Take the Stairs

stairs
Take the stairs. We all know this. But I didn’t know it was this good.

From USA Today. “Stair climbing is one of the best ways to strengthen the glutes and leg muscles, according to the American Council on Exercise. It’s a great cardiovascular workout and burns more calories than jogging and walking.”

Burns more calories than jogging and walking?? I live on the top floor of a 5th floor walkup (this shot is looking down from the top floor). I’ve always worried about what it’s going to be like for me when I’m a little old lady. How will I manage?

But maybe climbing up and down these stairs several times a day all these years has been the best thing for me. Climbing up and down weighed down with kitty litter, no less. I’ll just eventually go slower and slower and slower.

Stacy Horn

I've written six non-fiction books, the most recent is Damnation Island: Poor, Sick, Mad, and Criminal in 19th-Century New York.

View all posts by Stacy Horn →

3 thoughts on “Take the Stairs

  1. It makes me dizzy just looking down at the foyer.

    Hauling cat litter up five flights of stairs? Gak, I complain just dragging it out of my car which is parked right outside my front door and then up the three steps to the house. I can’t imagine doing what you’re doing plus hauling bird seed all the way up to the roof.

    You’re a better woman than I, Stacy Horn.

  2. I used to be a dedicated runner — and sad to say, ruined my knees when I was in my late 40s. One thing I cannot do is climb a lot of stairs; it causes my knee problems to flare up. That’s why I now bike, a good way to build muscles to support the weak knees. However, stair-climbing is great exercise, lucky you can do that on a regular basis.

  3. I am. Crossing my fingers that my knees hold out. Although I read that doing these things are good for knees, the opposite of what we’ve always been told.

    Karen, I have no choice! I’m lucky to have this (affordable) apartment, climb and all.

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