Lifelong fitness is a goal that would benefit everyone. The American Council on Exercise recently released the results of its exclusive study that examined physical activity at work in 10 common occupations.

Researchers from the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse, were commissioned to measure the amount of daily physical activity from work that can be expected from a variety of common occupations.

They recruited 98 business volunteers in the La Crosse area. The volunteers represented 10 different occupations. They had secretaries, restaurant servers, construction workers, postmen, janitors, lawyers, policemen, nurses, teachers, and factory workers.

One of the things they wanted to achieve was to increase the level of awareness of how many people move in their workplaces. Hopefully the researchers can also provide feedback that can encourage them to adopt a lifelong fitness regimen.

Each participant was assigned a basic pedometer and asked to wear it during work hours for three consecutive days. Subjects followed their work days as usual. At the end of the days, they completed a daily log. They recorded the number of steps taken, the total distance traveled, and a brief description of the tasks they performed that day.

Secretaries, teachers, lawyers, and police officers were found to walk significantly fewer steps and fewer distances than other occupations. At the lowest level, secretaries were observed to walk only an average of 4,327 steps. That translated to the equivalent of 1.7 miles in total.

At the other end of the spectrum, custodians and postmen racked up significantly more daily steps and mileage. Postmen topped the list with 18,904 daily steps or roughly 7.5 miles. His distance covered almost twice the minimum recommendation of Shape Up Americas.

There was a big difference in the number of steps that all occupations took. The results indicate that physical activity in the workplace varies widely across most occupations. If you don’t have a very active job, you definitely need to do some kind of supplemental physical activity.

Minor lifestyle adjustments can help you reach your 10,000 step goal. Lifelong fitness can mean doing something as simple as not taking the elevator, but taking the stairs. How about a brisk walk at lunchtime? Whenever you play a round of golf, take a walk on the course instead of using a golf cart.

Personal training in small groups, usually fewer than five people, is an excellent idea. This is a great way to get personal instruction and close supervision at a lower cost. This approach allows parents to show their children that activity can be fun.

Yoga, Pilates, and Tai Chi continue to be a great alternative to higher-impact activities. The key elements of mind and body activities include proper posture, breathing, and body awareness. By incorporating elements of mental and spiritual fitness, people will take better care of their entire being, not just their bodies.