Approximately 3,500 calories adds up to about 1 pound. This rule applies whether you are intaking food calories (“calories in”) or burning calories through exercise (“calories out”). According to The Department of Health & Human Services, climbing up 1 flight of stairs (the equivalent of 12 steps) 3 times per day burns 15 calories.
I work on the 3rd-floor of a 15-story office building with 6 elevators that are consistently crowded. When packed into the elevator like sardines, I often feel guilty pressing “level 3″ amongst my fellow patrons who must endure stopping at lower-levels floor before ascending to the “elevator worthy” upper levels. Lately, I’ve been hoofing it up the stairwell despite the discomfort in my high-heeled shoes to take advantage of the “mini workout” and to shift my feelings of lazy guilt to accomplishment. I also realized that it only takes me about 1-minute to take ascend the stairs, which pales in comparison to the several minutes I often waste just waiting for an empty elevator.
According to my calculations, if I ascend 3 flights of stairs 3-times-a-day, I burn 45 calories. This results in 10,890 calories burned for a typical year of work (~242 days) or 3-pounds! Not too shabby for 3-minutes of exercise/day!
I challenge everyone to make this lifestyle change and incorporate taking the stairs for ascents less than or equal to 3-flights. Stairs…a free, healthy, and fast workout!
by Zach, on March 3 2009 @ 7:02 pm
I like it. Just don’t injure yourself.