WALK THIS WAY

Are you worried about hitting your 10,000 steps a day? Counting our steps may not be a great way to lose weight or get fit. Probably because those who wear a device to monitor their physical activity, reward themselves for having hit their goals by having a snack. We often overestimate how many calories we get through while exercising. Get on a machine at the gym and it gives us a total figure for calories burnt, which includes calories we would have burnt doing nothing. What we need to know is the net figure, the number of calories burnt over and above sitting on the sofa.

The net figure for calories burnt per mile walked, works out at 0.3 x our weight in pounds. Which means if you weigh 120lb (8.5 stone), you will burn roughly 36 more calories a mile walking than sitting. Since 10,000 steps is the equivalent of walking five miles that works out at 180 calories, similar to the number of calories in a glass of wine or two digestive biscuits. Rather depressing!

Any form of exercise is going to be a great way to reduce the risk of developing chronic conditions. Just avoid becoming too obsessed at staring at your wrist and hitting your target and keep on walking.