Can't get to 10,000 steps. :(

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kooshky
kooshky Posts: 77 Member
in Motivation and Support
I started back using my fitbit, and yesterday I got 7,000 steps with A LOT of effort. Today I'm at 3,334 and almost worn out. Any suggestions?
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  • mhook760
    mhook760 Posts: 42 Member
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    it won't happen overnight. I started with about 2/3k a day and a few months later clocked 28k. gradually build up!
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    edited June 2016
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    Look up "walking" videos on YouTube. Leslie Sansone or Jessica Smith workouts will help you get your steps in. You can always go at your own pace because these aren't choreographed.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnCMUGnWVIg

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njeZ29umqVE
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
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    A long-shot. Do you have a Wii?

    Wii Walk It Out is great for getting steps in. You walk around an island, earn points and build up the island using your points.
  • TehLaughingDog
    TehLaughingDog Posts: 200 Member
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    I suck at hitting 10,000 steps since I'm depressed in the summer. But when I take my dog for a walk we hit ~9,000 after our 4 mile walk. Doing that once at night then again in the morning helps.

    Maybe set up a routine for daily walks. Either one longer walk before bed or after waking up or you could break it up into two smaller walks (i.e. 2 miles each). That is my plan at least. Good luck! :)
  • kooshky
    kooshky Posts: 77 Member
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    Yea maybe I'm trying to do too much too soon :neutral: I will check out the videos. I don't have a wii, but that does sound fun!
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
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    I only get about 6000 per day. No big deal.
  • LivingtheLeanDream
    LivingtheLeanDream Posts: 13,342 Member
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    Just don't expect to go from 0 to 10k over night especially if you're not used to my hubby activity.

    Keep adding to your 3k each day a little and you'll be back in a month if not sooner to tell us you're doing that 10k easily :smiley:

    I have my FitBit almost 3 years and I was perfectly happy hitting 10k in the beginning. These days I average 18-20k and they come easily.
  • kooshky
    kooshky Posts: 77 Member
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    It just makes me feel like I'm lazy when I can't reach the target "10,000 steps" people always talk about.
  • hellonew2015
    hellonew2015 Posts: 327 Member
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    I like this article:

    http://blog.myfitnesspal.com/many-daily-steps-really-need-better-health​/
  • LivingtheLeanDream
    LivingtheLeanDream Posts: 13,342 Member
    edited June 2016
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    My tips for getting extra steps:

    Jog on spot while brushing teeth :smiley:

    Take a few walks / or do an indoor walking workout (see youtube)

    Park car further away when doing errands etc

    Get up and move every 30 mins if you're around the house for a few mins at a time.

    When I'm washing hands I jog on the spot.

    Get creative and the steps will keep adding up :smiley:
  • kooshky
    kooshky Posts: 77 Member
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    Thanks everyone! All good advice.
  • TehLaughingDog
    TehLaughingDog Posts: 200 Member
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    Don't feel lazy at all! You can still be very active and lot under 10k, just depends on what activities you're doing. For myself I've been working on laundry around the house the past few days. So that's really very minimal walking time but I'm still busy. Or when I'm studying or reading - still busy just not in walking way. I also bike at the gym so that doesn't log as walks but I burned 700+ calories in the gym even though my steps are ~2k. Each person is different and that's okay :)
  • Golbat
    Golbat Posts: 276 Member
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    There's a way to change the goal for your Fitbit so it's, say, 6000 instead. Don't stress. Just try to hit 6,000 as consistently as you can for now and see if you're able to work that up to 7,000 or 8,000 at some point.
  • JoanneKendrick
    JoanneKendrick Posts: 151 Member
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    I jog on the spot whilst cleaning my teeth, waiting for the kettle to boil, washing my hands. It soon builds up. If you can jog on the spot for 10 minutes a few times a day x
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,575 Member
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    10k is my absolute minimum. If I'm under...I just get up and walk. It sounds like you are saying you physically can't do it though? Just start slowly.
  • mumblemagic
    mumblemagic Posts: 1,090 Member
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    If you're tired, don't stress. Build up your fitness slowly. If you're struggling to fit in with your schedule, try taking the stairs instead of the lift. Park a little bit further away from work. Get some audio books and go for a 30 min walk instead of 1 episode of your favourite TV show. :-)
  • hellonew2015
    hellonew2015 Posts: 327 Member
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    kooshky wrote: »
    I started back using my fitbit, and yesterday I got 7,000 steps with A LOT of effort. Today I'm at 3,334 and almost worn out. Any suggestions?

    Quality steps over quantity is my approach, I Brisk walk, jog, run and climb stairs within 30 minutes and that is all below 7000 steps.
  • happysquidmuffin
    happysquidmuffin Posts: 651 Member
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    I hear you. Having a sedentary job doesn't help me one bit. But getting up for a quick walk about every hour to an hour and a half helps (that's realistic, though ideally I'd try to do it every 30 minutes), and going for a 2.3 mile walk on a beautiful outdoor river walk where I live helps me get about 6-7K on a good day. At least once a week I do hit 10K but I can really empathize with how difficult it actually is, for some people. I think the most I've ever done in 15K in one day. I do not understand how people can do over 20K. DO they just not work and spend the entire day walking constantly??? :wink:
  • CincyNeid
    CincyNeid Posts: 1,249 Member
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    I float between 7,500 and 8,800 most days. IF you're that short and you're getting wore out that early build slowly. Download a GPS app like Endomondo, Strava, MapMyFitness and go for a 1/4 mile walk. Then a 5/16 mile walk. Then a 1/2 mile and build weekly. It'll come.
  • JensJourney11
    JensJourney11 Posts: 90 Member
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    Don't feel bad. I work in an office so I'm sitting most of the day. A typical workday only gets me 3000 steps. At least with the nicer weather I spend my morning and afternoon 15 minute breaks walking around outside. My evening workout will add some steps. Other than that, I get up and jog on the spot during commercial breaks when I'm watching TV. If I'm on the phone, I walk around. That type of thing. My friends and family have gotten used to me stepping in place all the time at this point!
    And those Leslie Sansone DVDs are great walking workouts. Highly recommended! Good luck :)

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