For discussion for the Weightloss Kos group....
Several months into an effort to be more healthy and lose weight I was searching for a good way to add more exercise into my busy work-life schedule.
After thinking about a few options I've started simple and in a way that can fit into what I'm already been up to: walking.
I work in DC and metro in from Maryland, so it's a very natural city for walking and it seems that is the first, best way I can get more active.... Also have had knee problems etc, so want to avoid higher impact things to do no more damage there.
But the key was pedometer, attaching it to my keychain, and tracking and targeting how many steps per day to do...
The pedometer was easy, and $30 bucks and one amazon.com purchase later, I had this in hand.
After a week of walking no differently than usual, I found my average steps per day with ZERO additional effort, which turned out to be 2,000 steps.
With just a bit of extra effort I've been able to move that up to 5,000 steps per day. And it was super simple things: like taking a slightly longer "scenic route" from normal walking routes, and if i have ten minutes waiting for the red line to show up, don't just stand or sit. Take a little time walking in a leisurely big loop on the station platform rather than just hanging out bored.
And right now I am targeting 5,000 steps per day, and if i miss that target (even by 1 step) then the "penalty" is finding a way to spend 45 minutes at my gym on a bike or lifestep. One or the other, each day.
Soon I'll up that to say 5,250 steps.
I'd seen some books and blog posts saying that targeting up to about 10,000 steps per day is what do -- and easier than one thinks.
Any thoughts or other links to good resources on the use of walking/pedometers in new exercise efforts?