Walking

Some years ago, while we were still in Taiwan, we fell for the “walk 10,000 steps a day” myth. The American company through which we had some of our health insurance (we were already generously covered by Taiwan’s National Health Insurance scheme, but needed additional coverage for when we would sojourn in the USA) had introduced us to walking through a wellness program, and we eventually went its 7,000 steps a day “one better” by swallowing the myth. Recently an epidemiologist from Harvard debunked the myth. The magic number of 10,000 was based on a Japanese company’s introduction of pedometers into the market there in the 1960s. The product was called “the 10,000 step meter” because the character for 10,000 looked like a person out walking. 

But we fell for it. Each of us is “pedometer equipped” whenever we’re not in bed. Some days we reach ten thousand, and some days we don’t. Either way, we’re healthier than when we paid no attention at all. 

Last week we were in New Jersey and New York, where the weather was warmer than it’s been lately in Michigan. On Friday we each exceeded 20,000 steps, and on Saturday did almost that well. My own pedometer has been keeping track of my 10 highest days ever. When I bump a day into that category, the next day when I check I get a message in text, “Good Job”.  We’ve come to call it a “good boy”. I got one for Friday, and didn’t remember to look on Sunday (when Saturday’s message would’ve come through). Those two days of extensive walking more than made up for the two days we spent slumped in seats on the train. 

Whether in Taiwan or here, moving has been good for us. Myth or not, the 10,000 steps are serving us well.

Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay

David Alexander now resides in Holland, MI after 39 years in Taiwan.