Confessions of a step-counter addict

Little did I know when I first clipped a step counter onto my waistband that tracking my steps would become an all-consuming obsession. I was thrilled to log 11,475 steps on my first day (the recommended goal is 10,000 steps a day for health). Soon, I was offering to walk my son to daycare more often because that meant I'd log about 5,000 steps by 10 a.m. I also discovered that just walking to the office bathroom and back added 200 steps to my tally. And did you know that strolling to a colleague's desk instead of sending an e-mail can increase your daily total by 215 steps?

You too can become step-obsessed. The benefits are significant: burning an extra 700 to 2,000 calories a week—equivalent to three to six one-hour walks a week—garners significant health benefits, according to recent research from Harvard. But even short blasts of brisk walking, accumulated over the course of a day, can boost your well being and help you shed excess pounds. Important news when you consider a recent Statistics Canada report concluding that more than 48 per cent of Canadians are overweight or obese, and another finding that 54 per cent of Canadian women are physically inactive.

That's why I'm so excited about The Chatelaine Step Diet, a 12-week plan designed to help you reach the recommended 10,000 steps a day, feel invigorated and lose unwanted weight—whether you're a beginner or a more experienced walker. You can register for the program at www.chatelaine.com/stepdiet.

Sign up for the program today and start walking your way to better health. I can't wait to hear about your success and your tricks to fitting more steps in your day! (Then I can try them, too!)