Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Ten Thousand Steps

So many of you out there in blogger land have been posting about healthy life styles. I agree it's important, but I like to take a more casual attitude. That's probably why I'm overweight! Anyway, walking has long been my choice of exercise, and now that I'm in a battle with arthritis, I know the importance of keeping moving. 10,000 steps seems to be a target that is commonly written about. Also, this week I'm getting back to a normal routine, including exercise walking, so I decided to see how I measure up. I found my pedometer, dusted it off, and bought and loaded a new battery. Yes, it has been that long since I used it. I hooked it to my waistband about noon on Monday. By bedtime I had over 6,000 steps. That included a 4,000 + step walk. Good, I thought, I can do this. Yesterday I wore it all day. Here are the results. Total steps by 8:22 - 11,327! This is the equivalent of approximately 5.18 miles. This is based on a measure of my stride and has a error factor. 5,150 of those steps were aerobic, which account for my exercise walk. That means if I get up and move regularly around the house and then go for a 40 minute walk, I can easily hit my target! But today will be more of a challenge. So far today, by 9:15, I only have 779 steps. I had a haircut appointment at 8:00 but parked right in front of the shop. I have a retired teacher lunch at noon today, so I'll be sitting for several hours. This evening I have a Sounders match on TV. So excuse me, but I need to start moving!

10 comments:

  1. I can tell you that having been sick for a month and then now I'm doing this project of scanning all our old photos (we have a ton of them) I have gained 3 pounds. I'll need to get out there when the sun goes down again and get some exercise done. Hmmmm... then there was that Whopper I had..... Hmmmm.... maybe that's it.

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  2. We have matching pedometers! I've had mine only a couple of months but really like it. I don't always reach 10,000 steps a day, but some days I go over the 10,000, so I guess it all more or less balances out. I'm at 8,936 for today so far, but it's only 1:30 here in Maine. I'll get to 10,000 before the day is done.

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  3. wow, who advised you to walk 10,000 steps a day? Why that number? What's magical about it?

    hmmm. I am thinking of buying one of those meters, myself. It might light a fire under my butt. I tend to be so sedentery!

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  4. you need a quiet treadmill in front of your tv set and you're in business. lol!

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  5. I am going to get one of those, Linda, they look super great to find out exactly how much I'm moving around. Tomorrow, of course, it's the usual Trailblazers, so I'll wait until Friday to get it. Thanks for the pictures and the motivation!!

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  6. Good job. Being healthy is what it's all about. We all have to bow to the necessity of exercise and get real about it (yuck).

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  7. Visiting from the "other Linda's". Great job, I tried that a while back and the pedometer irritated my side so I guestimate now.
    We either move or we lose. I have arthritis in my hips and the more I walk, the better I feel.
    Keep up the good work.

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  8. Looks to me like you're doing really well Linda. The more I move around the less achy I feel. Maybe I should get one of those pedometers.
    An English Girl Rambles

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  9. Just stuck my pedometer back on!

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  10. Ok, now I have got to get myself one of these! The new meds I take for my fibromyalgia have caused me to put on close to 30 pounds in the last few months so I have got to get back out and MOVE IT! This pedometer looks just like the perfect thing to motivate me.

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