Until now.

Katie purchased a pedometer a few months ago on the advice of her trainer, who explained that walking 10,000 steps a day was a key element in staying fit.  Sounds easy, right? However, she couldn't seem to make the mark and asked me to help her achieve the 10,000 step/day goal.

Yes, after 4 years together she has successfully tricked me into consistently exercising with a pedometer.

I, like Katie, approached this pedometer challenge assuming 10,000 steps/day would be easy.  But on average I would only get to 3,000 steps, maybe 4,000 if I ran extra errands.  Exercising daily would be required to win what had evolved into a competition between Katie and me.

But it wasn't until our recent trip to Vegas that I understood what a mind game exercise really is.  Prior to that trip Katie and I complained about how hard it was to fill our peds with high numbers, but while walking along The Strip we were able to easily get 27,000 steps in a day.  So why couldn't we do that at home?

Since getting back I have been able to reach 10,000 by a new regimen I like to call 5K A DAY.  I figured out that I can reach about 3,000 steps before I get home, then walk a 5k on the treadmill in the evening.  Now those 10,000 steps are logged in successfully - and consistently.

It's time for me to pay it forward and try to inspire whoever needs a physical pick-me-up just like Katie did for me.  I now challenge you to get a pedometer, do the 5K A DAY, and see if you can't keep your numbers above 10,000 steps.  

And since Katie and I have each other to share our numbers with, it helps to be accountable for your work.  So I've created a Twitter account - @5K_A_Day - so you can Tweet your numbers or words of encouragement to anyone trying to get off the couch like me.  And you can find pedometers most anywhere, but be sure and get one of good quality.  Cheaper ones tend to count any jiggle it feels which can report a deceiving number.  The one Katie and I use can be found here.

Good luck and get to walking!

Who IS Helen Thomas?