Monday, November 24, 2014

Seven Strategies to Get Your Steps

Are you a FitBit, WiThings, Misfit, Garmin or other tracker user? Need to get your steps but the weather (cold, snow, rain) has you hemmed in? Here are some tips for getting your 10,000 steps for the day in.

  1. Hit the steps! Whether at home or at the office, sneaking in 10-15 minutes for some step work will get your step count up.
    Bonus: Going up steps burns 3x the calories as walking on a flat surface.
  2. In addition to a step session - include more steps as part of your daily routine - SKIP the elevator!
  3. When you're going to the water cooler, take the long way. I've got a break area right near my desk, I'll take a 1-2 minute walk around the floor to get to the water cooler 15 feet from my desk.
  4. Walk the floor plan. Even if you're stuck at home, take some laps around the floor plan of your house. If you've got steps (as I do - though I miss my old house where I had three floors instead of only two) that's even better!
  5. Walk the parking garage. Sure, you can always take the steps up to your car (that you parked on the top floor) but if you want even more steps in a sheltered environment, walk the garage as if you were a vehicle. That'll get your motor revving! 
  6. Got a treadmill at work or home? Hit the treads baby. Sure, it's as boring as watching paint dry, but if you need something to keep you occupied, then load a great podcast or audiobook!
  7. Run in place. it doesn't take much time to rack up 1k steps just running in place. (I prefer this to a treadmill actually). So, pop on something you like (or not - maybe just a good metronome to keep you on pace) and go for it!
There you go, seven strategies to get your steps when you're locked inside or seeking shelter.

BONUS!

OK, now for the bonus for everyone that's read this far.  Want to get steps and really crank up your metabolism too? Do body weight exercises instead of just steps!

Here's a variety for you:

  • Squats
  • Lunges
  • Side Lunges
  • Step-ups
  • Push-ups (yup, your tracker will count the up and down movements)
  • Side to Side ski-jumps
  • Jumping jacks
  • Mummy kicks
  • Heisman's (or the ones I like better 1-2-3 Heisman's)

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