Dr. Weber explained, “If your goal is to lose weight, you will need to expend 3,500 calories more than you consume to lose one pound.” But that might not be the way to do it. “However,” she said, “the healthiest way to maintain or lose weight is a combination of healthy eating and activity, such as steps.”
But, Dr. Weber said that it’s not really necessary to hit 10,000 steps every day — with a caveat. “Activity is necessary,” she stipulated. “The ACSM (American College of Sports Medicine), CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommend at a minimum 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity exercise,” Dr. Weber said. That breaks down to about 30 minutes of activity five times per week. “Their recommendations can be achieved by brisk walking through steps, but also by a variety of other aerobic activities that raise your heart rate.”
But you don’t want to overdo the aerobic activity. You could also add in two non-consecutive days of strength training, which Dr. Weber said the ACSM recommends. “Depending on the physical condition of the individual, too many steps could lead to overuse injuries, such as muscle strains, tendinitis, and stress fractures.”