4,000 steps... but who's counting

Nov. 13, 2013-- 1 hour walk (4,000 steps)

Realized recently how exercise is largely about duration-- not exertion. Devote more time to exercise and you will see the benefits. Just get off your butt. Don't sweat the amount of effort. In fact, keep your effort to a minimum but go longer-- for as much as an hour or two a day. Think about your ancestors. They moved a lot more than you do. If you work in an office the greatest threat to your health is remaining seated all day.

The best course of action is to exercise at least 3-7 hours per week. That means you have to move, not necessarily move mountains... and the easiest way to move is simply to walk. I noticed Dr. Oz recommends 10,000 steps a day. It took me about an hour to do 4,000 steps today-- measured with my handy pedometer. So a full 10,000 steps would have taken more than 2 hours! But I noticed during my walking, much of it on gently sloping hills, my pulse rate got to 90 beats per minute. I had this device on my wristwatch for taking note of heart rate.

Okay, I'm going to start modestly. But the key technical device turns out to be your wristwatch-- and only for keeping track of time. Duration, duration, duration.... Keep walking for as long as possible, as much as your schedule allows. You'll start to feel the difference immediately!