Steps To a Trimmer You

Want to lose 35 pounds a year without changing a thing about your diet? All it takes is 10,000 steps. No, that's not a typo. Just 10,000 steps a day can burn enough calories to take off 35 pounds in a year.

I first heard about the 10,000 steps when I took a vacation with my mother last summer. As we left the house that morning for a day of sight-seeing with my two boys, she clipped a pedometer to her belt. Periodically throughout the day, she checked it, and as I settled to relax on a park bench toward the end of the day she remarked, "I'm just going to walk around the park twice. I only have 500 more steps to go."

The secret is walking. By walking 10,000 steps a day, you can burn as many calories as you do when you do any of the following:

- Swim for 90 minutes

- Ride a bike for 70 minutes

- Play 10 holes of golf (without the cart)

- Walk 50 blocks

- Play soccer for 90 minutes

- Work for two hours in your garden

How do you fit in 10,000 steps? You can count every step you take during the day - my mother clips on her pedometer first thing in the morning and takes it off last thing at night. Add in extra steps to your day with any of the following suggestions:

- Park at the far end of the lot at the mall and walk to the stores.

- Leave your car at home and walk to work. Or park three blocks further away in the morning and walk the rest of the way.

- Walk the dog! He'll love you for it.

- Walk up and down the stairs instead of taking the elevator.

- Get up and get it yourself. Instead of asking one of your kids to fetch something for you, take a little walk. You'll be surprised how much those little trips add up.

- Go sightseeing. You'll surprise yourself by freshening up your perspective on your home town at the same time.

- Walk to the store. If you're just running out to pick up milk, leave the car at home and take a walk.

- Stuck on the phone? Walk and talk at the same time. You can easily do 2000 steps during a 15 minute phone call.

Don't worry about your speed - the idea is to get moving. In fact, doctors say, if you're puffing too hard to say hi to a friend, you're walking too hard. Slow down a little. At the ideal pace you should be able to carry on a conversation, but not belt out a song.

10,000 steps may seem a little daunting at first, but just keep in mind that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Lace up those walking shoes, and let's go!