A life of walking and how to get moving

How much do you walk each day?

Personal pedometers and fitness trackers have been all the rage lately, and it seems like people are starting to take notice of how much they move. That’s such a good thing, because walking is a safe and effective way to add movement to your life, even if you don’t do any other exercising at all.

With my active lifestyle and keen interest in health and wellness, I’m a prime candidate for a fitness tracker, but I haven’t invested in one yet. There are so many options out there, like the Fitbit Flex, Nike Fuelband, Jawbone UP24 and so on, that it will take some time to research what is right for me.

Although I don’t know exactly how many steps I take each day, I have a general idea of my mileage by gauging the distance of my regular destinations from my home.

I walk a lot. I walk on hills and inclines. I take the stairs. And I run around the group fitness room many days a week while teaching classes.

My estimated walking stats

On an average day, I cover no less than two miles and climb no less than five flights of stairs. And that’s not including my actual workout. (Yes, I really should track it all with a device.)

Here are just a few shots taken from my regular journeys around San Francisco, which give you an idea of some of the steep grades and settings.

Walking in a big city

Living in a big city can be very physical.

When we moved to San Francisco from Florida we sold my car and just kept Dave’s car. Dave drives to work most days since his office is across the Bay in Oakland, and I take on the urban areas of SF by foot.

It’s not always easy to be a walker, especially in the rain and cold. But I know that when I move out of the city one day, walking is going to be one of the big things I miss.

I like people watching, breathing the fresh air and having a chance to get my body moving before I arrive at my destination. I can be fully invested in looking at my surroundings and taking it all in, and I never have to worry about traffic.

How to walk more, no matter where you live

You don’t have to live in a big city to make yourself walk more. All you have to do is consciously add a little movement to your day. Here are some tips:

• Park in the furthest away parking spot as possible, everywhere you go.
• Walk to your mailbox each day, after parking your car at home.
• Take the stairs whenever possible.
• If you’re on a long phone call, get up and walk the perimeter of your house or your office during the entire conversation.
• When you’re putting away laundry in your house, take one section at a time to the different areas where the clothes need to go and return to the start.
• Go on a nightly walk after dinner, even if it’s super short.
• If you work in an office, use a little water glass at your desk and refill it over and over again by getting up to walk to the water cooler.

It doesn’t really matter how you do it, just know that movement is good for you. The more steps you take, the better.

For those of you who live in a big city, I’m guessing you get your fair share of mileage, so keep up the work. And remember, if you find yourself living in the car-dependent ‘burbs one day, you’ll probably miss those free days on foot.

I’m heading off to teach a lunch-time BODYATTACK class. The gym is more than a mile away, so I’m sure to get in plenty of steps. (By the way, since I received good feedback on yesterday’s BODYPUMP 101 overview, a BODYATTACK 101 overview will be coming to the blog soon.)

Questions of the day

How much do you walk each day? Have you invested in a fitness tracker? If so, which one and what is your feedback?