IT’S A FACT: A lot of countries are becoming obese at such an alarming rate and the rest of the world is following close behind. Here in the Philippines, three of 10 Filipino adults are now obese, said the National Nutrition Council (NNC). We are eating more (especially eating more of the WRONG FOOD) and exercising less or actually getting no exercise at all.
But just a simple 30-minute walk a day can begin to turn that around. We should be getting at least 20-30 minutes of moderate activity each day and yet many of us are falling far short of even that.
Studies show that an average person takes about 3000 to 5000 steps a day, and some even much less. In my experience, I normally get 5000 steps daily, and less than that on weekends simply because I’m home and resting all day.
Let’s face it, we just do not get the exercise our ancestors have probably did a hundred or so years ago and we tend to eat more refined foods. Hello Lucky Me! Pancit Canton, Purefoods Corned Beef (I can’t resist them sometimes).
For some of us, most of steps we take are from the easy chair in front of the TV to the fridge so we can get our favorite snacks. For others, like me working here at a Digital Marketing field, we sit at a computer all day as part of our jobs.
Go for 10,000 Steps
Many fitness experts recommend we walk 10,000 steps a day to maintain our weight and overall good health. 10,000 steps are approximately 5 miles, give or take depending on the length of your stride. You will need to purchase and wear a pedometer to count how many steps you take each day (I have a Xiaomi Mi Band 2 fitness tracker with me). Follow the directions that usually come with the pedometer. Do this for a week or two and you will get a good average step count. Your goal is to reach 10,000 or more steps each day. Honestly, there really is nothing magical about the ten thousand, but it will put you in the right ballpark.
There are a lot of creative ways to increase your steps:
- At work, go for walks during lunchtime
- Go for walks with your partner, bf/gf, or kids
- Walk your dog(s), too!
- Walk to the store instead of driving if it’s just near
- Park at the far end of the parking lot when going to the mall or office
- Use the stairs instead of the elevator especially if it’s just a floor away
For me, I take around 3 kilometer walk from my office here in Bonifacio Global City all the way to Estrella where I take a bus heading home, and that’s already worth 4,500 steps on average. Then I finish the rest to complete my step requirement when doing treadmills at the gym. Just do whatever works best for you, but otherwise just do it!
Hope this helps! Goodluck!