What’s The Deal With 10,000?

We keep hearing and reading that we should obtain 10,000 steps per day. Even most fitness trackers are automatically set to 10,000 steps daily. So where did this number come from? Well, it all started back in 1964 when Japan was preparing to host the Summer Olympics in Toyko. Fitness, health and wellness were gaining more awareness in the Japanese population especially the benefits that came from regular exercise, such as fighting obesity, diabetes, hypertension, etc. During this time, the development of the modern pedometer was introduced and sales took off! The number 10,000 was derived from the Japanese term, Manpo-kei, which translates to 10,000 steps meter. From that point 10,000 steps became the minimum number of steps to walk on a daily basis.

So, now you’re probably thinking, how far is 10,000 steps? Well, that number will have some variance to it based on each individual but roughly it’ll equate to 4-5 miles (1 mile roughly yields 2,000-2,500 steps).

Now, let’s take into account our daily lifestyle. It tends to be more on the sedentary side. Let’s think about this for a minute…driving, meetings, desk jobs for 8 hours a day, watching TV, etc. All these different daily activities add to our poor posture, aches, and pains.

Getting 10,000 steps can seem intimidating and almost impossible to achieve to some but in reality it’s not. First off, start tracking your steps as soon as you wake up. Keep your pedometer or fitness tracker on in order to track your steps throughout the day. Here are some simple tips to reach that goal:

• Break up your time at the desk by getting up to get a drink a water or even get a simple stretch in
• Take the stairs vs. the elevator
• Park a little further in the parking lot
• Go for a walk after dinner with a friend/dog/spouse/kids
• Go window shopping
• Go for a walk on the beach
• Talk on the phone while going for a walk

If you’re not close to 10,000 steps yet, then find your starting point and try to increase your step count by at least 500 steps each week! A little improvement each day is better than none.

Now, here’s the fun part…jump into our 10,000 Steps Challenge for the next four weeks. The goal is to get:

10,000 steps per day = 70,000 steps per week = 280,000 steps for four weeks

Those who reach the minimum of 280,000 steps by the end of the challenge will get FREE access into our Mobility Class! The person that gets the most steps overall will be able to enjoy a FREE 30 minute foot massage!!

So get those walking/running shoes on and your pedometer or fitness tracker ready and get moving!!!

 

Pinky Uttayaya-Andrews