It All Adds Up
September 22, 2010
What would happen if you took the stairs all of the time?
In your apartment building?
In the building you work in?
In the building your friend/boyfriend/sister lives in?
To the 5th floor of your acupuncturist’s building?
Up the escalator from every metro ride you take? (Bethesda’s is scary long!)
One of the main reasons that people cite for not exercising is lack of time. But if you added up all the stairs you COULD take in a week, you’d be surprised at how many steps you could get in. These short bursts of exercise help elevate the heart rate, strengthen the muscles in your legs, and burn calories.
In terms of Chinese Medicine, taking the stairs would regulate qi, move blood, and calm the shen.
If you make the effort to locate the stairs and stop making excuses for taking the elevator/standing on the escalator, good things will happen!
It all adds up.
In good health,
Molly
Molly B. Shapiro L.Ac., Dipl. O.M. 
September 22, 2010 at 6:09 pm
I recently had to do a time trial for roller derby: how fast could I skate 25 laps? Because I have gotten somewhat out of shape after an injury, I came in at 4:40. A veteran skater told me, “If you shave 1 second off each lap, that’s a 25 second improvement.” I was floored — it totally does add up!
September 23, 2010 at 8:13 pm
Your blog made me think about the 220 calorie snack I just ate. Only 220 calories? If I have just one of these a week and don’t exercise or cut back somewhere else – this adds up to 11,440 calories per year. Since there are 3600 calories in a pound of fat then this equates to a weight gain of 11,400/3600 = 3.18 pounds per year. Doesn’t sound like a lot, but in ten years thats 31.8 pounds.
“It All Adds Up!!”
September 24, 2010 at 3:50 am
I am thinking stairs are in my future…..now is my future!!!