Ten thousand steps, it seems like the new holy grail when it comes to health and weight loss. But is that actually true? We at Happy Bodies went to investigate.

Manpo Kei

The story goes that Yoshiro Hatano, scientist at Japan's Kyushu University of Health and Welfare, once came up with the advice to take ten thousand steps a day. He foresaw that the Japanese would follow the Americans in terms of lifestyle and in 1965 invented the Manpo-Kei, a pedometer. 'Man' means ten thousand, 'po' means steps and 'kei' stands for meter: a ten thousand pedometer. Ten thousand step walking associations soon sprang up across Japan and years later, in 2015, the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare adopted the advice of ten thousand steps a day. However, no hard evidence has ever been found for this recommendation.

Sitting is the new smoking

So let's celebrate, that advice? Certainly not! The Health Council advises us to move about 150 minutes moderately intensively every week. In addition, it is recommended twice a week muscle strengthening exercises to do. Also, make sure you don't sit still for too long. Erik Scherder, Professor of Neuropsychology and Movement Sciences, is also in favor of moderately intensive exercise. In one of his guest blogs for health insurer Zilveren Kruis he writes: An hour on your butt is five minutes earlier to die. Physical inactivity is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide, making sitting the new smoking, he says.

What is moderate intensity exercise?

But what exactly is moderately intensive exercise? That is different for everyone, we read on the site of the Heart Foundation, but exercise is most effective when your heart beats faster and you get hot. That can be great with a brisk walk, but you can also enjoy cycling, swimming or a dance. A pedometer can definitely motivate, but it is certainly not the holy grail. If you exercise with the Milon circle you train your entire body in two times 35 minutes every ten days and that is also possible if you are a bit older or suffer from some ailments. If you also take the stairs one extra time, do an errand on the bike, occasionally one Take a walk or jump into the pool every now and then, you're on your way.

Knowing more?

Curious how you can work on your body in two times 35 minutes every ten days, under the guidance of your own personal lifestyle coach? Even if you have physical complaints? Then do the membership test and sign up for a free personal introductory meeting and tour of the club. Want to bet that you are immediately sold?