Putting the pace to the test
When Greenspring announced the physical fitness challenge, Weadon was eager to see how many steps he could take in a week. “I decided I would walk as long as I could as often as I could. I guess I was showing off a little,” he laughs.
Weadon has good reason to be happy. With 32,632 steps a day he “walked” away with first place, while fellow community member Jack Burke followed close behind with 21,442 steps a day.
Third place finisher Gloria Uehlinger was also very interested in seeing how many steps she was accumulating each day. “I read a lot of health books and I wanted to make sure that I was walking the recommended 10,000 steps a day,” says Uehlinger.
Finishing the challenge with 15,630 steps per day, Uehlinger was thrilled. “I make a real effort to keep my body strong,” she says.
Research suggests that Uehlinger is well on her way. A University of Tennessee study published in the journal Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise revealed women who average more than 10,000 steps a day had 40% less body fat, and their waist and hip measurements are more than eight inches narrower than those who average fewer than 6,000 steps.
Walking with accuracy
Each of the 31 participants in the physical fitness challenge was equipped with a high-tech pedometer known as a StepWatch. It is an accurate pedometer worn on the outside of the right ankle and attached with a Velcro strap. It not only records how many steps one takes, but also tells how quickly the participant moves.
Completely waterproof, the StepWatch records physical activity levels of walking, running, swimming, dancing, golfing, biking, or doing the NuStep or elliptical machine in the fitness center.
“It was great to have a pedometer I could trust,” Uehlinger says.
Supportive community
Greenspring’s first physical activity challenge is just one of the many ways the community supports health and fitness.
“If you want to take advantage of a physical fitness program, Greenspring has just about everything [you need],” says Weadon. “And the good news is you don’t have to be in great shape to get started. There are trained fitness experts who help you, with your doctor’s permission, tailor an exercise program just for you. Greenspring is one of the great places to live if you want to get physically fit.”
Uehlinger, who takes advantage of her apartment home’s advantageous position outside the campus gardens to do her walking, agrees. “There is a wonderful attitude toward fitness at Greenspring,” she says. “The staff do all they can to help people who want to be helped. My husband had an exercise program developed just for him. It’s very helpful.”
With the success of the first physical fitness challenge, plans are underway for future fitness challenges. In the meantime, the hard work of participants serves to encourage other fellow community members.
“In addition to getting healthy and staying healthy, the most fulfilling part of walking for me is the number of people who have seen me walking every day and tell me that I gave them the incentive to start walking,” says Weadon. “That’s a great feeling.”