Some statistics that will scare you into moving your ass. Or maybe, make you feel collectively guilty about sitting in front of the TV.So, from my favorite little statistic book Number Freaking.
While filming Super Size Me – his 2004 record of what a month of eating McDonalds did to him- Morgan Spurlock set himself a daily walking limit of 2000 steps, the American average…
• Doctors say for a healthy cardiovascular system you should walk 10,000 steps daily.
At a step length of half a meter (19.69 inches, for argument’s sake) 2000 is 1 kilometer – 1094 yards-(and 10,000 steps is 5 kilometers, or 3.11 miles).
The average American is awake for 16.9 hours a day.
• Spreading 1 kilometer (1096 yards) evenly across their waking day, the average American can be said to be moving at an average speed of 65.0 yards per hour (under their own steam).
According to the Guinness Book of Answers…
• The common house snail moves at a speed of 54 yards (49 meters) per hour.
• The three-toed sloth moves at a speed of 119 yards (109 meters) per hour.
• The giant tortoise moves at a speed of 405 yards (370 meters) per hour.
Thus a tortoise moves over six times faster than the average American. And a sloth nearly twice as fast.
This information isn’t supposed to do anything except make you think. Do I really want a three-toed sloth to move twice as fast as I do?? I don’t think so!!
Maybe if you've had trouble staying motivated on the exercise, at least start with the pedometer and make sure you're moving your 10,000 steps a day. Baby steps...
5 Comments:
A three toed sloth doesn't spend 9 hours sitting down at work, and 8 hours sleeping. Our speed is stretched over a day, that is his top speed.
Not saying he isn't still faster than me in a full on sprint, just saying the comparison is flawed. ;)
Again...you are missing the point of the post. Sometimes, it's fun to just GO WITH IT.
Yet, for someone sitting 9 hours at work, you're moving pretty fast for losting 21 pounds.
Americans are sedentary, and that really is the big flaw here that was being pointed out.
I make up for the 9 hours before and after work. Right now I am burning approx 1000 calories a day, give or take a few.
lighten up!
I'm trying, I'm trying...
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