Yes, I am one of those people who take stairs instead of
escalators or elevators. There, I said it.
Are you laughing thinking that I am crazy? Or are you one of
those people too?
No one can argue that taking a few extra steps each day is
good for our bodies. Actually, long and steep stairs can even get our heart
rate up for few minutes. Isn’t that better than nothing? I have read that it is
the best if we take about 10,000 steps each day. 7000 will do too. But the
statistics show that an average American takes only about 4000 steps each day.
Well, I thought, I do all these little extra things and run
around the town all day, so I must be anywhere between 7000-10000 steps, if not
more. I actually should be proud of myself for taking the stairs.
To find out how many steps I make each day, I decided to get
a pedometer and check.
“Why do you need a pedometer?” Varuzh asked after I asked
him to come to a sporting goods store with me.
Great, I thought, now he’s going to tell me that I just need
to live my life the best I can, walk as much as I can, and not force myself to
reach some particular number of steps. Just enjoy your life is his motto.
Varuzh looked at me knowing exactly what I was thinking and
did not say a word. Why would he, I already knew. In spite of that, he went to
the store with me. We strapped Alex into his chair in the backseat and I gave
him my phone to play Angry Birds so he would not complain that he did not want
to go.
On the way to the store, Varuzh’s unspoken words started
sinking in. Really, why do I need to do all the extra steps? Why do I even need
to know how many steps I take each day? If I wasn’t healthy or active, if I
didn’t go to the gym twice a week or bike on weekends, then I would desperately
need every extra step. But in my case, would that significantly improve the
quality of my life or would I live significantly longer or healthier because of
that?
Nevertheless, I got the pedometer and felt a little guilty
for wasting 30 bucks. But then, to
my big surprise, I learned that on my usual run-around-the- town-day I took
about 5500 steps! Oh my, I thought, after running around so much I did not even
get the minimum of 7000 steps! Not, unless I drag myself to the gym!
Well, as much as I was disappointed, at least I was no
longer feeling guilty – the pedometer was not a waste of money.
“What’s your plan now?” Varuzh asked. “Will you be parking
your car in the furthest parking lots?” Not sure if he was being sarcastic.
Yes, I admit – for the next couple of days I did park my car
as far as I could…
How many steps do you take?..
Signing off till next Thursday. Have a very busy schedule for the next few days, and will have to take some time off from writing. Will be missing you all.
With love always,
xo, Zuma A.
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