pretty arbitrary.  And if you are getting nowhere near that every day because your job has you sitting a lot, it also seems impossible.  It also makes it super easy to quit trying.  I know I did multiple times.

I did the research for you and read articles on movement.  And it turns out 10,000 steps IS an arbitrary number.  Believe it or not, the number stems from a Tokyo clockmaker and the 1964 Olympics (want to read more about see the article below). 

Remember the entire point of counting steps is to make sure you are moving every day.

Our lives tend to be very sedentary.  Even if you work out almost every day like I do, I am still sitting for hours on end.  I sit at work, in my car and then on the couch after I eat dinner and exercise. There were days I would only hit 3000 steps.  The research shows that most people sit all day long which isn’t good for us in so many ways.

This is where the step counting comes in.  It’s really just a way to measure your movement. There is nothing magical about steps per-se.

The real goal here is to move ALL day long. 

My advice to you is to aim lower.  Pick a number you think is doable.  I picked 7800.  Why?  It seemed doable.  Then I committed to it.  On day 30, I changed it to 7900.  I’m now on day 42 and going strong.  And, even better, I’ve lost weight by only doing this.

Don’t wait until your workout.  Add movement all day.

Some ideas:

  -Don’t combine trips to the printer or the kitchen.  Get up and walk back and forth over and over.

  -Don’t discount walking in place -it is still moving which is the ultimate point

  -Stand up and walk in place when watching webinars or off camera on zoom meetings

  -Always take the stairs

  -Park your car further away from the store

  -Dance while making dinner – I do this, not only do you get steps, but it’s fun😊

Every step counts towards a healthier you, so start moving!

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/06/well/move/10000-steps-health.html

https://www.everydayhealth.com/fitness/the-last-word-do-you-really-need-to-take-10-000-steps-a-day/