10,000 steps per day

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Wednesday, January 18. 2012

It's been repeated so often that it's become a mantra. Google search. If you walk or run or elliptical or stairmaster or hoeing the fields or whatever over 10,000 steps daily, you have an "active life;" if under, you fall into the "sedentary life" category.

Nobody wants to think of themselves as leading a "sedentary" life because it sounds slothful and decadent, not luxurious. There are roughly 2000 steps per mile, but it's about the steps, not the distance. It is probably not a bad rule of thumb to do it, just to stay fit, energetic, and vigorous.

Urbanites walk far more, in the course of a day, than suburban or rural folks. My theory is that that is why city folk are trim, and country folk tend towards the bulky, but I am sure that fashion plays a role in it too. City people need to look like they have their act together or they won't get any respect.

Posted by Dr. Joy Bliss in Medical, Our Essays, Psychology, and Dr. Bliss at 15:06 | Comments (14) | Trackbacks (0)

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I would add to your claim about urban folks. It depends on how concentrated the primary service centers are; is the grocery store close to the dry cleaner, close to the bank, etc.? Also, how good is the in town bus service--is it a hop on hop off type of service? The small buses are better for this and encourage more foot traffic. The larger buses sit too long in the center of town traffic, so people choose their cars. Also, if you are coming in from a suburban area is there good local high speed rail, or express buses that serve multiple parking lots? Getting people to walk means they can WALK where they need/want to be pretty easily. Also, it means they don't have to pack a piece to feel safe getting from here to there. I disagree with you about rural people packing it on. I think it has more to do with heat and humidity than with daily tasks, etc. Around the world if you look at those communities with high humidity and heat you will find a greater tendency toward obesity. Of course, if they are in an area where the ocean is safe and provides cooling breezes that is something else also. Those people get up and go more than folks in places like central FL, or AL, or MS, LS. Those places are what might best be described as stifling--no air circulation during the daytime means folks are not going to get up and go outside for a walk to anywhere! They will go from air conditioned house to air conditioned car. You might also look at folks in hot desert areas like Phoenix, or central Mexico. In those places the temperature is much hotter and the air dry, but folks still do not go outside in the daytime! See what I mean about your claim?

#1 faculty Wife on 2012-01-18 15:42 (Reply)

I had a friend come back from some meetings in Atlanta and remarked on how fat the women at the parties were. Not only were they large but they wore short, tight skirts, 4 inch heels and plunging necklines. It was "The Style". We noticed this too on a recent Caribbean cruise. You didn't dress to hide your size, you dressed to draw attention to it. Can a libertarian justify a law banning thongs with a 44 inch waist? Just another case of the culture moving away from me I guess.

#2 Colorado on 2012-01-18 16:20 (Reply)

Sounds like it's moving towards you a couple inches a year.

#2.1 NJSoldier on 2012-01-18 17:11 (Reply)

HA! I wish I could pass dress laws (though I'm sure I'd be a victim of my own laws).

I once was at a gym and saw a 200+ pound woman on the Stairmaster in front of me wearing tights and a thong.

I kept repeating "At least she's here" as I did my reps.

In a way, I don't begrudge people the right to dress as they see fit. If a woman thinks she looks 'hot' in a tight dress and stiletto heels, even as her muffin top is accentuated - more power to her. Not my cup of tea, and probably not what most people would consider 'hot'. But hey, it's her life.

I tend to laugh at the young folk who comment that I need a makeover. Jeans, t-shirt and sneakers whenever possible. A nice suit, tie and shined shoes for clients and meetings. I don't think I look that bad most times. People have said "it's the sneakers." Hey! My buddy got married in a tuxedo and Chuck Taylor high tops. What's wrong with sneakers?

#2.2 Bulldog on 2012-01-18 17:29 (Reply)

I'm fundamentally opposed to ALL laws and regulations about dress (or lack thereof), including "obscenity laws" banning public nudity.
They're by definition a restriction of freedom of expression.

That includes bans on burkahs and the like, but at the same time of course includes the religious laws requiring women to wear them (and I'd rather ban them than live with the fact that men force their women to wear them even though it's illegal to do so).

#2.2.1 J.T. Wenting on 2012-01-19 00:00 (Reply)

I am, too. My comment about wishing I could make laws like that was tongue-in-cheek, of course (as I noted I'd be a victim of my own laws).

