Every step up the stairs prolongs your life by....

Hi hopeful, It's nice to meet someone who is also health conscious. That was a good practice to walk up when there's escalators, I used to do that in train stations because the escalators are crowded and everybody is trying to squeeze past. Taking the steps is much easier and more relaxing. By personal interpretation, you mean...?

That a step could be vertical or horizontal, either way I would interpret it as a step. The idea is to move!

Good one! "The idea is to move"! I like the saying

The only problem with that is that the six steps are in the entrance to the block of flats and if I use them in that manner, the other residents will start charging me for the wear and tear of the carpet that runs up the middle of them

Well once you reached the top steps, you can always come down and start again. Repeat that 10 times and you have the desired result. You may have to reduce the size of the mirror soon

Alternative, you can always find a tall building and walk the stairs there. You might even help to clean the stairs by your walking. Just make sure it's one with an elevator and you can take it down, walk up, take it down, walk up...

Oh Yes... Walking would be better.. I was just joking about running. We use to have step exercises in my cardiac rehab in the gym, and that was like walking up the stairs, getting on a box and stepping off again over and over. Very boring though. _Derek

I know that equipment, it's really simulating the climbing of stairs, but it's so......boring, give me real stairs anytime.

Hi derek, Yes, we all need different forms of exercise, some more than others. Hmmm, I don't mean we need to run up the stairs, it's more of walking and working on the leg muscles.

I'll just slide down the hand rail!

whoopeee!!

Be careful when coming down though because walking down the steps is no good for the knees!

Yes I realized it was about walking up and down stairs, I guess I was a little sleepy when I made the response. Then I live in a great house, I have a house in 3 levels and for some reason it is commen in the Netherlands to have the laundry maschine on the top floor, so I run up from the basefloor to the 2nd floor to do my laundry... A nice way of exercising....

Somehow this walking up stairs topic has been closely linked to walking 10,000 steps, which all contributes to our having good health. I guess we can incorporate either one or both into our lives. It's good to hear that you already have the conditions for going up and down the stairs.

Hi Downwindz, You can read the previous response, there are lots of information provided by others. Yes, it's 10,000 steps per day. However, what I'm suggesting is walking up the stairs, maybe different muscles are at work here, so besides the walking, you are training other parts of the body.

Hello Iequate, Thanks for providing the information. I seem to recall it being something like that but didn't want to give the wrong info. Yes, I have heard of some small device to measure the no. of steps we take each day, it is a good way to keep a record. I'm not sure about your weather there, are evenings cooler? Here, we like to walk during the early morning and evenings, it is much more windy and relaxing. I see you have other forms of exercise too, it is good to work out different muscles. I also practise yoga once a week.

Having a walk outdoors is so much better than being indoors, we can admire the scenery and take in fresh air. It is so rejuvenating!

Hello, That is how our normal summers are, cooler in the mornings, and evenings. This year however, the humidity was so high, the evenings at 7p was still 80 degrees, and the mornings were 75 degrees. I worked out in the house. I still love walking outdoors. It is getting cooler now yay. I will try jogging in the fall. Thanks. :)

Yes, better to avoid that in winter, can do some walking or stretching at home instead. Stretching is good for keeping the body supple, and the best time to do it is early in the morning when we wake up because muscles have gotten stiff over the night. It will prepare our body for the day's activities and make us more alert.

Hi Hatley, I wasn't aware that there are ten thousand step clubs around, maybe not in my area. Guess mylot is a large part of your life and I appreciate your efforts in trying to earn some extra income. I know you put in a lot of effort! Take note to get some exercise though, even if it's just stretching in your room, it helps in blood circulation and regulation of body condition.

Hi cream, It will be good to take the stairs once in a while for it strengthens the heart as well as the leg muscles.

hello workingtogether, Welcome to mylot! Yes I mean up the stairs, it could be a cardio exercise so it's beneficial for our hearts. From others' response I have also learnt that taking 10,000 steps per day is a good exercise. Now, I know it's called a pedometer. Thanks for supplying this information.

Glad you like my comment. Thanks for the br award blue.

Hi tomi, It takes some discipline and monitoring to keep watch on our weight. I think we should maintain health not only for beauty's sake but also to make sure of our quality of life. Having a healthy body would make our mind be wholesome and happy too.

Hi qianyun, You can work up a routine for this. For the first week, walk up 5 floors every day. Increase one floor every week, soon you find yourself able to climb higher and do more steps. Another alternative is to walk the first 10th and then take the rest up by elevator. Or you can take elevator half way and then walk the rest up to have a different view. You can try different combinations, make it interesting and you will be motivated to walk. Hope this helps

Going up the stairs is fine, but we have to take care going down, it's better to take the elevator then.

Ahem! I think you interpreted my answer incorrectly....Bones in our body are subject to wear and tear...The more you use them the sooner they corrode....Knee joints are the most vulnerable to this...the bone disintegrates with use and age....more than the age its the mileage that is the main cause for these joints to deteriorate and eventually land up on a surgeons operation table for a knee replacement surgery...hope this clears the air for you....

Thanks for the explanation. Everything in life is like that, you win some you lose some. If we want to be healthy by climbing stairs, we risk the damage to the knees. In this case, it could be helpful to wear knee guards. What I meant was, going down the stairs is essentially more taxing on the knees than going up.

Hi dudsdoojaxi, You are quite disciplined indeed and have perseverance. It is so motivating to hear from someone who is so health conscious and actually exercises consistently on a regular basis. I need to learn from you in this aspect.

Well, good for you, just don't overdo it!

Hi, I don't know about reducing blood sugar and I did some research on the internet. According to some doctors, walking downhill can lower blood sugar level, however, it is more straining for those with knee problems, so choosing a gentler slope might be more suitable. Going uphill may be tough going for some as it increases heart rate. Different people could perhaps try out different methods and choose what's best for them.

Oh wow, thanks for providing concrete evidence. I guess this is a good form of cardio exercise, good for the heart too...

Very good explanation and that is useful information about diabetes. Why waste money to go to gym when we could have it free, and outdoors too with fresh air...