At our gym in Crawley, we tell our members that the activity you do outside of the gym is just as important for your overall health and fitness as what you do inside the gym.
But it’s something that most people seem to forget (or ignore). Not our members though!
Simply moving more, sitting less and tracking your steps can boost your health because of the calorie burning effect called NEAT (non-exercise activity thermogenesis).
The exact number of steps you set as a target is irrelevant, all that matters is that it is tailored to you and helps you achieve your goals.
Here are 5 ways to make your steps more interesting:
- Pick new locations. If you ate the same thing every day you would get bored. The same applies to walking; if you walk the same route every day you will eventually get fed up of it. Try going to different parks, to the beach or take advantage of all the beautiful National Trust sites we have available to us.
- Make it a challenge with friends and family. Everyone loves a bit of friendly competition. So why not turn hitting your weekly steps into a challenge? You can use a Fitbit or the health app on your phone to track your steps. We have set up step challenges with our Hustlers on our private Facebook page as an extra level of accountability. And it’s amazing to see how motivated they are when they know their weekly steps will be shared within the group.
- Change coffee dates to walking dates. Instead of meeting your friends for a coffee in your local Pret or Costa, grab a takeaway coffee and walk while you talk. You can have a good catch up and get your steps in at the same time. Win win!
- Listen to a podcast or audiobook while you walk. Listening to somebody else talking about a topic you are interested is a great way to pass the time on your walk and you will find yourself going into your own little zone and relaxing. It is also a perfect opportunity to learn something new and gain another perspective on things.
- Try a 5km. Having a goal to work towards can really help inspire and motivate you. Many people think you have to be a runner to do a 5k. But there is no reason you can’t walk it if you prefer. Set yourself a fitness plan that is centred around your goals and before you know it you will have completed your first 5km.
One of the biggest steps forward for health is also one of the simplest ones – daily walking. It is low impact, convenient and suitable for all ages and fitness level. Best of all it’s free, all you need is a decent pair of trainers!
If you have any questions, please feel free to send us a message to either [email protected] or [email protected]
Or if you need more help and support with finding an exercise and nutrition programme that works for you, give our 21 day trial a go and let us help you get in the best of shape you’ve ever been in. And not just for the short term, but for life.
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