But seriously, there are those days when you see someone who is wearing something that is 3 sizes too small and not in a good way - and you just have to say "why do we allow people to do this?"

Then I remind myself of the overweight woman at the gym in the thong....and I just laugh. You can't tell people what to do, and you have to give them credit when they are trying.

#2.2.1.1 Bulldog on 2012-01-19 12:11 (Reply)

My observation about country folk - they tend to be very fit or fat as hell, nothing in between. Most of the farmers I know are trim and fit - obviously doing most of their tasks on foot. Except for the couple who are fatter than the hogs they raise.

#3 NJSoldier on 2012-01-18 17:10 (Reply)

I grew up in the country, moved to the city and eventually to the suburbs.

I know that it's possible to be more sedentary in the country, but not where I lived. Too much work to be done. It may seem like it's more likely, but not from what I experienced. Moving to the city made me more sedentary - to the point that, as a young man, I had to join a gym to stay fit.

This, I think, is really the difference between the city and the country. Urbanites, particularly what were called YUPpies, tend to still congregate at gyms in off hours and lunchtime. Most young people I'm aware of are far more sedentary than I was at their age - but spend far more time in the gym, too.

In the 'burbs, there is a broad mix. My town is very fit. I'm not sure why that is, but it's true. We rarely see overweight folk. Several towns over, it's a different story. I can't explain what the difference is, though some people have suggested it is blue vs. white collar. Not sure what that has to do with anything, since blue collar workers tend to be very active, whereas I spend a good portion of my day at a desk and a computer, or traveling.

#4 Bulldog on 2012-01-18 17:23 (Reply)

Oh hey--I know. Do you suppose it is those folks who buy in bulk at Costco? I have noticed the liberals going after everybody and every corporation except the one owned by Seattle elite families. My thought is that when one buys in those much larger quantities the stuff is there in the house to chow down on; unfortunately, it the less educated who tend to shop in bulk stores believing that they are saving a lot of money. I go once a week, but I can very often come out with nothing. Most people come out with huge carts overloaded with boxed potatoes, chips, etc.

#5 another one on 2012-01-18 18:11 (Reply)

I don't think of Costco as a place of (mainly) oversized patrons, but I probably don't get there enough to be a representative sample.
Does Costco take in the same level of "public assistence" dollars as the local food King or stuffmart? I would guess that is a bigger indicator of physical condition of patrons.

#5.1 Jerry on 2012-01-18 22:17 (Reply)

I'm hoping you're saying this tongue-in-cheek. I shop in Costco, and find it odd when people don't.
There are many items we still purchase at local shops, because of better quality or prices. But the meats in Costco are better than any at local stores or butchers. The milk is not organic, but it is free of BGH, which my wife prefers to avoid. And the eggs are reasonably priced. Many other foodstuff items are just good to have in bulk, because they last (spices, condiments, etc.).

It is odd that I don't see more overweight people in Costco, to be honest. I would think bulk buying indicates gluttony, but that is hardly the case.

Wal-Mart, while I have nothing against them, does attract the clientele you describe in my area. I really just can't go in to our local Wal-Mart. Ech.

#5.2 Bulldog on 2012-01-19 12:08 (Reply)

"City people need to look like they have their act together or they won't get any respect."

As opposed to country folk, who actually have to know what they're doing to get any respect?

(smiling...but just barely)

#6 Old Salt on 2012-01-18 23:10 (Reply)

You got my drift.

#6.1 Dr B on 2012-01-19 12:54 (Reply)

Here's a non-scientific anecdote to chew on, displaying the often unexpressed power of the people to be a lot smarter than the liberals think they are. Went to my hairdresser yesterday, Dora is a lovely and very bright woman. She told me about the owner of a restaurant near her house, who had advertised for an assistant chef. A young man turned up a little later -- neatly dressed in a suit and tie and clean white shirt. He told the restaurant owner that he was studying business administration at the University of Houston, and didn't know anything [yet] about cooking, but that he was willing and anxious to learn quickly the aspects he needed to know about the food industry.
Dora said that the restaurant owner was greatly impressed with the young man's poise and enthusiasm, so much so that he hired him on the spot.
They're out there, ladies and gentlemen, the young people with real drive and interest in finding a real job and learning it from the bottom up. These young folks will never waste their time demonstrating and protesting. They'll find work and start working.

Marianne

#7 Marianne Matthews on 2012-01-19 16:58 (Reply)

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Wednesday, January 18. 2012

10,000 steps per day