Healthy Tip: Take the STEP challenge!

My day-job workplace recently completed a 100 day challenge. A STEP challenge. The awareness of this step challenge was profound and motivating on many levels.

That's me! Over 1 million steps in 100 days!!! 

It's simple, walk as many steps as you possibly can or want to in 100 days. The steps are tracked via a pedometer which in our case was synced to a dashboard that automatically tracked our individual and team totals. At my company, all new employees receive a pedometer. (I also know that many insurance plans have been promoting walking and sending free pedometers or discounts to their members).

Joining/creating/leading a team was a great opportunity to build camaraderie, learn about team members and have healthy competition to help increase our group's STEPS. In addition to having a positive impact on our work team dynamics there were many personal benefits:

• Wake up with a goal for each day: take 10,000 steps a day
• Increased activity during work hours: more mini walks throughout the day, excuses to get away from my desk and talk with someone face to face (bonding time!), leave the office during lunch instead of eating at my desk
• Family reaching impacts: My husband and I would take walks after dinner and work to ensure I surpassed the 10,000 step goal (increasing his activity level per day as well) 
• Positive Thinking: Instead of thinking about how far something was away, everything was an opportunity for increased activity (i.e more steps!)
• A sense of accomplishment with each day
• I looked forward to opportunities for movement ultimately creating a positive habit to take with me beyond the 100 days (btw...I'm pretty sure that's the goal of the challenge!) :)

During the 100 day challenge, I was also training for the Portland 13.1 race and I also decided to complete a 5k with friends and family. It was a Saturday where I trained in the morning by completing 12 miles and in the evening by completing a 5k (3.1 miles) with friends and family that I've had my most active day probably in my life (or at least since I've been tracking my steps!) Over 30,000 steps!!!

36,178 steps!!! I was elated this night! 

A great article full of insights, in much greater detail than my post, about if fitness trackers help you reach healthy goals. Definitely worth reading if you are on the edge of trying out a pedometer. Personally....I think it's a great tool to bring awareness to your daily activity level and with the human tendency, will instill a sense of personal competitiveness and accomplishment. Benefit = Your Health!