How to reach the magic number on the pedometer
Now, how to get to 10,000 to 15,000 steps a day?
Experts advise sprinkling activity throughout the day. So here’s just one strategy:
1. Strap on the fitness tracker immediately after waking.
2. Make it a point to look at your fitness tracker every hour on the hour, beginning one hour after you awake.
3. Aim to get 800 to 1,000 steps in by the start of every new hour. (That might not happen, but the goal will help you scout opportunities to fit in steps.)
4. If necessary, play “catch up” by getting in a few hundred steps before work, at lunch, after work and when you get home.
5. Are you running an errand after work? Park a few blocks from your destination or do a few laps around the lot before shopping.
6. Take a stroll after dinner, and walk until you hit your mark.
7. Before you go to bed, reflect on your day. Were there opportunities you missed for extra steps? Get after them tomorrow.
Note: When starting a walking plan, start slowly — say, 5,000 steps a day — and focus on consistency. Increase by 10% to 15% a week. You’ll be at 10,000 steps a day before you know it.
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