Exactly a year ago, I wrote 10,000 steps to wealth. My goal then was to reach 10,000 steps a day. After all , “it is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver”. The entire Step Diet premise is simple: Walk 10,000 steps a day and trim your portions by a quarter and you will lose weight, simple as that. Move more, eat a little less.
I was only using the “Pacer” iOS app to track my steps. While I was at the gym, I discovered my 30 minutes workout at the treadmill was 3,599 steps. I never attained the 10,000 daily average steps. I learned 10,000 steps a day was too much for me. Though the body is willing to walk more, I experience pain on my toes after walking an hour or so.
On November 6, I decided to buy a Fitbit surge for an accurate measure of my fitness goals. I bought my fitbit from a local supplier found in facebook. My friend who owned a fitbit flex, lost 10 pounds just by walking 10,000-15,000 steps a day. That’s so inspiring. Though I learned of Fitbit a few years back, I thought it was expensive. But health is wealth and I decided to invest in the more pricey Fitbit Surge. Unlike my friend, I did not aim to walk that much. I can easily reduce my calorie intake coupled with a goal of 7,500 steps. Counting steps and number of calories motivates me.
My goal was to lose 10 pounds. I decided to lower my goal to 7,500 steps and 1,300 calorie intake because it was reachable. Those are my minimum goals but I can always aim higher. At the gym, my fitbit measured only 3,000 steps for a 30 minute treadmill exercise. Walking around the house takes around 2,000 steps. I took extra steps walking inside the gym and the mall. I don’t have a conducive walking environment in the neighborhood because of stray dogs littering the streets. But this did not deter me from looking for ways to walk.
The UP Academic oval is such a beautiful place to walk. I can imagine the oxygen I breathe in. All these lovely trees brings so much positive vibes. I can only go here during the weekends because there is just so much traffic during the weekdays.
There have been four instances that I reached 10,000 steps a day but I met my goal of at least 7,500 steps a day. And the result? I didn’t expect to lose weight in less than two months. Well, I have lost seven pounds. The fat from my belly is slowly disappearing. I guess I am happy that I only have three pounds more to go, but no, I want to lose nine more pounds. Those nine more pounds are vanity goals. The last fats to go will always be my flabby arms. There also is a friends’ option where you can see their progress. Of course you want to look good in front of your fitbit “friends.”
I face many challenges while walking. There is still that toe pain after walking 10,000 steps. I feel breathless sometimes. Though my angiogram in September showed insignificant clogging, I am taking it easy. I don’t run or walk too fast. I take aspirin before I walk. At times , my blood sugar level becomes too low that I feel dizzy and get blurred vision. I bring candy with me all the time. I may need to see my endocrinologist to adjust my diabetes medication.
My fitness goal for 2016 is to reach an average of 8,000-9,000 steps a day. Walking gives me a happy feeling that I look forward to. When I need additional steps and can’t walk outside for some reason , I turn on the video, Jane Fonda: Walking Cardio Workout : Level 1. I know some of you will laugh “JANE FONDA”. She is a role model for prime time women like myself. When I was 23 years old , I followed her exercises and lost 20 pounds back then. I love her. If you want to start increasing your steps, this article “How Many Steps Per Day to Lose Weight?” is a good start.
Anyway, I should stop writing now and work my way to 8,000 steps to wealth. Health is wealth after all. Do you agree?