10,000 Steps vs. Brisk Walking for 30 Minutes

A reader writes, "Fitness experts usually recommend sustained exercise of 20 to 30 minutes at a stretch and say that anything less than that doesn't give you much benefit. So if I try to add 3,000 steps per day to my regimen and do it by getting up from my desk every hour and taking a walk around the office building, or using the stairs instead of the elevator, will that accomplish anything for me in that short period of time?" The short answer is that sustained exercise at a moderate intensity has more benefits than lower intensity exercise, such as just adding steps throughout your day till you reach a goal of 10,000 steps. But even the slower steps have many benefits, and the total daily steps do count towards a longer, leaner, and healthier life. Should You Walk 10,000 Steps Per Day?

Pedometers Tell You the Truth
Wearing a pedometer, you can't lie to yourself that you really did fit in some extra activity throughout the day, or exactly how far your jog or exercise walk took you. Pedometers are great motivators for fitting in extra steps. Humans were not meant to sit in desk chairs or on couches for 12 hours a day. Our bodies were meant to be out hunting and gathering, planting and harvesting. If you want to convert other activities into pedometer steps, see my chart of pedometer step equivalents for exercise and activities.

• How to Choose a Pedometer
• Top Picks for Pedometers
• Step Counters Pedometer Walking Program: To make your pedometer really work to help you develop an active lifestyle, join our free Step Counters pedometer walking program. Each day for 28 days, you will receive an email newsletter with tips for using your pedometer and tips for how to increase your daily step count.

Photo © Wendy Bumgardner