Pedometer

irisannRN

Hi everyone,

I am thinking about getting a pedometer, but my question is .... since my activity level is set at sedentary (have a desk job that I am at 10 hours a day), should I log the amount that I walk in a day under my exercise for that day ? Or is this just considered typical daily activity that is calculated into my BMI and should not be logged as extra?

Hope this makes sense

TiffanyW1014

I asked the same thing and I have gotten mixed messages. Most say not to log but others say its ok to log. My activity is set at the lowest possible but I only log the calories if I go over 5,000 steps /day. So it ends up only counting for like 100 calories if that. Hope this helps. Good luck!

Onesnap

For a pedometer (I used to work for a company that makes them) you need to walk 7,000 steps/day to be considered active (CDC rules, weight watchers says 10,000/steps day but that is not realistic).

To get 7,000 steps/day that is a 1/2 hour walk added to your day (or 10 minutes here, 10 minutes there). If you reach 7,000 from the time you get up to the time you go to bed log a 1/2 hour walk to your exercise on MFP).

You can message me for any pedometer questions you may have!

jrbb0309

This is from a 2004 issue of Sports Medicine but I've read the same thing in several other sources. When you get your pedometer, take a few days to do nothing but normal activity so you have a baseline for how many steps you're achieving each day. Then work on inceasing your steps buy 1000 for each week until you're achieving 10000 steps on a daily basis. If you find 10000 to be too much, work on taking your baseline number and adding 2000-3000 to that (the equivalent of adding 30 mins straight walking).

The doctor who wrote the article suggests the following:

Classification of pedometer-determined physical activity in healthy adults:
1) Under 5000 steps/day may be used as a "sedentary lifestyle index"
2) 5,000-7,499 steps/day is typical of daily activity excluding sports/exercise and might be considered "low active."
3) 7,500-9,999 likely includes some exercise or walking (and/or a job that requires more walking) and might be considered "somewhat active."
4) 10,000 steps/day indicates the point that should be used to classify individuals as "active".
5) Individuals who take more than 12,500 steps/day are likely to be classified as "highly active".

So I would say that for *each* 2000-3000 steps over 5000 you could add a 1/2 hour of walking as exercise to your actual exercise log.

TiffanyW1014

For a pedometer (I used to work for a company that makes them) you need to walk 7,000 steps/day to be considered active (CDC rules, weight watchers says 10,000/steps day but that is not realistic).

To get 7,000 steps/day that is a 1/2 hour walk added to your day (or 10 minutes here, 10 minutes there). If you reach 7,000 from the time you get up to the time you go to bed log a 1/2 hour walk to your exercise on MFP).

You can message me for any pedometer questions you may have!

How many calories est. for the 1/2 hour walk?? I did 7500 steps yesterday and my pedometer said 251 calories is that about right?? It also said 3.6 miles.

gcineas

bump

Onesnap

For a pedometer (I used to work for a company that makes them) you need to walk 7,000 steps/day to be considered active (CDC rules, weight watchers says 10,000/steps day but that is not realistic).

To get 7,000 steps/day that is a 1/2 hour walk added to your day (or 10 minutes here, 10 minutes there). If you reach 7,000 from the time you get up to the time you go to bed log a 1/2 hour walk to your exercise on MFP).

You can message me for any pedometer questions you may have!

How many calories est. for the 1/2 hour walk?? I did 7500 steps yesterday and my pedometer said 251 calories is that about right?? It also said 3.6 miles.

MFP has the calories built in for walks. Just select it from the menu and put in the 30 minutes. It's synced up with you that way. I would not go with the calories the pedometer says but rather the ones in MFP. It should be pretty close though because it's based on your current weight, height etc. I would go with MFP only because it knows your current weight better than the pedometer!

Onesnap

oh, and remember--you're ONLY logging a 1/2 hour walk if you do 7,000. This is because 7,000 in a day means you added a 1/2 hour extra to your standard walking around the office, from the car etc.

