Walking to My Optimum Health
I once had a doctor ask me “How do you get your exercise?”
“I walk. A lot,” I replied.
“No. I mean exercise. Walking doesn’t really count.”
While impressed that a general practitioner would take the time to ask a patient about their workout habits, I have been forever disturbed by her disbelief in walking as exercise.
I was reminded of this instance recently as a coworker and I have been chatting about walking lately. We both take our half an hour break to walk around outside. But this week she stepped it up a notch: she’s been wearing a pedometer … and she has an extra one that she gave to me!
Today is my first day counting my steps to a healthier system. Yesterday, said coworker topped 11,000 steps. The recommendation is at least 10,000 per day.
Game on! Here I go … (”walking down the street/ I get the funniest looks from/ everyone I meet”)
***
A pedometer is a small mechanism that clips to the waistband of your pants, and keeps track of how many steps you take. It counts by tracking each bounce created by your hips, so take it off when riding in the car.
For a free pedometer of your own, join Tylenol Arthritis Pain Relief’s Keep Moving Program and receive one along with a DVD.
Step counters are also available for purchase at sporting goods, health, and other stores. If you spend more money, you get more reliability and more functions (such as calories burned, time, etc.).
August 21st, 2008 at 3:32 pm
[...] week she managed to make me like her even more: she said breathing works my abs. Unlike my doctor, who said that walking didn’t count as exercise, Gina is all for the little things that we can do during the day. She’s on my [...]
December 27th, 2009 at 6:51 pm
great site, very helpful!