I saw something funny when I took the subway recently: It’s a real zoo down there. We all rush around hurriedly scrambling, pushing and jostling for space. That is, until the point when we reach the escalator. Then we file into a line, squish onto a slow-moving step and wait for it to do all the work. We just stand there squished all together ascending or descending at a snail’s pace, when the stairs right beside the escalator are empty!
I use the subway as an example, but I see this everywhere. Have you noticed too?
Let’s break this habit, shall we? Why not get where we are going faster, and burn a few calories as we go!
Let’s take the challenge to take the stairs. Even just a flight or two a day. I’m going to do it at work and elsewhere — even if I don’t win a prize. While my legs might burn a little at first, I’m sure I won’t regret it. You won’t either once you see how stair climbing can improve your well-being!
Will you take the stairs this month?
[toggle title=”Click here to read a text-only version”]Climb the stairs to better health!
Take the stair climb challenge.
- Stair climbing can help you achieve and maintain a healthy body weight
- Stair climbing requires about 8 – 11 calories of energy per minute, which is high compared to other moderate level physical activities.
- Even two flights of stairs climbed per day can lead to 6 lbs of weight loss over one year
- Climbing more than 55 flights per week significantly lowers your risk of mortality
- There is a strong association between stair climbing and bone density in post-menopausal women
- Climbing stairs can improve the amount of “good cholesterol” in the blood
- Stair climbing can help you build and maintain healthy bones, muscles and joints.
Guess what? Stair climbing can contribute to the recommended 30 minutes of daily physical activity
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