10,000 Steps A Day?!?!

Most of have heard that if you walk 10,000 steps a day one can maintain a healthy weight/lifestyle.  Pedometer,  Fit Bits and other funky devices have been created and marketed to us to help motivate us to move.

I remember as a young girl measuring my stride with my mom's pedometer thinking I was so cool having it attached to my hip like a beeper.  A beeper, ha!  Because when you are in 7th grade and already walk to school you need to walk more?  Yes, 10,000 steps equates to an average of 4-5 miles depending on our stride.  And now pedometers are so sleek in design but did you ever think where did the formula of 10,000 steps came from.

"Manpo-kei" is Japanese for 10,000 meters which was the term that was created in the 1960's to help walking groups motivate for healthier blood pressure and sugar levels.

万: man - 10,000 

歩: po - step 

計: kei - measure

This idea, in fact, was not researched with scientific findings that proved people lost weight, which is what people think will happen if you walk 10,000 steps a day.  When in fact the basic concept of moving more will keep you healthier is not rocket science.  

                                                

Perhaps the earliest advertisement for the first pedometer, ever!

This article in 2014 from US New and World Report did research the benefits of walking 10,000 steps a day and it seems you may not lose weight but you may improve your cardiovascular health, strength, mobility, mood and sleep.

I thank my aunt for enlightening me with the truth behind this non-researched idea that has taken our nation by storm.