How To Increase Your Overall Fitness By 27% With One Simple Step

When it comes to maintaining health and wellness, it comes down to one simple rule – attainable goals. While it may be tempting to sign up to the local gym and put your name down for every single cycle and boxing class, the reality is a little different. A busy lifestyle and getting into the groove of a steady fitness routine means we often fail to meet those unrealistic timeframes.  A good starting point then? Ensuring you move during your day-to-day routine.  More specifically ensuring you reach the recommended 10,000 steps a day benchmark. 

Now, we are not saying ditch the gym, but rather step into an active routine, building on those fitness goals gradually.  Walking is one of the most effective ways to start not only increasing your fitness level, but reaching some health and fitness goals. If you find yourself sitting at your desk all day, or in a car for hours on end, ensuring you add in some extra steps each day can help get you out of your exercise rut.  

A report released by the Harvard Medical School found the humble pedometer to be one of the most cost effective and motivational fitness tools. The combination of having a goal (10,000 steps a day) with wearing a monitor, which helps you, track this progress, was found as proven motivational tool.  An evaluation of 26 different studies found the pedometer to help increase an individual’s movement by an average of 2,000 steps a day when compared to non-users. Overall, pedometer users were found to have increased their overall physical activity by 27%. Why? It all goes back to setting those attainable goals.  

Like a calorie counter on our favourite fitness machines, a pedometer enables us to track progress and adjust our routine accordingly to meet personal benchmarks. If one notices the count is down they will be more likely to take the steps instead of the elevator, will be prompted to walk around the office mid morning and perhaps take the second bus stop, instead of the first.  

So take the smallest step towards reaching those new fitness goals.