Karen’s mother loved to watch baseball games on TV. That habit of sitting for long periods of time became her way of life. The sad part of the story is that after sitting and sitting, she was no longer able to get up. She ended up in a wheelchair needing total assistance before she passed. That is a sad story, and it makes me want to keep moving. The question is how many steps do you take in a day?
Sedentary Lifestyle
According to the Mayo Clinic the average American adult walks 3,000 to 4,000 steps a day which is about 1.5 to 2 miles. A sedentary lifestyle can be defined as anything less than 5,000 steps per day. The World Health Organization says that insufficient physical activity is now the fourth leading cause of premature death.
Increase Daily Steps
There are many studies and statistics about the benefits of increasing daily steps.
- Each additional 1,000 steps walked per day can lower health risks
- 7,000 to 8,000 steps in a day can protect against heart disease and early death
Taking more steps per day is proven to improve your health. Daily mileage can be increased by using enjoyable or practical ways to escalate activity. Ideas are yardwork, housework, taking the stairs, walking the dog, or sports such as biking, tennis, golf, pickleball, volleyball, etc.
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends doing at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week. That can be broken down to about 30 minutes, 5 days a week.
Many people aim for a daily goal of 10,000 steps which is equivalent to walking about 5 miles. This is hard to achieve for some and can be very challenging but it has many rewards and benefits.
I wear and track my activity with an Apple watch. Tracking is necessary because if you can’t measure something then you can’t improve it. Personally, I think I am on my 5th watch, and I average about 15,500 steps each day.
Walking is available for most and an easy way to get in some footsteps. You can do it anywhere and you don’t need a membership or specialized equipment. Schedule it intermittently throughout each day. It can decrease your risk of heart disease, obesity, diabetes, depression and many other health conditions. How many steps do you take in a day?
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