I love the internet, not for browsing Facebook but for my work. Most days, I am sitting all day. The app on my iPhone tells me that my average daily steps are somewhere around 3000.

I was not concerned as I train with weights a few times a week and perform a few sessions of HIIT too. My body fat is low, and I have good strength. I don’t smoke, and I drink only on rare occasions. I eat healthily; I take my omega-3s and multivitamins.

Does That Make Me Fit And Healthy?

Well, apparently Not!

According to this meta-analysis of eighteen studies which included 794,577 participants, being sedentary (usually classified as taking fewer than 3,000 steps per day) was associated with a 112 percent increased risk of diabetes and 147 percent increased risk of cardiovascular disease). ¹http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22890825 This study also compares chronic sitting with smoking and suggests a similar mortality rate!

Huh?

According to Tom Rath, the bestselling author of ‘Eat, Move, Sleep,’ which sold more than 6 million copies.

Double Huh?

Another study, this conducted by Rory Heath and published in the British Medical Journal, states. ²http://blogs.bmj.com/bjsm/2015/01/21/sitting-ducks-sedentary-behaviour-and-its-health-risks-part-one-of-a-two-part-series/

Positive Associations Between Cancer Risk And Sedentary Behavior Exist

– Lung cancer risk increases by 54%

– Uterine cancer risk increases by 66%

– Colon cancer risk increases by 30%

The risk of anxiety and depression is significantly higher in those who sit more, while increased activity shows better subjective mental health and vitality.

I took this information seriously and incorporated it into my FBX Training System.

The concept of 10,000 steps a day is brilliant, and I feel everyone should be consciously focused on reaching this target daily. The first question that came to my mind is whether 10,000 steps is enough, so I googled it, and this is the first thing that came up:

The average person’s stride length is approximately 2.5 feet long. ³http://www.thewalkingsite.com/10000steps.html That means it takes just over 2,000 steps to walk one mile, and 10,000 steps are close to 5 miles. A sedentary person may only average 1,000-3,000 steps a day.

Then again, is 5 miles enough?

In James H. O’Keefe’s comprehensive research on the activity of hunter-gatherers. He writes

The equivalent of 6-16 km is approximately 3-10 miles. What we need to do is focus on taking at least 5,000 steps every day and gradually increase it to 10,000 steps.

Here are a few things you can start doing every day to come close to taking 10,000 steps.

1) Know How Many Steps You Take

There are many apps that you can download on your smartphone to track your steps; however, since you won’t be carrying your phone everywhere, these apps will underestimate the number of steps you take. Another cheap option is a pedometer.

If you want to spend a bit extra, buy a fitness tracking device like Fitbit, etc., which not only tracks your steps but also suggests the quantity and quality of your sleep.

Be sure you are taking at least 5,000 steps daily. If you are taking fewer, you are sedentary. Better yet, aim for a minimum of 7,000 steps or more. By making the following changes, you can average between 7,000 and 10,000:

2) Make Walking A Part Of Your Daily Routine

Now, for most of us, sitting in front of the computer is totally unavoidable. Since the day I realized sitting can be that harmful, I never sit for more than 15 minutes at a time. I often stand when I work. (I recently got a custom-made standing desk, and I feel it’s one of the best health investments I have made so far.)

Most of my work is creative as it entails writing content, and walking in between work sessions really helps me. Ideas flow more freely, and I absolutely love the way this whole thing works out.

I have easily added close to 3,000 steps more than my previous average of 3,000 plus at least a few hours of standing (and we all know standing burns more calories than sitting).

3) Find Ways To Add Steps To Your Daily Routine

My two-year-old has tremendously contributed to adding close to 2,000 steps as he often enters my home office. He demands a lot of attention, as every child does, and I am more than happy to take frequent breaks to play with him. (If you don’t have an infant at home, get a dog)

4) Make Small Changes In Your Routine

Whenever I watch TV, I make it a point to get up when a commercial comes on. I often take the stairs (I live on the 8th floor), and whenever I get a phone call, I stand while I talk. Cooking and things like that add more time standing.

In fact, since I purchased my fitness watch, I have been hell-bent on reaching my daily target of 10,000 steps, and I think it’s gradually becoming a solid lifestyle habit.

What If You Don’t Have The Luxury Of Standing Up And Moving Around While At The Office?

In this case, drink more water, so you will need to take more frequent trips to the bathroom! (Just kidding)

If you have absolutely no other option, a new position while sitting is always better than the old position, so keep fidgeting.

To maintain a neutral spine, buy a laptop stand and raise the level of your laptop (this has the added benefit of keeping your machine from heating up too much). You can also do certain stretches. The whole idea is to keep moving even when you are sitting.

The take-home message is this. The human body was designed to move. Sitting puts you in an unnatural position, putting stress on your entire kinetic chain, which leads to muscular imbalances like tight hip flexors, rounded shoulders, and a forward neck.

This can also cause breathing problems and put severe stress on your lower back. Everyone reading this should know that chronic sitting is a real threat that should be taken seriously.

I would love to hear your views/suggestions on what you do to be more active in the comments below.