Why a Staircase in the House Doesn't Mean You're Fit
Jillita Horton
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Do you think you go up and down your stairs "a hundred times a day," and then use this as an excuse not to exercise? Document how many times in a day you actually go up the stairs and see if it's anywhere near 100. Even if it were, this still shouldn't count as part of your exercise regimen. 
Seems like everyone who has a staircase believes they use it "a hundred times a day." You're not special. I know I'm being blunt, but sometimes, bluntness gets the point across best. If having a staircase in the house makes you physically fit, then most people would be in great physical condition. According to the International Health and Racquet Sports Association, 80 percent of Americans are in poor condition. Are these people not using the second floor of their homes? They all can't be ranch dwellers.
How long does it take you to get up the stairs? About 8 seconds? Since when should an exercise session last only 8 seconds? Once you're at the top, then what do you do? Sometimes it's to sit down somewhere, but whatever it is, the point is that you exercised for only 8 seconds. So if you actually do go up the stairs 100 times a day, that's 100 x 8 = 800 seconds = 13.3 minutes of exercise.
Thirteen minutes of continuous cardio exercise can pack a mighty punch if done rigorously. But if that 13 minutes is divided into 100, 8-second segments, forget it. You need to stop fooling yourself. Staircase exercise is actually a great kind of workout, if you continuously, nonstop, go up and down the stairs for 20 minutes. This can exhaust people who are in poor shape. If this is easy, then jog up. If that's easy, run up as fast as possible and trot down-all nonstop for 20 minutes. Or, walk or jog up two steps at a time; or, hold hand weights.
Seems like everyone who has a staircase believes they use it "a hundred times a day." You're not special. I know I'm being blunt, but sometimes, bluntness gets the point across best. If having a staircase in the house makes you physically fit, then most people would be in great physical condition. According to the International Health and Racquet Sports Association, 80 percent of Americans are in poor condition. Are these people not using the second floor of their homes? They all can't be ranch dwellers.
How long does it take you to get up the stairs? About 8 seconds? Since when should an exercise session last only 8 seconds? Once you're at the top, then what do you do? Sometimes it's to sit down somewhere, but whatever it is, the point is that you exercised for only 8 seconds. So if you actually do go up the stairs 100 times a day, that's 100 x 8 = 800 seconds = 13.3 minutes of exercise.
Thirteen minutes of continuous cardio exercise can pack a mighty punch if done rigorously. But if that 13 minutes is divided into 100, 8-second segments, forget it. You need to stop fooling yourself. Staircase exercise is actually a great kind of workout, if you continuously, nonstop, go up and down the stairs for 20 minutes. This can exhaust people who are in poor shape. If this is easy, then jog up. If that's easy, run up as fast as possible and trot down-all nonstop for 20 minutes. Or, walk or jog up two steps at a time; or, hold hand weights.
Jillita Horton is a certified personal trainer.