Why You Should Take the First Step to 10,000 Steps!

If you are looking to improve your health and fitness, then 10,000 steps a day may be a good place to start. Taking 10,000 steps a day is equal to five miles and can burn between 300-400 calories (that’s an entire meal!) There are also many health benefits associated to taking 10,000 steps each day, including reducing the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Additionally, taking 10,000 steps has been shown to reduce stress levels and improve overall well-being. Getting started with this simple goal can have a positive impact on your life. Most people don't take the first step in improving their health and fitness because they think it is too much work or they don’t have enough time. However, there are so many benefits to committing to a better healthier life and it all starts with a single first step.

10,000 Equals Exactly Five Miles:       

For many people, 10,000 steps is a huge number, but let’s look at it in distance; 10,000 steps is exactly five miles! So, by walking 10,000 steps throughout your entire day, you will have covered five total miles, which is incredible if you think about it. The best part is you don’t have to cover five miles in an allotted time, but rather cover five miles in an entire day by focusing on a tangible goal of 10,000 steps taken. Walking is something that can be done in any environment and at any time, so in the morning before work, between projects, while running errands, on your lunch break, after work, after dinner, or even before getting settled to relax before bed. All you need is a place to walk and some motivation. Set incremental goals for yourself and each day add a few more steps until you reach your goal of 10,000 and if you miss the mark, simply start over again the next day! So why not take the first step today and see how far you can get?

Burn an Extra 300-400 Calories:

According to research, 10,000 steps a day, five miles of walking, can help people burn an extra 300-400 calories, which is the equivalent of an entire meal! By setting a goal of 10,000 steps and hitting it daily you can burn off an entire meal worth of calories each day. This level of increase in physical activity can result in significant health benefits over time, including reducing the risk of obesity, heart disease, stroke, Type 2 diabetes, and other health related illnesses. Taking 10,000 steps a day also has mental health benefits, such as reducing stress levels and improving mood and sleep quality. 

Forces You to Take Breaks from Being Overly Sedentary

Another reason experts are starting to recommend 10,000 steps a day is because spending too much time being sedentary or sitting down can have negative effects on our health. Taking these many steps forces us to take breaks from being sedentary and get up and move around more. This can help to improve our circulation, increase our range of motion, and as mentioned before, reduce the risk of developing health problems such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. By taking breaks to walk we are allowing our eyes to rest from phone/laptop/reading, our bodies to relax, and our minds to disconnect. Here’s a bonus, when taking a break get outside for a few steps and get some much-needed vitamin D from the sun!

Strengthens Your Bones:          

Since you spend so much time on your feet, walking 10,000 steps daily can help keep your bones healthy and strong. Walking helps to improve bone density, reduces the risk of fracture, and can also help reduce the risk of osteoporosis in later life. At different stages in our lives having healthier stronger bones is crucial to our everyday lives and overall health. Further, as we age and get older, having healthy strong bones is an absolute must to avoid preventable injuries in our twilight years.

Stabilizes Blood Sugar:         

There is mounting evidence that taking the first step to 10,000 steps daily can help stabilize blood sugar levels. This is because walking helps to improve insulin sensitivity, leading to a more stable blood sugar level. Additionally, regular physical activity has been shown to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes and other chronic diseases. For these reasons, it is important for everyone, including those with diabetes, to take the first step towards a healthier lifestyle by taking 10,000 steps every day.

Boosts Heart Health:          

The benefits of taking the first step to 10,000 steps every day are numerous. One of the most significant benefits is that it helps improve heart health. Statistics show that people who walk 10,000 steps or more each day have a 50% lower risk of heart disease than those who walk fewer than 5,000 steps. It's also been shown to help reduce the risk of stroke and diabetes. Additionally, just by taking these simple actions, we can positively impact our overall health and well-being.

Builds Muscle               

There is a growing body of scientific evidence that suggests taking regular steps can help you maintain muscle mass, especially if you are inactive. People who took 10,000 steps per day had a lower risk of developing sarcopenia, or age-related muscle loss, than those who did not take the steps. We often forget that our legs are what carry us throughout our entire lives, so having strong legs with lean muscle is crucial to our everyday lives. By walking more, we can build muscle that will serve us well in our everyday lives, as well as as we get older.

Taking the first step toward improving your health and fitness can be challenging, but with proper guidance, you can make it happen.