H2O UPDATE: PERSONAL PHYSICAL ACTIVITY GOALS

If you have been tracking your physical activity regularly, you will now have a personal goal for steps, for minutes of moderate activity & for minutes of vigorous activity.

HOW WERE THE PERSONAL GOALS CALCULATED?
For each month, the total number of steps (or minutes) you entered was divided by the number of days in the month minus 3 days grace (i.e., February: 28 days - 3 days grace = 25 days. Total steps for February/25 = average steps for February). 10% was then added to your average to give you a realistic, achievable goal for the next month.

MY STEP AVERAGE EXCEEDS 10,000 STEPS/DAY. WHY IS MY PERSONAL GOAL ONLY 10,000 STEPS?
Personal goals cannot exceed the standard goal.

I HAVE NEVER ENTERED ANY DATA FOR "MINUTES OF VIGOROUS ACTIVITY". WHY DO I HAVE A PERSONAL GOAL OF 10 MINUTES PER DAY?
If you do not enter any data, your personal goal will default to the standard goal.

I RECORDED LESS "MINUTES OF MODERATE ACTIVITY" IN MARCH THAN I DID IN FEBRUARY. WHY DIDN'T MY PERSONAL GOAL REFLECT THIS CHANGE?
Your personal goal can never go down, but will not increase by 10% if you do not meet your goal for the month.

IS MY ELIGIBILITY FOR AWARDS DEPENDENT UPON ACHEIVING MY PERSONAL GOAL?
Not at this time.

THE STANDARD GOAL FOR STEPS IS 10,000/DAY, AND THE STANDARD GOAL FOR MODERATE ACTIVITY IS 30 MINUTES/DAY. DO I NEED TO TAKE 10,000 STEPS EVERYDAY AND PARTICIPATE IN 30 MINUTES OF MODERATE ACTIVITY TO BE HEALTHY?
No. Government recommendations for health are 10,000 steps/day OR 30 minutes of moderate activity/day OR 20 minutes of vigorous activity (3 times/week). Achieving ONE of these goals is sufficient to increase health. Doing MORE activity MAY have further effects on positive health, and can increase cardiovascular fitness.

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Hope College Employee Wellness Program | 141 East 12th Street | PO Box 9000 | Holland, Michigan 49422
email: wellness@hope.edu