From Eveningsnews.com
10,000 Steps are All You Need to Live Healthier
By
Dec 27, 2007, 00:58
(NC)-There's no question that exercise improves your overall health.
The benefits of regular physical activity include a reduction in the risk of cardiovascular disease and coronary heart disease. It is also associated with a reduction in the incidence of type 2 diabetes, colon cancer and osteoporosis.
One of the easiest ways to increase activity is to walk: set out to reach a daily goal of 10,000 steps s by making simple changes like adding 2,000 extra steps per day to your current activity.
If you're wondering how you could ever count that many steps, the answer is, you don't have to.
Just clip on a step counter, like the ones found in specially marked boxes of all varieties of Kellogg's Special K cereal, while quantities last and wear it the entire day to see how many steps you've taken.
The average healthy adult takes between 6,000 and 7,000 steps a day just going about their daily routine. You only need to add an extra 2,000 steps, an average of 15 to 20 minutes of exercise, per day to maintain your weight. If you find you're not taking enough steps in a day, Kellogg's offers some easy ways to help you reach 10,000 steps before you know it:
. Walk during your lunch break, or if you already walk, lengthen your jaunt.
. Get off the bus earlier and walk farther to work.
. Avoid elevators and escalators - take the stairs.
. Park farther away in store parking lots.
. Avoid drive-through restaurants - get out of your car and walk inside.
. Join a walking group at your local gym or community centre.
. If you live in an apartment walk the halls and well-lit stairwells.
. Take an after-dinner walk with your family.
. Walk around the house during television commercials - you will accumulate about 15 minutes of walking in a one-hour show.
. Walk the dog more often - good for you and your dog.
. Visit a shopping mall during bad weather, and walk around, window shopping as you go.
. Take a 15-20 minute walk every day.
. You'll be surprised at how simple it is to get more activity into your daily routine.
Log on to www.specialkchallenge.ca to find great tools, tips and articles geared towards helping you improve your health and meet your shape management goals.
© Copyright by EveningsNews.com