Trainerdan
Wed, Jun-20-01, 06:56
10,000 STEPS
One way of determining how active you are each day is to count the number of steps you take with a pedometer or step counter.
Exercise experts encourage people to walk at least 10,000 steps a day, which equals five miles. Usually when people begin recording their steps each day, they report anywhere from less than 1,000 steps to 10,000 or more. The average is about 2,000 steps a day, which equals about one mile depending on stride length and pace.
A minimum of 8,000 steps a day is needed to receive the general health benefits of walking, including a decreased risk of heart disease, diabetes, and some types of cancer.
Step counters can be especially advantageous for people who travel a lot and find themselves sitting in airplanes for long periods of time. The daily step counts can serve as a reminder to get up and walk rather than sitting and waiting for the next plane.
Also, people who work in offices usually walk between 3,000 to 5,000 steps a day, which requires another 2 to 3 miles of walking when they get home from work to reach the 10,000-step goal.
Many people find pedometers and step counters a motivational tool to a more active lifestyle. There are many pedometers on the market, some more elaborate than others. I have even seen them in the sporting goods section of Target.
For those looking online, a good basic pedometer counts only steps and sells for about $20.00 (Digi-walker by Yamax).
The average model counts steps, distance, and calories and is priced around $30.00.
A top-of-the-line pedometer counts steps, converts to miles, and has a stopwatch and a clock. Businesspeople may be interested in the black leather belt with a pedometer in the buckle made by Walk4Life (Plainfield, Illinois).
One way of determining how active you are each day is to count the number of steps you take with a pedometer or step counter.
Exercise experts encourage people to walk at least 10,000 steps a day, which equals five miles. Usually when people begin recording their steps each day, they report anywhere from less than 1,000 steps to 10,000 or more. The average is about 2,000 steps a day, which equals about one mile depending on stride length and pace.
A minimum of 8,000 steps a day is needed to receive the general health benefits of walking, including a decreased risk of heart disease, diabetes, and some types of cancer.
Step counters can be especially advantageous for people who travel a lot and find themselves sitting in airplanes for long periods of time. The daily step counts can serve as a reminder to get up and walk rather than sitting and waiting for the next plane.
Also, people who work in offices usually walk between 3,000 to 5,000 steps a day, which requires another 2 to 3 miles of walking when they get home from work to reach the 10,000-step goal.
Many people find pedometers and step counters a motivational tool to a more active lifestyle. There are many pedometers on the market, some more elaborate than others. I have even seen them in the sporting goods section of Target.
For those looking online, a good basic pedometer counts only steps and sells for about $20.00 (Digi-walker by Yamax).
The average model counts steps, distance, and calories and is priced around $30.00.
A top-of-the-line pedometer counts steps, converts to miles, and has a stopwatch and a clock. Businesspeople may be interested in the black leather belt with a pedometer in the buckle made by Walk4Life (Plainfield, Illinois).