You're not logging the total calories for the 7,000 steps but rather the 1/2 hour walk total (achieved by also doing shorter walks here and there). Don't pay attention to the calories in the pedometer, just use MFP for logging that 1/2 hour walk.

bentobee

For a pedometer (I used to work for a company that makes them) you need to walk 7,000 steps/day to be considered active (CDC rules, weight watchers says 10,000/steps day but that is not realistic).

To get 7,000 steps/day that is a 1/2 hour walk added to your day (or 10 minutes here, 10 minutes there). If you reach 7,000 from the time you get up to the time you go to bed log a 1/2 hour walk to your exercise on MFP).

You can message me for any pedometer questions you may have!

How many calories est. for the 1/2 hour walk?? I did 7500 steps yesterday and my pedometer said 251 calories is that about right?? It also said 3.6 miles.

The problem with counting steps as exercise is that the pedometer doesn't know the difference between exercise-walking and just casual walking. You are not upping your fitness level by mosing around your kitchen or walking to the bathroom.
I'd count pedometer steps/calories ONLY if you are using it solely on fitness walks... not just wearing it all the time, all day long, for all the random steps you take throughout the day. Regular walking-as-you-live-your-day does not increase your heartrate and isn't really "exercise".

example: if you have been eating 1400 calories a day and not logging any exercise and losing "x" pounds per week and now are suddenly adding in your normal steps to give yourself 250 "exercise calories" and you start eating those calories...well, you are not doing yourself any favors there in terms of weightloss. Hope that makes sense.

irisannRN

Thank you everyone for the responses ! Great information !!!! Anyone have any good pedometer suggestions?

rileamoyer

bump

basilbrushthefirst

I've got an Omron Walking Style II Pedometer - seems very good. I've had a few over the years but this is the best I've had.

boyslie72487

bump

TiffanyW1014

For a pedometer (I used to work for a company that makes them) you need to walk 7,000 steps/day to be considered active (CDC rules, weight watchers says 10,000/steps day but that is not realistic).

To get 7,000 steps/day that is a 1/2 hour walk added to your day (or 10 minutes here, 10 minutes there). If you reach 7,000 from the time you get up to the time you go to bed log a 1/2 hour walk to your exercise on MFP).

You can message me for any pedometer questions you may have!

How many calories est. for the 1/2 hour walk?? I did 7500 steps yesterday and my pedometer said 251 calories is that about right?? It also said 3.6 miles.

The problem with counting steps as exercise is that the pedometer doesn't know the difference between exercise-walking and just casual walking. You are not upping your fitness level by mosing around your kitchen or walking to the bathroom.
I'd count pedometer steps/calories ONLY if you are using it solely on fitness walks... not just wearing it all the time, all day long, for all the random steps you take throughout the day. Regular walking-as-you-live-your-day does not increase your heartrate and isn't really "exercise".

example: if you have been eating 1400 calories a day and not logging any exercise and losing "x" pounds per week and now are suddenly adding in your normal steps to give yourself 250 "exercise calories" and you start eating those calories...well, you are not doing yourself any favors there in terms of weightloss. Hope that makes sense.

Yes that makes perfect sence so I will only log the 1/2 hour for 7,000 but I really don't reach 7,000/day so that would really be "extra". I'll just take the slowest rate also so that I don't hurt myself to much if it is wrong!! Thanks for all your help!!

TiffanyW1014

oh, and remember--you're ONLY logging a 1/2 hour walk if you do 7,000. This is because 7,000 in a day means you added a 1/2 hour extra to your standard walking around the office, from the car etc.

You're not logging the total calories for the 7,000 steps but rather the 1/2 hour walk total (achieved by also doing shorter walks here and there). Don't pay attention to the calories in the pedometer, just use MFP for logging that 1/2 hour walk.

Thanks I just looked and once I hit that 7,000 that would be an extra 103. So it is different than my pedometer. Thanks again for your help!

Onesnap

You're welcome!

jennmoore3

the one I have is at CVS... Life Fitness Active Step. It is about 35 bucks but I love it. It doesn't count any steps when you shake it, like some of the cheap ones do. some have said I walked 100 steps when I went 3 feet, those cheap ones.