Who though taking 10,000 steps a day, which has become to mantra since manufacturers began introducing wearable devices like the Fit Bit, is such a great idea?
It turns out, it was the Japanese, back in the 1960’s. A Japanese company brought out a pedometer called the “manpo-kei,” which translates to 10,000 step meter. The idea caught on like wildfire from there, and with good reason.
“Humans are made to walk. I tell my older clients, ‘Move it or Lose it.’ It helps keep mobility in our joints; it helps keep mobility in our joints, it helps our circulation, it helps blood flow. Humans need to be active. We need to move,” says Lonestar Fitness founder and trainer Kelly West. She says if you’re not accustomed to a lot of movement start slow and build up, but move. Try for at least 7,500, because according to researchers, it adds up to about 150 minutes of exercise a week, that amount of workout time recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Research has consistently shown that when moderate exercise is combined with a healthy diet and healthy behaviors it can reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes, metabolic disorder, and a host of other maladies. West says it doesn’t have to be a life-changing commitment to exercise. “You don’t have to get a fancy gym membership. You don’t have to try cross-fit or anything like that. You just have to get out there and walk.”