The Magic of Maximizing Your Daily Steps

I have always loved spending time in the gym. In fact, my first product came from a discussion I had with a trainer at a local gym many years ago. Since I was heavily involved in fitness and knew software, why not mix the two? So, I built them software to evaluate things like cardiovascular capacity, bodyfat, strength, flexibility, and other, specialty, measures. Much to my surprise, this software turned out to be very popular and, within a few years, I had a thriving business selling fitness software.

I mention this just to say that I’ve been deeply embedded in gym and ‘workout’ culture for a very long time. I recognize just how often people associate ‘staying healthy’ with gyms and hard, structured workouts. But this isn’t the whole story! The truth is that, while you do need to engage in hard, structured workouts to reach high levels of athletic performance or gain lots of muscle, maintaining your health does not require hard, gym-based workouts.

Instead, the most important thing you can do, every single day, is simply to build movement into your life. Walk whenever it is practical, take the stairs, and avoid extended periods seated or reclining. No, walking and taking the stairs won’t burn a ton of calories but they will help maintain health and mobility - giving you most of the benefit you would get from a gym membership.

The bottom line is that the act of putting one foot in front of the other is a powerful tool for transforming your health and well-being. And these things all help to crank up the number on your steps counter.

## 10,000 Steps? Of course, if you are going to build movement into your life, the question of "how much is enough?" remains.

You’ve probably heard that, for optimal health, you should reach 10,000 steps per day. Proposed by Dr. Yoshiro Hatano, a Japanese researcher, in the 1960s, this is a great goal but is also a bit arbitrary. The truth is that the number of steps you need to take depends on your age, your health, your goals, and how much structured activity, or workouts, you also get. If you are healthy and have a safe environment to walk, 10,000 steps represents a solid, health-enhancing level of overall activity. If you are older, have orthopedic or other health issues, you may need to start with a lower number and work your way up. If you are putting time in at the gym, you may not need quite as many steps. I am fond of telling people who get less than 8,000 steps a day that their goal should be ‘more today than yesterday’ rather than reaching an arbitrary number.

Whatever your step count goal, research consistently shows that, within reason, getting more steps will enhance cardiovascular health, reduce the chance of metabolic diseases like diabetes, maintain balance and mobility, and increase your daily energy levels.

Steps and Your Legend’s Path Journey

Your daily step count is the foundation of your journey in every adventure - including real life. Indeed, a high daily step count helps ensure that, by journey’s end, you will be stronger and healthier. Like the hero in any great story, of course, you will face challenges and setbacks. There will be days when your total steps or miles will not be as high as you’d like. Still, simply putting one foot in front of the other is the best metaphor for your journey to optimal health.

So, the next time you are tempted to skip a walk, remember that you are not just taking steps; you are embarking on a grand adventure. You are becoming the hero of your own story, with each step moving you toward a healthier, happier, and more vibrant you! So, keep walking, keep exploring, and embrace the journey to better health – one step at a time.

Note: We recommend an Apple Watch or other wearable device to optimize your step and workout tracking but these are not strictly necessary.

Dr. B on 2024-11-29