Walk like me

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This week—while finding glee in the Post Malone for Skims campaign and reluctantly wearing shorts when I’d rather be transitioning to my fall wardrobe—I’m taking stock of my walks.

I try to hit the [totally arbitrary but fun to gamify] 10,000 step count most days. Why? It keeps me fit, it doesn’t make me ravenously hungry (some call walking “appetite-neutral”), I can do it no matter where I am or what I’m wearing, and I just like it, okay?

These are actually good things I wear and use for my hot-mom walks.

The Fitbit. I do ultimately recommend the Fitbit, but I’m currently cross with its mommy, Google, for 1) discontinuing the slim and sleek Luxe and 2) not having gold face options, which you cannot tell me there’s no demand for. Like, let’s be real: A massive market of people aren’t into the Apple Watch and want a pared-down option in yellow gold.

I also rock this dorky wide-brimmed visor hat or, when I wanna be chicer (more chic?), it’s a cool-girl ball cap.

This summer, my foot tanlines developed around these incredibly comfy, monochrome Chaco sandals. When it’s not sandals weather, it’s these semi-embarrassing, light-as-a-cloud mom sneakers.

Phone-sized pockets are a must. My two favs are these Zella biker shorts and (a surprise to no one) Lululemon’s pocketed Aligns.

You know I slather on hella sunscreen before stepping out. Supergoop! Play is one of my standbys—the milky formula is light, hydrating, and absorbent. I never hesitate to put it on my face, body, or kids.

If you like the ultra-absorbent silicone base and transparent gel finish of Supergoop!’s Unseen Sunscreen or Vacation’s Crystal, you’ll like Allies of Skin The One. I have a tube in my desk drawer, along with this lip balm, and reach for them when I need a quick SPF touch-up before a walk.

I have a couple of pairs of these cheap Amazon sunglasses. Beyond being under 20 bucks, they don’t slide off my face.

I usually walk with these headphones, though the noise-canceling aspect does make me feel less safe. My other go-to is these cleverly wireless but corded (around the neck) earbuds.

The thing with tracking steps—like if you really want to get into it and consistently hit the mark—is that you have to be a little creative and, well, willing to do weird sh*t to get it done.

So, beyond going on proper walks, here are a few other things I do to reach my daily step goals:

• Pace back and forth while brushing my teeth (two minutes a day, twice a day, adds up to ≈400 steps—that’s 4% of 10,000 right there)

• Walk around my bedroom while doing my red light hair treatment and the Dr. Dennis Gross pads

• Make figure-eights around the play structures while my kids play at the park

• Walk back and forth across our side yard while my kids jump on the trampoline

• Jump on the trampoline (the Fitbit picks up both bounces and side-to-side knee bends)

• Loop around the grocery store and through the aisles a few extra times before actually putting items in the cart

• Park far away in the parking lot (a classic steps hack)

• March around my house, in and out of every room, on a rainy day or when a kid is home sick from school

• Tidy up the home

• Grab only one hanger at a time from the closet to hang each wet garment in the laundry room

• Deliberately carry in only one bag of groceries at a time

• Carry just one package at a time to my unboxing station

• Walk around the mall while the kids ride around on those goofy wheeled stuffed animals

You get the idea.

*Some products with affiliate links might earn me a small commission.

What I’ve written lately:

• The Daily Beast | I Took Tru Niagen’s NAD+-Boosting Supplements for a Month

• HGTV | Best Robot Vacuums, Tested and Reviewed

What I’m reading lately:

• Here One Moment, a novel by Liane Moriarty

• The Atlantic | What Claire’s Once Gave Tween Girls

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