10,000 Steps a Day

Perceived wisdom states that you should try to walk 10,000 steps a day to stay healthy. The reason behind this is because of a Japanese advertising campaign in the 1960’s based up a company that had invented/created a pedometer and wanted to sell lots of them. Is 10,000 steps a day a good idea? Possibly, and I might go as far as to say probably.

Garmin Connect has a whole load of badges with points to collect. One of them is worth a mighty 8 points, redeemable if you walk 10,000 steps a day for 30 consecutive days. Another badge is available every month if you complete 300,000 steps over the course of a calendar month, although this is only worth a lowly 2 points.

I have never failed to complete the monthly challenge and I have also never managed 10,000 steps a day for 30 consecutive days. Most days I complete far more, but then at least one day a week I might go cycling or for a swim, finishing the day on way less than 10,000 steps.

If the only exercise you do each day is walking, then I would say that aiming for 10,000 steps is a good thing. I am currently on a six day streak. It is highly likely that my streak will end before day 10, which is OK.