Does hitting 10,000 steps a day really make a difference?

[T.T.]

Does hitting 10,000 steps a day really make a difference?

Recommended fitness targets can, at times, seem arbitrary.

Take the advice to walk 10,000 steps.

The lofty step goal translates to roughly five miles and more than an hour of walking a day depending on your stride length and frequency.

So how did the 10,000 number come to be? What are the health benefits? More importantly, is the target realistic for busy people?

Those answers are nuanced and depend largely on your current level of activity, time availability and occupation, says Andrew R. Jagim, Ph.D., director of sports medicine research at Mayo Clinic. But you might be pleasantly surprised by how quickly you can amass more steps by making small adjustments to your daily routine, Dr. Jagim says.

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I don't get to 10,000 every day but I walk around outside and inside the house, when we park the car in a car park we park it the furthest away. Of course I have my exercise classes and we seem to get a few up when we go to the Mall. Can't sit on my Bum all day.

[Peri]

Walking is all well and good but you also need to incorporate other activities like weights.

[T.T.]

Peri I certainly agree with that one. We have weights at classes.

[laurie]

Exactly, Peri,

[T.T.]

Laurie sure agree.

[Susan]

i might walk that much i don't know, and i don't care

i walk that's it....

and sometimes swim

so

Susan

[T.T.]

Susan long as you are moving that is the main thing.