| Blue Cross Blue Shield's fourth annual Walking AT | | | | cost. Studies show that just wearing a pedometer |
| Lunch event last month helped a great many | | | | increases a person's activity level! |
| people hit the nation's sidewalks as businesses | | | | Visit the national site BCBS site today and have a |
| organized lunchtime walking events for tens of | | | | look. |
| thousands of workers across the country. In | | | | Walking Works is spreading the word that thirty |
| North Carolina, many took part and had a great | | | | minutes each day, five or more days a week, or |
| time across the state. With one in three individuals | | | | 10,000 walking steps each day is recommended |
| insured by Blue Cross Blue Shield, this was a | | | | by the President's Council on Physical Fitness and |
| stompin' big event! BCBS met its goal to | | | | Sports to promote the most enduring health |
| encourage Americans to fit health-promoting | | | | benefits for individuals. |
| physical activity into their daily schedules. Instead | | | | Regular, brisk walking helps achieve a healthy |
| of competing with busy work weeks, this | | | | weight, improves muscle tone decreases risk of |
| program sought to build movement into the work | | | | cardiac arrest and type-2 diabetes. Walking |
| day. The Walking @Lunch program was preceded | | | | reduces stress, clears the mind, helps how we |
| by a 2008 BCBS North Carolina event called The | | | | feel, how we look, oxygenates the brain and |
| Million Step March, a walk that stretched from | | | | other tissues, improves posture, fosters better |
| Asheville to the coast. In this 10 day event, | | | | sleep, and much more - and it's a really great way |
| participants walked a total of 325,000 combined | | | | to spend quality time with friends and family. Kids |
| miles. Without a doubt, BCBS will continue to | | | | brought up walking are much healthier than those |
| support better health through movement | | | | "glued" to the TV or computer, so let's be great |
| education and events like these. | | | | role models today and get on our feet and MOVE! |
| BCBS created "WalkingWorks, the Blue Program | | | | We can take the kids, or give the dog a great |
| for a Healthier America", and the public can | | | | walk (if we're willing to walk in place for a bit as |
| benefit from this program today! We ask our | | | | Fido stops along the way. As BCBS says, "Walking |
| readers to please explore "Walking Works" on the | | | | Works - in a lot of ways!" |
| national BCBS website. Walking logs are available | | | | We'd also like to remind folks to be sure to check |
| and pedometers are a fraction of their normal | | | | with their physician if one hasn't had regular |
| cost at under 4 dollars plus shipping to encourage | | | | exercise in a long time. Select shoes that offer |
| everyone to get active. This nifty tool has a 3 | | | | comfort and support. Before and after doing a |
| button design and has a safety strap and it tracks | | | | walk or other exercise, it's good to remember to |
| both miles and steps for a few dollars plus | | | | gently stretch for maximum benefits, comfort |
| shipping...a fraction of what other pedometers | | | | and enjoyment. |