The Healthy Writer Blog

Stepping It Up!

Posted by Anna Sugden Oct 28 2011, 1:28 am in Anna Sugden, pedometer, step counts, walking

Regular visitors will know that I’ve been struggling with exercise over the past year due to problems with my back. It’s been frustrating to go from being able to run 5k three times a week, to nothing because of pain and/or numbness in my back and left leg.

The other problem I’d had, which I know many people have, is fitting in a work-out. Finding an hour plus, three times a week was getting harder and harder.

Recently, I decided I had to do something and dug out my trusty pedometer. I might not be able to exercise the way I want to, but I can do something – even if it is only a brisk walk every day.

During the first week, I monitored my step count and was horrified to find that on days where I was working at the computer all day, I was averaging 2500 steps! A long way from the recommended 10,000! On days where I walked into the village, the average went up to about 6000 steps.

So, I decided to target 6000 steps every day, with the aim of boosting that goal every few weeks by 500 steps.

Time-wise, that worked too because instead of trying to find big chunks of time, I was able to slot in 15 mins or 30 mins every day. On days where I was out and about, my normal step count was already higher, so the amount of time I needed to do an extra brisk walk was shorter.

I’m currently trying to maintain a 7500 daily step count.

Wearing the pedometer every day made a huge difference. It made me monitor my daily step count, so making me more aware of how much or how little walking I’d done. It also seemed to make me accountable. There’s no cheating with the number on the screen at the end of the day – you either did or didn’t do what you planned! I even liked the little cheering figure that appeared on days when I passed the 10,000 step mark!

Have I lost any weight? Not yet.

Have I lost any inches? Not yet.

Do I feel better? Yes. I’m also sleeping better and feel less bloated. I know I’m working my heart and lungs and I’m burning calories, which I wasn’t doing regularly before.

Am I going to keep this up? Yes! I don’t know that I’ll be able to make 10,000 steps a day, but I’m going to keep going with the program I have and keep setting myself those daily targets.

Who knows, maybe I’ll even be able to start running again sometime.

What about you? Have you found ways to fit in exercise when other things have got in the way of your regular program? Have you used a pedometer and did it work for you? Do you know how many steps you walk every day?

5 Comments

Comments

5 Responses to “Stepping It Up!”

Michelle Butler says:

October 28, 2011 at 11:31 am

I know Trish is a big fan of the pedometer – and even fancier versions of it. I walk a lot, but I’ve never used a pedometer. I keep meaning to do so to see how many steps I get a day and if I’m anywhere near the 10,000 daily goal.

It sounds like you are already getting a lot out of the walking! Enjoy it! Not everything is about the scale going down or losing inches. Feeling better is awesome!

Reply
- Anna Sugden says:
  
  October 29, 2011 at 7:25 am
  
  Thanks, Michelle. I am getting a lot out of the walking – most importantly that I feel better for having something that makes me get up and out! I think knowing it won’t take long, that I don’t have to get dressed up and then showered after, is a help too.
  
  Reply
Tawny Weber says:

October 28, 2011 at 2:51 pm

I use my Fitbit to track steps, Anna, and love it. Like you, once I got back into the habit of wearing it, I realized how sedentary I had gotten! Many a’writing day, I’d be lucky to break 3k. My current goal is 7500 steps a day, but I’m hitting the 3k mark at least half of the week, so I’m pretty jazzed with that.

One of the cool things about staying aware of steps is that as the day is winding down, if I see that I’m just shy of my goal number, I’ll get up from my desk and move. Then I end up with a lot more energy to write for the next hour or so

Reply
- Anna Sugden says:
  
  October 29, 2011 at 7:28 am
  
  I wish we could get the Fitbit over here – but they haven’t done it yet.
  
  I’m glad I’m not the only one who struggles on heavy writing days
  
  I think that’s the thing with my pedometer – it makes me accountable in a way I didn’t expect (wish I had one for word count LOL). For a little gizmo, it packs a lot of power!
  
  Reply
Sandra says:

November 7, 2011 at 5:06 pm

It is incredibly tough- I am trying to get fitter, but with kids and job, there never seem to be enough hours in the day!

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