Stepping It Up

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            I like exercise and staying healthy, and that means getting up off my butt and staying active. According to the American Heart Association, taking 10,000 steps a day is an important aspect of a healthy lifestyle. I have a pedometer to help me track the number of steps I take throughout the day. Monitoring my steps is like a game, and I’m always trying to better the number I had yesterday or my average from last week. It can also be fun to think of new ways to squeeze a few more steps out of the day.

            According to the Yahoo! Shine article “Seven Easy Steps Away to 10,000 Steps a Day” there are certain things you can do through out your day to increase your activity level. One of the tips is to get a pedometer and then monitor progress. I’ve got a handle on that one. Next, if you live close enough, you can walk your kids to school instead of driving them. You can do a drop in on someone while at work. Instead of texting or emailing in the office, take the time to get up to go see your co-workers. You can also skip the elevator and opt for the stairs and the extra steps. You can try parking farther away from your destination. Lastly, when shopping you should browse more; walk up and down the aisles for exercise. I often use these methods of gaining more steps in the day, however I will make a conscious effort to do so more often and attempt to find other ways to roll the numbers on my pedometer. I will report back.