There are many ways to remain fit and healthy, but few are as simple, safe and accessible as walking.

Whatever your workout plan looks like (heck, even if you don’t have one) getting a certain amount of steps in every day can do wonders for your overall health and conditioning.

It’s long been noted by healthcare professionals that an average adult should set the goal of taking around 10,000 steps a day if they want to reap the health benefits of walking. There is of course some wiggle room there, but 10,000 is the generally accepted standard for adults to ensure they’re active.

The CDC cite one study as stating that for adults younger than 60, the risk of premature death leveled off at about 8,000 to 10,000 steps per day. For adults 60 and older, meanwhile, the risk of premature death leveled off at about 6,000 to 8,000 steps per day.

The point is, increasing your steps-per-day count is a sure fire way to combat a number of potential health problems, while also offering the added benefit of improving your general health at the same time.

But what happens to the human body if you really push the needle? Say to somewhere in the region of 20,000 steps a day (which is the equivalent to walking around 8 to 10 miles).

Three years ago, fitness influencer Ilva Ignatovica undertook the challenge, walking 20,000 steps a day for one month to record the results.

In a video posted to her YouTube channel, Ilva took stock ahead of the last week of the 30-day challenge, revealing some of the effects the effort had on her body.

“I experienced some back pain and quickly realized that just because I walk so much does not mean I can skip stretching and strength workouts,” she shared.

“On the other hand, I felt proud of my determination, grateful for the beautiful walks, and happy the two lost kilos.”

The content creator claimed to have spent around four hours a day walking in order to ensure she hit the target, admitting that in doing so she was forced to sacrifice some of the strength and conditioning workouts she usually does.

One study published in the journal The Lancet Public Health recorded that compared with people who got 2,000 steps a day, people who took 7,000 daily steps had a 47% lower risk of death from all causes.

The more active adults also had a 25% lower risk of cardiovascular disease and a 38% lower risk of dementia.

How often and far do you walk every day? Let us know in the comments.