What Your Step Count Says About You

As part of our corporate wellness program, H3 @ Work, H3 staff has the opportunity to earn points for completing certain healthy activities, one of which is counting your steps throughout the day. In an attempt to gain more points through the program, I decided to strap on my pedometer and get to counting. Since I’m in marketing, I tend to spend most of my workday behind the computer. To add some activity to my day, I often get up early for a nice morning beach walk and typically take a walk during my lunch break. With this added activity I was sure my step count would be somewhere around 8,000 steps per day. You can imagine my surprise when I ended my day yesterday having only reached about 6,700 steps.

It is generally recommended we take at least 10,000 steps per day. According to a study published by the Department of Exercise and Wellness at Arizona State University, those who take:

• < 5,000 steps per day have a ‘sedentary lifestyle’


• 5,000-7,499 steps per day is typical of daily activity excluding sports/exercise and might be considered 'low active'


•  7,500-9,999 steps per day are likely to include some thoughtful activities (and/or elevated occupational activity demands) and might be considered 'somewhat active'


• >=10,000 steps per day indicate the point that should be used to classify individuals as 'active'


• > 12,500 steps per day are likely to be classified as 'highly active'

Granted I did not workout yesterday—you can guess what I’ll be doing when I get off work today! I’ve learned that counting your steps can actually be a fun and motivating activity. Several of our staff members have purchased FitBits (you may want to read Lisette’s hilarious FitBit confessional) and as a result, a friendly competition has sprouted between spouses, co-workers and even some guests!

I believe we underestimate the value of simply walking more throughout the day. Please watch the CNN report below and maybe you’ll be motivated to start counting your steps too!