Step It Up

Do you know how many steps you take in a day? You can, with a pedometer. In fact, wearing one is a good way to gauge how much activity you're getting while just going about your daily activities. It can tell you whether you're active enough or whether you should build some more movement into your day.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Surgeon General recommend a minimum of 10,000 steps per day (roughly four miles). If that seems like a lot, remember that every step you take during the day counts toward the total. When you add up all the steps you take walking among the different rooms in your home, down the hallway at work, and to and from your car, you'll see that it's an achievable goal.

If you don't own a pedometer, consider buying one. Look for a basic model that's easy to operate and easy to read. You don't have to get anything too expensive — there are many decent basic models available for less than $20.

Start by wearing the pedometer for a few days to get a feel for how many steps you're taking now. If it's less than 10,000, challenge yourself to work your way up there. Little changes like parking further away from your office or the store, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, and walking over to talk to your work colleagues instead of shooting them an e-mail can really add up. Remember that the number on your pedometer is an estimate of your steps. If it is off by a few steps, don't worry about it — just focus on how much you are moving during the day.

This week, buy and use a pedometer to keep track of your activity level. Soon, you'll find yourself looking for excuses to get moving!