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Exercise

Recently, a national initiative called "America on the Move" launched a goal to encourage people to wear step counters and walk an additional 2,000 steps (about 1 mile) a day, or cut out 100 calories from their diets. In addition to America on the Move, the National Academies' Institute of Medicine has raised the exercise recommendations to at least an hour of daily moderate activity, in order to help control weight.

According to a July 10, 2003 article in USA Today, while public health officials for years have encouraged people to walk 10,000 steps a day (approximately 5 miles), the average person walks about 5,310 steps a day (approximately 2 ½ miles). Asking you to double your walking may seem a little daunting, which is why the America on the Move initiative suggests a gradual increase, by starting with the goal of adding 2,000 additional steps a day, and then later increasing this goal. While adding another 2,000 steps a day likely won't result in weight loss, experts feel that this initiative might keep you from gaining weight.

As stated on the America on the Move website, "Thirty minutes of physical activity equals about 3,000 - 4,000 steps. The secret word is accumulate. Your body does not care whether you do your activity (or your steps) all at once at a gym or by gathering minutes of activity throughout your day!"

One way to keep track of your steps is by wearing a step counter, also called a pedometer. This is a small device that usually clips on your belt or waistband, and counts the number of steps you walk or jog.

You can get more important information about exercise, step counting, healthy living, and weight loss tips, from the resources below: