Discover the optimal amount of steps per day you should take for health benefits.
Hint: It’s not 10,000 steps!
Im an Exercise PhysiologistHeres Why You Shouldnt Worry About Cortisol Spikes When You Do HIIT Workouts.
Elliptical vs Treadmill: Which Cardio Machine Is Right For You?
Does Rowing Count as Strength Training?
Enough to make you live longer?
vice president of education atStretchLab
But exactly how many steps should you take in a day?
That whole 10,000 steps isnt what the science says.
The magic numberwe always hear of 10,000 steps a dayis a nice goal, Dr. Weinrauch says.
But its not the first thing he takes into consideration with each patient.
What does science say about how many steps to take in a day?
First things first: Why have you heard 10,000 steps a day is the step count recommendation, anyway?
This 10,000 steps number came from out of nowhere.
And that number stuck.)
Then the moredaily stepswomen took after hitting 4,400 the betteruntil 7,500 steps, where the benefits plateaued.
vice president of education atStretchLab
This may have other emotional and health benefits, says the study.
If you translate those numbers into steps, what numbers do you actually get?
Its somewhere between 7,000 and 8,000 steps per day, Dr. Aguiar says.
Its important to point out that no one is advocating for takinglesssteps than you already do.
Obviously, in general, the more active you are, the better it is for your health.
Instead, this is meant to help people set more realistic goals for their lifestyles.
Theres nothing wrong with 10,000 steps.
If people are achieving that you wouldnt suggest doing less, Dr. Aguiar explains.
Humans are not meant to be sedentary, saysChris Tomshack, DC, founder and CEO of HealthSource.
You may have heard the expression, sitting is the new smoking, and its completely true.
How many steps should I take a day?
Theres no one way to think about physical activity.
Ultimately, however, its about finding a number that is achievable for you so that youll stay motivated.
(Wearing theright shoes for walkingcan help, too!)
goala specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely goalthat you could achieve, says Dr. Aguiar.
Does Dancing Count as Cardio?
Heres What Experts Say
Glute Bridge vs Hip Thrust: Which Is The Better Booty Booster?
Im a Master TrainerHeres Why You Shouldnt Skip Your Post-Run Stretches.
Its important to set goals for yourself that are actually achievable.
If someone has less than 5,000 steps a day, they would be considered to have a sedentary lifestyle.
Spend the first week learning what your steps are so you get a baseline.
If youre already a super active person,10,000 steps might be more than achievable, he says.
You should figure out what step count youre able to achieve every single dayconsistentlyand thats your starting place.
Once youve established that baseline, begin with making your goal to tackle an additional 1,000 steps consistently.
Then, add 2,000 more, and so on.
It is such an individualized thing and really depends on the person, he explains.
Looking for a mileage goal?
Dr. Weinrauch says its more important to focus on the amount of time youre actively moving each day.
For the average person, a 20-minute mile is a good pace to keep.
If the watch helps you get there, the watch is helpful, he says.
Just dont sweat the 10,000 marker all the time.
Is 10,000 steps the same as a cardio workout?
Walking 10,000 steps over the course of a day isbasicallythe same thing as a full cardio workout, right?
Uh, nonot really.
FAQ
1.
How many steps a day is considered active?
However, its important to set goals for yourself that are actually achievable.
Is 1 hour of walking a day enough activity?
you’ve got the option to split up this amount of time however you want to.
What exercise is equal to walking?
Walking is a low-impact cardio exercise, which means its easy on your joints.
Other similar forms of exercise include swimming, biking, and using an elliptical machine, according toUVA Health.
Doing any of these activities for 150 minutes per week provides the same benefits as walking.
…
Got it, you’ve been added to our email list.
