How Many Steps Do You Actually Need to Walk Per Day?

Hello Ziddis! We all have heard about the saying walk the walk! While it means to do what needs to be done, here in the fitness world what needs to be done is exactly walking. Walking is one of the simplest forms of exercise that can change your life. It has the potential to keep you fitter and better. Most people think of 10k steps to be the magic number, this target does not always work for everyone considering the diverse lifestyle we all have. So let us understand how to get back into your walking shoes and benefit from this. But before that, pat yourself for all that you are doing to get back to health and stay on track for your fitness goals!

Health Benefits of Walking Every Day

There are tonnes of benefits to walking every day!

• Walking regularly can improve cardiovascular health
• It reduces the risk of chronic diseases like diabetes
• Walking also enhances your mental well-being by reducing stress and anxiety.

How Many Steps to Walk Per Day

Studies show that we need to hit the magic number of 10k steps every day to get all the above-mentioned benefits. But does 10,000 sound too overwhelming if you are just starting or getting back on the grid? Even if you complete your target with as few as 7,500 steps, you can see a significant improvement in your health. You can then at your own pace think of how to get better at this and increase your step count. To give you a better idea, 30 minutes of brisk walking can help you complete at least 5000 steps and that is a great point to start from.

Walking for Weight Loss

Majorly, the motivation behind walking as an exercise is for weight loss purposes. Walking does not tone your body but it helps burn lots of calories. By increasing your step count, you also increase the number of calories that you end up burning and create a calorie deficit necessary for weight loss.

The number of calories you burn while walking depends on your weight, pace and the terrain. If it is a slope you end up putting in more effort and burn more calories.

How to Set a Steps Goal

If you are new to intentional walking exercises, you can understand how much can you walk every day. this will include you taking an account the duration you can walk for, the time during which you would walk, the place and also the energy levels you would be at. 

You do not need to jump-start to 10k steps. This will only demotivate you. Remember, walking for weight loss and overall fitness doesn’t have to mean one long walk. You can break it up throughout your day by taking the stairs instead of the elevator or walking during your lunch break.

How to Track the Steps

Tracking your steps is the best way of holding yourself accountable for your own health. You can track it on your smartphones with tonnes of applications like Google Fit and Apple Health. You can also invest in a good wearable like a smart watch which does the step tracking for you. These wearables or apps also track your overall health and calories. This also gives a fuller picture of your health by understanding your heart rate.

By keeping you moving every day all day you do not realize how many steps you are unintentionally completing. By tracking your step count, you can feel motivated to push yourself.

More Ways to Increase Step Count

We know that the 10k goals we all want to reach are a big challenge in a busy life. There are plenty of ways to make sure you can squeeze a few steps into your day.

• Take short walks around your office.
• Park further from your destination if you use a vehicle and walk the rest.
• Take your calls walking
• Take stairs as comfortable
• On weekends take up a hobby class like dancing

For energy levels, you can also add in a serving of fit foods to keep you satiated, full and healthy. You can also add some electrolytes to your water and stay fresh, energetic and active by making up for lost minerals during the day.

Takeaway

Walking is one of the easiest and most effective ways to improve your health. Whether walking for weight loss or simply to enjoy the health benefits of walking every day, setting a realistic step goal and tracking your progress is essential. Start small, aim for consistency, and look for opportunities to increase your step count throughout the day. With the right mindset and a little planning, you can make walking a regular part of your healthy lifestyle.