Do you like walking, Join a step contest, but don’t become a "step maniac"!

A step contest isn’t a new thing, but it is new to me! I have previously heard of these contests but I have never before participated myself. But now I have! And slowly my behaviour has changed! From being a normal walker who only walk for enjoyment of nature, and who used the walks for private time to think, get fresh air and so on, I now count and chase steps!

I have never been competitive, if I win, for example, in bowling, I do not enjoy winning. I enjoy the game, but it doesn’t matter if I win or not! And when I joined this competition I did it because it seemed a little bit fun, and since I already walk regularly I thought it will be interesting to see how many steps I take in a normal day.

But now I’m suddenly busy with counting how many steps I have achieved and I can walk an extra turn in the neighbourhood if I have not reached my steps for the day! How did this happen? I will tell you, so that you are prepared if you ever think of joining a step contest.

The contest goes on for 2 months and is a competition between teams forming by workers at a workplace. The competition will run both between teams in the workplace and between other teams nationally. The purpose is to enhance public health and to put focus on the fact that obesity is a public health issue that can be reduced if we just move a little more in daily life.

Each team consists of 7 persons, and in my workplace, we are a total of 5 teams. Nationally, little more than 200 teams are involved.

All individuals will compete at four levels, individually, within the team, in the workplace as well as nationally. Equipment needed to participate is a pedometer and a login name and number to a website on the Internet. Each individual register the amount of steps achieved during the day. On the website you can also follow the others competitive steps. This is what triggers the competition! When you see others pass you in the list with more than 3 000 steps per day, you can´t help it! The website also gives you advice about how much steps you should walk during a day to gain better condition or loose weight. My primary goal is not to loose weight, now it is all about competition!

After 2 weeks this is what I have changed in my daily routine so far:

• I park my car with purpose at a distance from work.
• I make sure that I not save any steps during the day; I use the stairs instead of elevator, I walk several times to the printer instead of collecting prints, and generally I move around more. Every step counts!
• I take a short walk during lunch brake, I still eat in a normal phase because I love food, but I do not hang around afterwards. Instead I get my coat and take a brisk walk.
• I did daily exercise regularly even before joining this competition but now I can’t skip training one day, or else my steps will drop drastically!

One of my colleges is even worse than me; she is so dedicated in chasing steps that she walks all the time! She walks in front of the stove when cooking dinner in the afternoon and she also walk around when brushing her teeth! I hope I don’t go to such extremes!!

But to reach 8 000- 10 000 steps a day, you have to put in some effort. And when the rest of the team increase their steps, I increase mine! And before I know, maybe I will walk around in front of the stove to!

This seems like upside – down world! Man is by nature lazy. And trough our development time, we have always strive to reduce our steps. We have invented all possible things to avoid to make the effort. This has now resulted in that many of us hardly moves at all, or way to little during the day.

Through this competition, I now hunt steps instead of saving step! And the pedometer is my best friend these days!  So, to all neighbours, if you are wondering why I walk around the block twice, or if your neigbour behave in a similar way, a step contest is the reason! And if you want to loose some weight, get better condition, or just feel that you are too lazy for your one good- join a step contest! You will be surprised!