As a personal trainer, my brain is “picked” daily.  I frequently get asked things like, “What is the best exercise for (fill in the blank)?”, “How do I get a six-pack or bigger shoulders or etc., etc.?”  You get the point.  From where I stand, I get the impression that most of the time people are looking for the newest fitness industry gadget, a magic bullet, or a quick fix.  I think often we get caught up in the newest and greatest fitness gadget with all its bells and whistles.  We seem to forget the basics and most primal of needs when it comes to fitness.  It all boils down to a need to simply M O V E !  Move your body enough that you expend more calories than you shove in your face at meal time if you want to lose weight.  You don’t have to have the newest and greatest “Binford Turbo-Flex-O-Matic 1000” at home in your garage to get healthy.

As a corporation, we are three weeks into a campaign to promote fitness and well-being using one of the most primal forms of exercise known to man and something that most of us have been doing since about 9 months of age, WALKING!  The Steps 2 Change Challenge campaign here on the Community Regional Medical Center campus has been very well received and feedback has been great! 

We are trying to use the Steps 2 Change Challenge to capitalize on the disruption of the usual parking situation due to much-needed construction expansion projects that will bring 1,200 new jobs to our local community.  So in the meantime, we are embracing the change by encouraging people to walk more.   

When we were setting up the Steps 2 Change Challenge I did a little research into the subject of walking and found out some interesting trivia facts along the way.

• A sedentary person will avg 1,000-3,000 steps a day
• There are just over 2,000 steps in a mile
• American citizens average 5,900 steps a day
• Folks in Japan avg 7,100 steps a day
• Aussies out-leg us with a 9,700 step a day avg
• Teachers and health care professionals lead the way with a daily avg step count of just over 12,000 steps a day as far as professions go
• The avg person burns 100 calories a mile, give or take 10 calories/mile depending on body weight and speed

Besides the fun prizes and drawings involved with the Steps 2 Change Challenge, what should motivate you to walk more?

• Lose weight
• Heart Health
• Build Muscle Tone
• Increase Metabolism
• Increase Self-esteem
• Reduce Stress
• Improve Mood
• Increase Energy
• Decrease Chance of Injury
• Low Impact
• Reduce Risk of High Blood Pressure
• Strengthen Bones and Joints
• Reduce Fatigue
• Slows Mental Decline
• Increase Balance
• Increase Endurance

It’s been pretty encouraging to witness how much fun people are having around here with the Steps 2 Change Challenge.  It’s also very impressive to see how many of our employees are consistently hitting weekly totals that put their number of steps a day avg above 12,000 a day.  I couldn’t be more proud!

I know for me personally, one of the biggest benefits to getting in my steps is what it does for my stress level and mood.  I must admit that it is something that I think I took for granted and in a way was a benefit I think I had forgotten about.  I don’t know why or how that could be.  It is one of the main things I enjoy about backpacking.  It hit me a few weeks ago when I took a little walk to see how many steps it was from the gym to lot 7.  I can remember a distinct change in my mood and maybe even a little spring in my step on my return trip to the gym.  If that is the only benefit I personally reap from walking more, then it is totally worth it for me! 

Oh, and that step count from Lot 7 to the Employee Fitness Center is 869 steps, by the way. 

Tim Clark
Manager Fitness Club
CMC Fitness Center