Guest Author - Hellie T.

If you have followed Steps One and Two then you are ready to take the final step to a healthy you.

You should now be taking 5,000 steps a day which means you are walking approx 2 and a half miles a day and well on the way to becoming a slimmer and fitter person.

Your next target is to get to 10,000 steps a day.

10,000 steps a day may sound a lot but just walking for between 40 and fifty minutes each day can add another 5,000 to your target.
Remember the 40 to 50 minutes doesn’t have to be taken all at once.



Find times in your day when you can walk in short bursts.

Use your lunch times or tea breaks to walk for ten to fifteen minutes.

Try walking to work or walking with a friend around a Mall.

Walk your dog or your neighbour's.

Walk your children to school.
Take the stairs whenever possible.

Don't forget to record the number of steps your walking diary - it is amazing how they add up.
As you progress through the weeks don't worry if one week you can't reach your total - just repeat that week and take your time.

If you rush your body when it is not ready you will feel tired so don't be discouraged if you find it takes you two weeks to reach each target - that's fine.
The most important thing is to keep walking and if you reach - say 6500 steps a day and find you need three weeks before you can make the jump to 7,000 a week that's OK.If you continue to walk you will be able to increase you daily total. Adjust the following plan to suit your lifestyle and health.

• Week One
  Walk 5,500 steps daily
  
  
• Week Two
  Walk 6,000 each day.
  
  
• Week Three
  Walk 6,500 steps daily.
  
  
• Week Four
  Walk 7,000 steps daily.
  
  
• Week Five
  Walk 7,500 steps daily.
  
  
• Week Six
  Walk 8,000 steps each day.
  
  
• Week Seven
  Walk 8,500 steps daily
  
  
• Week Eight
  Walk 9,000 steps each day.
  
  
• Week Nine
  Walk 9,500 steps daily.
  
  
• Week Ten
  Walk 10,000 steps each day - congratulations you have reached your target!
  

5 miles or 10,000 steps a day is considered to be the ideal distance for an average active person.

Remember - develop your own walking plan at your own pace.
Don’t rush, build walking into your lifestyle

and Enjoy your walking!