When it comes to improving your health, less is more. Less calories, a smaller waist size, lower blood pressure and a lower heart rate. But there is one number that may go up and that is the number of steps health experts would like to see all of us logging every day: 10,000.<\/p>\n
Why 10,000?<\/strong> Since those early pedometers gained popularity, studies showing the health benefits of accumulating 10,000 steps per day have been racking up. This magic number is linked to lowering blood pressure and glucose levels, for example. It\u2019s a great way to keep unwanted pounds off. The 10,000 steps have even been associated with reducing depression. But perhaps the only reason you need to remember is that this amount of activity most closely coincides with the recommendation that adults do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise every week for improved overall health.<\/p>\n Get started<\/strong> Tips to walk more \u2013 without even noticing:<\/p>\n When it comes to improving your health, less is more. Less calories, a smaller waist size, lower blood pressure and a lower heart rate. But there is one number that may go up and that is the number of steps health experts would like to see all of us logging every day: 10,000. Why 10,000? […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[106,175],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10988","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-mindful-living-en-nl","category-move"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\r\n
\nThe 10,000-step rule actually originated in Japan decades ago, thanks to a pedometer that used this number in its slogan. Many Japanese walking groups adopted the goal of logging 10,000 steps per day, and since then, other organizations have agreed with its effectiveness.<\/p>\n
\nYour first step toward hitting this new target is to discover your current daily steps. To do that, you\u2019ll need a pedometer or an activity tracker like a Fitbit. Track your steps for three to five days, then average them out: That\u2019s your baseline daily step count. Don\u2019t worry if your figure is far below the 10,000. The average person takes just between 5,000 and 6,000 steps per day, so you\u2019re not the only one. Next, set a realistic goal for more walking. For most people, adding 500 or 1,000 extra daily steps at a time is doable. When that new number feels comfortable, continue adding steps until you reach the full 10,000. Be patient, and remember that any increase in the amount of physical activity you\u2019re getting on a daily basis is a good thing.<\/p>\n\n