Five easy, practical tips for reaching 10,000 steps a day.
Last week we kicked off our third annual healthy living challenge, 28 Days to a Healthier New You, by encouraging participants to cook at home more often. Week two we are shifting gears and looking at the fitness aspect of healthy living by challenging everyone to walk at least 10,000 steps a day.
The great thing about a 10,000 step a day challenge is that it is achievable regardless of fitness level. Whether you walk, jog, run or skip – it doesn’t matter. Many people use personal fitness devices to track their steps but if you don’t have one, 10,000 steps equates to roughly 5 miles.
Of course, getting in 10,000 steps a day, especially in the dead of winter, isn’t always the easiest to accomplish. Luckily, throughout the years, I’ve come up with a few tips and tricks to reaching your 10,000 step a day goal that I’m excited to share with you all today.
Invest in a Fitness Tracking Device:
The number one reason why I wear a personal fitness tracking device is that it motivates me to move. While I’m a huge fan of the Fitbit Charge 2, there are many options available so do your research and find one that fits your goals and your budget. Having easy access to seeing my step progress throughout the day and the excitement when it buzzes off when I hit my goal is oddly motivating. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve stayed on the treadmill a few minutes longer just to reach a certain step number.
Build Activity Into Your Daily Tasks:
It’s human nature to always be looking for shortcuts in life. Whether it’s driving around for 5 minutes to find the closest parking spot to the door or waiting in a long line to get on an elevator instead of taking the stairs, we all do it. If you change your mindset and think of those little annoyances a bit differently you’ll quickly find that there are many opportunities to get more activity and steps into your day that have nothing to do with hitting the treadmill.
Stay Hydrated:
If you’re introducing a new fitness regime into your routine or simply dialing it up a notch in the new year, it’s important to stay hydrated. For me, that means having water easily accessible. Whether that means keeping a stash of Simple Truth vapor distilled water bottles in my gym bag or adding lemon slices for added flavor, it’s essential that you increase your water intake as you increase your daily step count.
Get Creative with Your Cardio:
Many of us get into ruts when it comes to cardio. Whether it’s hitting up the elliptical every morning or jogging our usual route in the evenings, it can get a little mundane after a while. For me, if exercise starts to get boring, I’m not likely to keep up with it long term. My secret to maintaining a 65-pound weight loss for over 9 years? Variety, variety, variety. Whether it’s a kickboxing class one day, a hip hop dance class another day, or walking around the lake with a friend, I thrive on variety and that makes me more likely to reach my daily step goal.
Join a Friendly Step Competition:
One of the most fun benefits of wearing a personal fitness tracker is that many of them allow you to join step competitions with friends and family. My husband loves challenging me to “Weekend Warrior” competitions to see which one of us not only gets the most total steps but reaches that elusive 10,000 number the fastest. It’s oddly addictive but in the healthiest of ways.
Are you ready to commit to reaching 10,000 steps a day? Join the more than 1100 others already in our free private Facebook group today!
Disclosure: 28 Days to a Healthier New You is sponsored by Kroger.
Once I started working full time in an office it became SO much harder to reach my step goal! I used to get 10,000 by noon just being with my kids. Now despite trying to move around every chance I get, it still takes a walk late at night or trips up and down our stairs to reach 10,000. But it’s worth it!!
Oh my gosh I’m so proud of you though for making it happen!!!! I hope your new job is going well!!
Great tips. I used to run before I got diagnosed with my illness. I’m fed up being so immobile so I started working out. The fitbit helps a lot. Loving these tips to help me get my rear in gear.
Oh I’m so glad you find these helpful Kim!! Setbacks are hard but inevitable – good for you overcoming them!
I really need to start using my fitbit!! Great tips!!
It is hugely motivating for me!!
It’s amazing how just walking can really help with better health!
I love how approachable it is!
Love this girl! Your healthy lifestyle is inspiring! Happy New Year to ya!
Awww thank you so much lady!! Happy New Year!!
Love all these tips, Liz! Getting a Fitbit is on my to do list!!!
You will love having it!!! Add me as a friend when you get it!
I couldn’t agree more with these tips! I am all about variety myself.
Variety is KEY!!!!
I love these tips! The idea of a step competition sounds so fun – totally gotta try!
Yes!!! The competition is so motivating!
Walking is on of the best exercises. I will try your tips for sure!