Pedometer Challenge – Week 7

Week 7 of 12 is here. The home stretch is almost in sight. By now we hope that walking greater distances is part of your day to day activity and you are feeling the benefits of a healthier lifestyle. Remember to keep you going we have the second of three prize draws on the 3rd November. More on that in next weeks update.

If you would like regular updates on health initiatives for your workplace including physical activity, mental health, healthy eating to name a few Health at Work’s monthly email alert might be what you’re looking for. Health E-News goes out on the first of every month and is packed with information on health campaigns (like the Pedometer Challenge), training events and case studies from workplaces. Our aim at Health at Work is to bring as many initiatives to your attention as we can and share good practice. If you would like to start receiving Health E-News send us an email at healthatwork@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

Please keep your step totals coming in to us. As long as we have received your totals before for the next prize draw you will be in with a chance of winning prizes!

Pedometer Challenge – Week 6

This week we reach the half way stage in the pedometer challenge. The nights may be “fair drawing in” and the temperature taking a nosedive but we hope that all participants carry on increasing the already impressive step totals.

If the darker nights are not for you why not take lunchtime stroll. Walkit.com is a superb resource for planning a walk with colleagues. The Circular Walk function will allow you to plan a walk from and back to your workplace. The walk can be to your specified time and speed and Walkit.com will even have a guess at how many steps you will have taken and how many calories you will have burned. Click here to visit Walkit.com.

If walking in the Pedometer Challenge has inspired you to become more active why not visit the Active Nation website. The Active Nation programme will ensure the 2014 Commonwealth Games will have a lasting legacy on fitness levels and health in Scotland. The site has an up to date activity finder to find out what is going on in your local area. It also encourages us to set our own activity goals.

So far from our calculations many of our participants have walked as far as the border between Scotland and England on our journey to London. If 2000 steps equal approximately 1 mile…

• 185,000 steps is 94 miles across the border to Carlisle
• 250,000 steps equal approximately 125 miles heading straight towards the Lake District!
• 300,000 steps equal 150 miles approaching the Yorkshire Dales!
(Note: these estimations are made if 2000 steps cover 1 mile. Everyone’s steps will cover slightly different distances)

We hope that the challenge has encouraged you to increase your daily step totals. If it has why not try our online lifestyle check tool – Check My Lifestyle. By answering a series of questions about different aspects of your lifestyle the site will generate a personalised report just for you. You can then set goals to improve your overall health. Visit www.checkmylifestyle.com