Published May 24, 2005

Program promotes ways to live a healthier, more active life

TERESA KILLIAN, Staff Writer

Spartanburg Mayor Bill Barnet had walked 3,712 steps during a meeting-filled Monday by the time he left the City Council -- far fewer steps, he expected, than his wife, Valerie.

She usually logs more than 10,000 a day -- his goal -- and he averages closer to 7,000 to 8,000.

The couple started wearing pedometers a few weeks ago and will start recording their distances today with the Partners for Active Living's new Step It Up! initiative.

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Participants purchase pedometers and log their daily steps at the Step It Up! Web site, which maps how far they've walked (virtually) along the 425-mile Palmetto Trail. Step It Up! also offers daily encouragement, health tips and other information.

Barnet will ask more Spartanburg residents to participate today in the pedometer-based program designed to help people look for small ways to become more active and live healthier lives.

Two downtown businesses -- McMillan Smith & Partners and the Upstate Workforce Investment Board -- began logging their steps Monday with Step It Up! as part of a five-week challenge to see which could log the highest average daily number of steps and meet other goals.

The average American takes only 3,000 to 5,000 steps a day, though Partners for Active Living says 10,000 steps is what health experts recommend for helping reduce the risk of heart disease and illnesses such as diabetes. Walking 12,000 to 15,000 steps per day helps with weight loss.

The program urges participants to increase their average number of steps by 20 percent each week until meeting their goals.

Both businesses plan to organize group walks -- some during breaks or after work as well as weekend expeditions to area parks or trails.

The companies will log their employees' steps for a chance to win prizes based on criteria such as highest average number of employee steps.

Prizes include two-week trial memberships at Clyde Main Street Fitness and discounts at Run With It!, said Kimberly Baehr, program coordinator with Partners for Active Living.

As of Monday, when the official tallies began, 50 of 65 employees at McMillan Smith & Partners had signed up to participate.

"We've had many people within the office stopping to compare their steps," said Missy Sandor, who is coordinating McMillan Smith & Partners' participation in the walking initiative.

As of midafternoon, Sandor had logged about 8,000 steps, but

she pointed out that as an administrative assistant she walks around more than others in the office.

Meanwhile, over at the Upstate Workforce Investment Board, 23 employees have signed up to participate so far, said Executive Director Ann Fesperman.

Fesperman said she only had logged about 2,500 steps by mid-afternoon Monday. But she does most of her walking in the evenings.

The investment board is offering incentives internally -- such as a drawing at the first meeting for a subscription to a health-related magazine. The employee chose "Prevention."

Fesperman expects prizes in the next weeks could range from a half-day off with pay to a gym bag.

"The neatest part is being able to go on the Internet and watch yourself walking the entire Mountains-to-Sea Trail," she said.

Teresa Killian can be reached at 562-7216 or teresa.killian@shj.com.

More Information

Step It Up! suggests adding 100 steps …
u Do jumping jacks, jump rope or walk around the house for the length of a TV commercial break.
u Walk out and check for the mail.
u Take out the trash, bundle up recyclables, dust the tops of your kitchen cabinets and fridge.
u Pace -- don't sit -- while talking on the telephone.
u Go down every aisle in the grocery store, even if you do not have to.