Easy Ways To Get Your Steps In

You need a complete program of exercise that addresses flexibility, endurance, balance, and strength. You can devote three to four days a week to it. On the other days, you can increase your exercise in easy ways, like adding steps. Adding steps can be as simple as taking a walk during lunch or parking further from the store and walking. It supplements your workout sessions and can get you back into shape quicker.

You don’t have to take a walk to be walking.

When you think of walking, you usually think of walking somewhere, but you don’t have to do that to get in extra steps. You can walk in place while you’re watching television. It doesn’t take much room. You can walk side to side and step backward and forward to break any monotony. Pump your arms while you’re doing your steps. It burns extra calories and gets in more exercise. Besides changing walking patterns, you can make your walk a HIIT—high intensity interval training—workout. Just run in place at peak intensity for a while, then drop back to a recovery pace for an equal or longer time. Then go back to the peak intensity pace.

Shopping can add steps to your day.

You don’t have to buy anything, either. Just stop at an indoor mall, park further from the store to add steps, and go inside to do some window shopping. You can make a loop around the mall. If you have extra energy, take a second or third. You don’t have to take all your steps at once. Do as much as you can. When adding steps, you can break it into more manageable sessions of ten to fifteen minutes, done several times throughout the day.

Increase your steps incrementally.

You don’t have to add 1,000 steps at a time to increase your steps. Adding a few extra steps here and there will do. If you live or work in a building with several floors, take the stairs instead of the elevator. Always ensure the exits from the stairwell aren’t locked, or you might find yourself trapped. Put things away in your home immediately to increase your steps. You’ll have a tidier home and get more steps when you do.

• If you have to call a co-worker, walk to their station and talk to them face-to-face. It can improve communications and help you get in extra steps.
• Walk to lunch. If your lunch hour is short, call in your order and pick it up instead. Some restaurants provide seating for call-ahead orders, if they don’t, eat your lunch in the park or at your desk. Packing your lunch and eating it in the park is another option.
• If your child’s school is close enough, walk the kids to school and walk them home. You’ll save time in the pick-up line and save on gas, too.
• If you live within walking distance of the grocery, get a foldable cart and walk to the store. Using a cart allows you to get everything you need without worrying about whether you can carry it all.

For more information, contact us today at Thrive Fitness!