Creative ways to add more walking into your everyday routine

We need to get in 30 minutes of activity everyday - but many of us are at work most of the day. So we're getting some help with getting active at work. 

How many steps have you walked today? Our 21 day Challenge partners at St. John Province Health suggest 10,000 steps a day.

But if you're sitting at work all day, you have to be creative. 

We've mapped out an inside and outside walking track here at FOX 2 and eight laps inside is one mile. 

There's also a high tech option. 

It's off with the pumps and on with the sneakers - time to go for a walk but this treadmill isn't inside a gym. 

This is a Treadmill Desk and this is how the president and ceo of St. John Providence Health System getting in her daily steps. 

"It goes about four miles an hour and I try to do it for an hour each day, which is about 6,000 steps," Jean Meyer said. "So I try and squeeze it in there during the day." 

Sure Meyer's got a regular desk, but a couple of Christmas' ago she came up with a clever idea. 

"I had researched it, I had seen someone using it on TV so I went on Amazon.com and I told my husband I wanted it for Christmas," she said. "I said 'I don't want a blender, I don't want a coffee pot, I want a Treadmill Desk.'

"He thought I was crazy but sure enough, he ordered that for me a year ago Christmas." 

The price on the treadmill that comes with the flat desk surface ranges from $1,000 to $3,000 and yes, it takes a little adjusting.

"I don't do typing real well," Meyer said. "I can do it a little bit, I'm not as proficient at it. But reading and phone calls, its really nice."

And even without high-tech help, there are simple ways to force yourself to move more! 

"Even it's as simple as moving garbage can to the other side of the office," said Shannon Pearce. RN, St. John Providence. "Being able to take a break during the day and take a walk around. If there's no place to walk around, stairs are great."

Getting 10,000 steps is part our of 21 Day Challenge, which wraps up with our annual Healthy Heart Project!  You can get extensive free heart health screenings at two St John Providence locations!  

The Healthy Heart Project is Saturday, April 18 from 7:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. (registration ends at 10:00 a.m.) at two St. John Providence Health System locations.

Participating Sites:
St. John Hospital & Medical Center: 22101 Moross in Detroit  (LOCATION FINDER)
Providence Hospital: Southfield: 16001 W. 9 Mile Road in Southfield (9 Mile and Greenfield)  (LOCATION FINDER)

Learn more here:  Healthy Heart Project