How much exercise are you really getting everyday? Is it enough to lose weight?

I bought a new pedometer a couple weeks ago. It turns out, if I don't work out, I only walk about 2,000 steps. That's pretty sedentary.

Experts say you should log your steps for a week, get the average, then start trying to increase your steps by 500 at a time. As always, you should talk to your doctor before beginning any exercise program.

What I like is that the pedometer encourages me to walk a little more. Every step counts toward losing the weight and getting in better shape.

Does it work? Researchers found that people using step counters increased their daily mileage by nearly a mile a day. Users also dropped their blood pressure and lost weight.

For many people, the goal is 10,000 steps a day. I can do 10,000 steps in a day but it means walking to lunch, walking up the stairs at work, working out, etc... Going to work, going home and sitting on the computer or couch adds up only to about 2,000 steps for me.

Even Kaiser Permanente is encouraging its members to get their 10,000 steps a day. The program costs $30 for non-members, $25 for members and includes a pedometer. You can also simply buy a pedometer for $10-$25 at Target, Kmart or another store and just start walking.

Where did the idea for 10,000 steps come from? One Web site said the idea originated in Japan. The site explained that people in Japan are using electronic pedometer's to counteract a sedentary lifestyle.

Want to know more, try these Web sites:
America's Walking
Time magazine article

Even fitness trainer and exercise medicine specialist Jane Hastings likes the 10,000 steps idea. She said simply:

As Lao-tse said "A journey of 1000 miles begins with a single step". Get going.

You can reach Jane at (303) 871-8661 or visit her Web site Mad About Fitness.

I've been pretty good about working out. I can't say the same about my diet. If you have a Web site you like for diet recipes or diet advice, email me Deb Stanley (Deb_Stanley@kmgh.com). I'll share those Web sites in next week's blog.