Steppin it up

I love my Fitbit.  I've been using it now for about 4 years-ever since I got a desk job and my life suddenly became very sedentary. 

I had read all the articles about sitting is the new smoking etc.  I went from raising 3 rambunctious  kids and being very active. I then switched to a retail job and was constantly on my feet.  But then I got an office job and whoa....  I got very very stationary. And so about 4 years ago, I decided to count my steps and see how much I really was moving.

I'm real goal oriented so I like the idea of "getting all my steps in" during the day.

But at first I just wanted to see how much I moved.  So I wore my Fitbit and went about my day as normal.

Turned out I was walking about 5000 steps a day.  So I set my first goal at 7000.  It was do-able and I didn't want to get too discouraged by not meeting my goal every day.  Then after several months of meeting this goal, I upped it by 1000. And as time went on, I gradually increased so that my goal now is 11,000.

Even in my office job, where I sit most of the day, I can reach this goal. It does take a little preparation though. 

So, how do I incorporate this movement during the day?  Well, here's just a few things: 

I walk during lunch. After I eat, I use the rest of my lunch hour for walking.  If it's nice, I walk outside. If it's hot, or rainy, I'll walk in the grocery store, or Walmart or Target.  Just up and down the aisles for at least 30 minutes.

I get up a lot during the day.  At least every hour, I'm up.  Any excuse to get up and move around.  I'll get up to take something to someone's desk.  I'll get up to walk down the hall.  I'll get up to go up and down the stairs.  Just any reason really.  I just don't sit at my desk for longer than an hour at a time.

I always go on a walk after work with hubby.  It's a great time to spend together time.  We love hiking trails or just walking to a restaurant or walking around the mall.  It's a great way to encourage each other and enjoy each other's company.

Even at home, if we are we are watching tv, I'll walk up and back and up and back the entire show.

If I'm on the phone, that's a great time to walk around and around.

I park a long way from the entrance of a store on purpose! 

My hula hooping is also a great way to work up some steps!!  Especially to a live concert! I get loads of steps then!

I also like to have little mini goals throughout the day.  1000 steps before work.  2500 before lunch.  5500 after lunch.  6500 before I leave from work.  Little goals to help me reach my daily 11,000 goal.

So it is possible, even with a desk bound job.

I'd love to raise my goal again.  I'll inch my way up so that I'm eventually at 15,000.  I unofficially have that as my weekend goal now!

A great book that really inspired me was this one by Katy Bowman. she talks about more than just exercising an hour a day but really focusing on the movements our bodies make throughout the day.  Check it out!

So what's stopping ya!  Let's get moving!