Should I prioritise my step goal or my workouts?
My first answer as always, is that it depends. It depends on so many of your other circumstances i.e. your goal and your lifestyle.
Ideally, I'll encourage you to complete both step goal and prescribed workout. But what if you don't have time for both? Which one do you prioritise?
If you're a client of mine, you'll know I'm all about the step goal. Reason #1: Regardless of your goal, walking is incredibly beneficial for your overall health. I've listed below just some of the health benefits of walking (taken from healthline):
- strengthening your heart - can lower blood sugar levels
- reduces the risk of joint pain (even in those with arthritis) - boosts your immune function
- can provide an energy boost (some believe this is more effective than caffeine)
- improves your mood
- increases length of your life
- strengthens your leg muscles
- increased mental capacity for creativity
Reason #2: Walking is much more accessible than working out. Therefore, making it a much more sustainable habit in the long term.
Reason #3: Burning calories should never be the focus of working out. All too often, I come across individuals who absolutely detest exercise and therefore only workout because they want to burn calories. The first problem with this attitude is that it creates a negative relationship with working out and in turn a worse relationship with diet and you body. The second problem with this attitude is that burning calories is so much more difficult than consuming them, there is no way to out-run a poor diet. If you're trying to lose body fat successfully and for the long term, you're going to need to look at your diet.
At the end of the day, I encourage all of my clients to workout because they enjoy it and because it feels good to them. If you're asking the question of 'shall I go for a walk or do my workout' then I'm going to guess that doing a workout isn't your #1 choice. In these cases, I'd much rather my clients head out a for a walk to get their activity done. I will always encourage my clients to do what they enjoy and what they think is best for them. If you're unsure about how much and what kinds of activity you should be doing, send me a message and let's have a chat. Always here,
Beth