We often hear that we should aim to get 10,000 steps per day. The reason? The goal of 10,000 steps adds up to about five miles each day for most people, which includes about 30 minutes of daily exercise—satisfying the CDC’s recommendation of at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week.
But is that where you should start? It really depends on what your goals are – whether that goal is weight loss, weight maintenance or an overall fitness boost – the step goal may be different. However, a good place to start is by simply measuring your current daily steps. If your typical daily steps are about 2500 steps per day, 10,000 steps doesn’t seem reasonable right away. You may want to aim for 3000 steps per day, and then gradually increase from there.
Remember, PROGRESS NOT PERFECTION.
Would you like to join the STEP INTO THE NEW YEAR challenge or learn more about a personalized step goal? Reach out to Melissa Hehmann or Christa Willoughby, your wellness coordinators.