Concentrating on actions involved with exercising—like buying those cool new running shorts you’ve had your eye on—is far more likely to get you moving than just thinking about all the reasons you should exercise, says a new study. Researchers enlisted sedentary college students and had them think about either actions or reasons associated with exercise. The students who thought about and wrote down actions they could take to pump up their exercise routine became more active and improved their cardiovascular fitness. The other group, who spent their time focusing on the rationale for working up a sweat, didn’t boost their exercise frequency or fitness.

Source: Journal of Applied Biobehavioral Research, July/October, 2007

Step It Up

In a recent study, researchers from the United States, Australia, Canada, France, and Sweden set new guide‑lines for recommended daily steps. Check the chart below to find out what number you should be aiming for each day.

Women

Men

Try this…

Buy a pedometer. Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine found that people who used a pedometer clocked in more than 2,000 extra steps per day than those who didn’t use the gadget. You can get a basic pedometer—a small device like a pager that clocks how many steps you take—for about $20. You may be surprised at what you learn by tracking your normal day’s routine.