Keep Moving
Health and wellness are a priority for many of us, we’re always looking for the next best thing to improve our lifestyle. Walking is one of the easiest lifestyle changes to implement with big lasting effects. Keep reading to see why!
Benefits
Decreased risk of dementia – Studies done by the Journal of America Medical Association (JAMA) have shown walking 10,000 steps per day can decrease dementia risk by 50%. Walking even 3,200 steps daily has shown the risk of dementia decreases by up to 25%.
Decreased risk of other disease – Studies also show walking up to 10,000 steps daily can reduce your risk of heart disease, stroke, 13 types of cancer, and diabetes.
Weight management – Walking up to and over 10,000 steps daily can help to maintain your weight, and with the right diet can even help with weight loss.
Improved cardiovascular health – Walking for 15 minutes (roughly 2,000 steps) or more at a time is considered steady state cardio and can improve your heart health. Steady state cardio increases the amount of blood pumped per beat, while strengthening the muscles, allowing your heart to work less.
Increased energy – Exercise, including walking, can increase energy levels by allowing more oxygen rich blood to reach your muscles and organs.
Tips
Below are a few tips to help you get more steps into your day easily, and eventually get up to 10,000 steps daily.
- Park farther away.
- Take the stairs.
- Walk to get coffee or lunch when you can.
- Get up every 30 minutes and walk around the office or your home.
- Track your current daily steps to see how many you already get.
- Set a goal to increase your daily steps by 1,000 each week until you hit 10,000.
- If you can’t get up to 10,000 steps yet, remember something is better than nothing!
If you have questions or want more tips on getting your daily steps in, contact one of our Health & Fitness professionals today at personaltraining@heavensacademy.com