You’ve heard it before – your body needs 10,000 steps in a day to decrease the risk of chronic illnesses like diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. While this health goal was made popular in the 1960’s, it’s become more prevalent in recent years with the onset of fitness trackers and wearable devices. But is walking all it takes to be healthy and fit? Is 10,000 steps still a relevant benchmark? We explore the answers to those questions and more below!
“Walking is the Superfood of fitness”
Author and scientist Katy Bowman, a biomechanist out of California, recently had a great quote about walking. She compared it to the essential dietary nutrients that our bodies need:
“Walking is a superfood. It’s the defining movement of a human. It’s a lot easier to get movement than it is to get exercise,” she stated.
This is a great point because many people look at getting healthy or fit as an all-or-nothing approach, thinking that if they aren’t running, lifting weights, or going to the gym, what’s the point? But simply walking, or trying to get those 10,000 steps per day, has major physical and mental benefits!
For one – it combats inactivity and sedentary lifestyles, which could be just as dangerous as smoking according to recent research. Clearly, frequent daily walking reduces inactivity along with the risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Secondly – walking has been shown to improve mood and decrease work-related stresses.
With our all-new SpaceWalker – combating inactivity and improving mood is easier than ever! We designed a compact, multi-purpose treadmill that is small enough to fit in any studio apartment, as well as any office. It doubles as a standing desk, folds into a nice-looking piece of furniture, and is perfect for getting in those daily steps without having to change your daily routine.
Walking as movement, not exercise
Walking is a phenomenal maintenance activity that keeps you happy, decreases your chances of disease, and helps you age well. However, it shouldn’t necessarily be looked at as a way to get “fit.”
While it may help some lose weight – strength training, cross-fit, functional training, and running will help you accomplish your bigger fitness goals. To use the food analogy again – walking represents your minimal daily nutrients that you must intake. You must have a healthy, balanced diet just like you must take a certain number of steps each day. However, to achieve a greater level of fitness, you’ll need to ramp up the activity.
Is 15,000 the new 10,000?
One new study proposes that 15,000 steps, not 10,000, should be the standard benchmark. This study looked at postal-service workers in Glasgow, Scotland. Their daily routines consist of a considerable amount of walking, but also a substantial amount of sitting behind a desk.
The workers who sat for most of the day tended to have larger waistlines, higher BMI’s, and worse cholesterol profiles than those who moved more often. The greatest benefits were shown in those who walked for over three hours a day, covering at least 15,000 steps. This may be one of the few cases where more is better!
Dr. William Tigbe, the physician and public health researcher who led this study, concluded the following:
“Our metabolism is not well-suited to sitting down all the time. It takes effort, but we can accumulate 15,000 steps a day by walking briskly for two hours at about a four-mile-per-hour pace.”
Is two hours of walking manageable for you? For many, there simply isn’t enough time to walk for 2-3 hours per day. That’s where the SpaceWalker comes into play. With this product, getting those 15,000 steps is easy when you can walk while you work, walk while you study, or walk while you watch TV!