Starting tomorrow, the American Public Health Association (APHA) is once again sponsoring the Billion Steps Challenge. The goal is to get more Americans walking and moving and engaging in physical activity. You can join my team, HHWWalkers, on Move Spring. Move Spring is a free app that you can download on your phone to track your steps. I will be using Move Spring as well as my smart watch to track my steps every day. The goal for the first week is to walk 1,000 steps a day. If you want to know how much that is, it is approximately half a mile. I find that I can easily walk 1,000 steps a day just walking around the house, work, or my neighborhood. I know there are those who can walk more than 1,000 steps a day, and they are encouraged to do so. However, I wanted to start small so everyone can join in increasing their physical activity.
Last year, I started doing the Billion Steps Challenge in late spring. In fact, the challenge was almost over when I started. I initially started walking telling myself I only had to get in 1,000 steps a day. I thought that I was doing good. I created a team on another app last year, and my team members were walking it! I had some team members who were walking 7,500 to 10,000 steps a day. I couldn't believe it. I thought, "Wow, I am not doing that great if these people are all doing 7,500 steps a day, and I'm only doing 1,000." I was a soccer player in college, so my competitive nature came out. I couldn't be the team captain and be the one with the fewest number of steps.
Every week, I gradually increased my number of steps. I remember it was early June, and I had finally reached over 3.5 miles, which is the equivalent of a 5K. I was so proud of myself. I felt like I had finally accomplished something. In fact, I had planned to sign up for a 5K for the summer, just to have the experience. However, there was a conflict that day, and I wasn't able to compete.
Even though I hit a short term goal of being able to compete in a 5K, I decided to keep pushing myself. If my team members were walking 7,500 steps a day, why couldn't I do that? Then, I was pushing myself to walk 10,000 steps a day. In case you are wondering, that is about equivalent to 5 miles a day. I was feeling great. I started to notice I had more energy during the day. The best part was that I started noticing my body changing for the better. My muscles were becoming firmer, and I lost fat in areas I never even noticed before. I could have sworn even my feet looked thinner!
After I reached the 5 miles point, I didn't stop, either. I have a brother who participates in triathlons. I thought to myself, "If he can do it, I can do it, too." I researched how many miles triathletes run, and they run 6.2 miles. I convinced myself I needed to walk at least 7.5 miles. Then, once I reached 7.5 miles, I decided I needed to do 10 miles. By the end of the summer and into the fall, I was walking 10.5 miles at a time.
Now, I have to admit that all of this walking was very time consuming. I walked every day, and my walks usually lasted about three hours. Then, I would come home and take a nice hot bath to help soothe my muscles. I also had some expense associated with the walking. I had to buy new shoes because I had literally worn out two pairs of shoes during the summer. I also had purchased other items to keep me healthy in the summer heat and sun: water bottles, ankle gauze, band-aids, sunscreen, new workout clothes. However, the costs were minimal and were easy to bear. Also, I didn't mind having an excuse to buy new shoes and new clothes, especially since my other clothes no longer fit me after walking so much and dropping two dresses!
This year, my goal is to get back to the 10.5 miles, hopefully before the end of the summer. I also am planning to put "Participate in a 5K" and "Participate in a 10K" back on my summer to-do list! I know I can do it. I'm sure you will be able to get more steps in and walk yourself healthy, too. See you out there!
Last year, I started doing the Billion Steps Challenge in late spring. In fact, the challenge was almost over when I started. I initially started walking telling myself I only had to get in 1,000 steps a day. I thought that I was doing good. I created a team on another app last year, and my team members were walking it! I had some team members who were walking 7,500 to 10,000 steps a day. I couldn't believe it. I thought, "Wow, I am not doing that great if these people are all doing 7,500 steps a day, and I'm only doing 1,000." I was a soccer player in college, so my competitive nature came out. I couldn't be the team captain and be the one with the fewest number of steps.
Every week, I gradually increased my number of steps. I remember it was early June, and I had finally reached over 3.5 miles, which is the equivalent of a 5K. I was so proud of myself. I felt like I had finally accomplished something. In fact, I had planned to sign up for a 5K for the summer, just to have the experience. However, there was a conflict that day, and I wasn't able to compete.
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| Photo courtesy of Pixabay.com |
Even though I hit a short term goal of being able to compete in a 5K, I decided to keep pushing myself. If my team members were walking 7,500 steps a day, why couldn't I do that? Then, I was pushing myself to walk 10,000 steps a day. In case you are wondering, that is about equivalent to 5 miles a day. I was feeling great. I started to notice I had more energy during the day. The best part was that I started noticing my body changing for the better. My muscles were becoming firmer, and I lost fat in areas I never even noticed before. I could have sworn even my feet looked thinner!
After I reached the 5 miles point, I didn't stop, either. I have a brother who participates in triathlons. I thought to myself, "If he can do it, I can do it, too." I researched how many miles triathletes run, and they run 6.2 miles. I convinced myself I needed to walk at least 7.5 miles. Then, once I reached 7.5 miles, I decided I needed to do 10 miles. By the end of the summer and into the fall, I was walking 10.5 miles at a time.
Now, I have to admit that all of this walking was very time consuming. I walked every day, and my walks usually lasted about three hours. Then, I would come home and take a nice hot bath to help soothe my muscles. I also had some expense associated with the walking. I had to buy new shoes because I had literally worn out two pairs of shoes during the summer. I also had purchased other items to keep me healthy in the summer heat and sun: water bottles, ankle gauze, band-aids, sunscreen, new workout clothes. However, the costs were minimal and were easy to bear. Also, I didn't mind having an excuse to buy new shoes and new clothes, especially since my other clothes no longer fit me after walking so much and dropping two dresses!
This year, my goal is to get back to the 10.5 miles, hopefully before the end of the summer. I also am planning to put "Participate in a 5K" and "Participate in a 10K" back on my summer to-do list! I know I can do it. I'm sure you will be able to get more steps in and walk yourself healthy, too. See you out there!
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