Is Dr. Oz kidding?????

We all know the importance of exercise to be, stay or get healthy.  And walking is generally considered the easiest way to exercise.  But, how much walking is considered enough?  I was curious to know.

Dr. Oz has suggested a daily goal —- 10,000 steps!  Holy mackeral, that seems like huge number of times to lift each foot and put it down again.  But it provides a measurable way to know where you are on the path to personal fitness.  (I saw Dr. Oz a few months ago while he was shopping at a local Publix Greenwise store.  He really is thin and quite handsome, too.  And he was wearing his pedometer!)

I tried counting steps on a recent shopping trip and forgot where I was as soon as I put the first in my basket.  But I did realize that 10,000 steps might be achievable if you counted all of them.  My curiosity won!  So I began the research to find the best, most reliable and accurate pedometer. 

I settled on the Omron HJ-112.  It was suggested by one of  Dr. Oz’s Wellness Warriors, Toni Winston.  Wellness Warriors are people who were in a bad way and have achieved wellness and are willing to share their success and inspiration with others.  Toni said, “It seems that every day I’m asked about my pedometer. Folks want to know what brand I use and my thoughts about it.  For the record, I’m using the Omron HJ-112 and, yes, I love it.”

So off to Amazon to read the reviews before I ordered.  (Reviews with 4 out of 5 stars has always been a good bet for me.)  My Omron pedometer was delivered in less than a week, using standard shipping.  Most importantly, it was easy to set up.

After a week of wearing the Omron pedometer, I finally reached 10,000 steps and now I reach or exceed it almost every day.  It’s important to count every step!  Now I put it on my waistband or on my robe as soon as I rise in the morning.  It’s very easy to get a couple of hundred steps before I am dressed and out the door in the morning.  When I forget something and have to race back to my bedroom, I don’t get annoyed.  I’ve just added a few more steps!

Wearing the pedometer reminds me to move.  The basic guideline is that 1 mile equals 2,000 steps. 

I have found that if I take a walk as soon as I get up, I can get a few thousand steps in before I leave for the day.  Other helpful tips include:  Parking your car farther away from your destination and taking the stairs when you can.  Dance around, even when you are alone!   And a tip from my brother:  Walk around when you are talking on the phone.  We spend a lot of time communicating with others. Turn that time into steps.  Every step brings you closer to your goal.

There are days that I do not reach 10,000 steps, but that just encourages me to move more the next day.  And the next, and the next …  For Smart Ladies Over 40, staying well is a lifelong quest.  And, we can do it!

Below is the recommended pedometer.  Amazon is a very safe site and they seem to sell almost everything .  I even found the hard-to-find Hepa filters for my vacuum cleaner at a great price.      TIP: This is a great product for teenagers. Challenge them!