Any 10,000 Steps (Daily) Success stories?

This is from last week:


63,794 steps which is just over 9000 steps daily, 98 floors climbed, 26.44 miles traveled. Love the Fitbit.

When I first began MFP, my daily steps were around 5K (I work a 9-5 desk job). I was completely disheartened when I realized that I was only halfway towards the "healthy norm" of 10k steps a day. However, after making several small changes in my daily routine, I've upped my average daily steps to 11-12k without too much effort. Here are a few tips that worked for me:

1) I take the train to work. There's a stop 2 blocks from my office, but I now get off at the stop before about 3/4 mile from my office and walk. If you drive into work, just park as far from your office entrance as possible.

2) Talk a short walk after lunch. I take a half hour walk, but even 10-15 minutes would give an extra 1-2k steps.

3) In line with #1, always park far away from restaurants, stores, etc when you're out. It may only a few hundred steps, but it's something.

You could also take a short walk after dinner, walk your dog if you have one for 10-15 minutes in the evening. It all adds up and makes 10,000 steps achievable for those of us who work desk jobs.

Hope this helps for those of you that find it difficult to reach 10k!

Also, a co-worker and I looked it up and I think 10K steps is about a 5 mile walk. Is that consensus?

Sorry this is long. Hope it helps someone else in similar shoes.

So I read about the 10K steps a day idea and thought well at least I can walk (sort of).

I got my fitbit from Amazon and man was I crushed when I put it on and after 1 week I was barely getting 2500 steps a day! 3500 was a good day. This was seriously bad news….10k seems like a triathlon from that starting point.:sad:

This is what I did to get to 10k steps a day.

- Starting Point: No activity, closer to 300lbs than not, and very, very little muscle strength in ankles, hips and knees.

- Figured out I needed to break it up into proverbial baby steps (screw the heart rate thing, I just needed to get my legs to swish back and forth 10,000 steps a day and there was no way I could mentally or physically sustain a huge chunk of walking. I would rather stab myself in the eye.

1. The Math: 10,000 steps – 2500 steps = 7500 steps to get done.

2. I noticed that on average it was minute for a 100 steps (like I needed to walk 75 minutes) - (math is 'ishy')

3. If I walked 10 minutes in the morning = 65 minutes left
4. If I walked 1x 15 minute break = 50 minutes left
5. If ate my lunch at my desk before my 'official lunch' break I could drive home and walk the treadmill 20 minutes, touch up my hair/makeup brush my teeth and be back at work on time. (-20 more minutes down) = 30 minutes left
6. If I walked the second break (-15 minutes) = 15 minutes left
7. In the beginning (first 2 weeks) If I was dying from the pain both mentally and physically I would use my recumbent bike 15 minutes (at level 2) and consider it done
8. Or I would dig super deep and walk the last 15 minutes

So here is the good part if I got more daily steps in I could eliminate that ‘end of the day’ 15 minutes or rest on one of my breaks.

Some tricks I do. Note: Don’t judge... if..well..some seem, “bad employee-esque” --I have given my everything to my company, gotten treated like *kitten* and my health has paid the ultimate price.

Tips to get more steps:

1. Park farther away – this is like against everything I have ever known and felt soooo ridiculous and I know everyone saw this at work and thought: OMG she’s not parked ‘in the doorway!’ I am known for front row parking...
2. Since you can generally go to the bathroom whenever the need calls: drink a crap ton of water and then you will have to go wee-wee. So now walk to the opposite side of the office to use the bathroom drill into your head "Breaks for walking not wee time" wee on company time.
3. Print to the printer that is farthest away from your desk. And print lots more! Find stuff to print (sorry I know this is bad bad. :embarassed: But I am desperate. Don’t judge).
4. Walk over to visit folks and converse about work in person vs. instant messaging, calling or emailing.

I am on 32 days straight & down ~ 15lbs.:happy:

I bought one of those gadjics and hit 10,000 steps and got blisters on my heels....lol....

I average about 38,000 a day. I think I have got to the point where going to the gym effect my calories more than the walking.

Got my FitBit in May, I aim for a daily walk (5K, that's about 6,000 steps) every morning - a brisk walk, mind you. I am not a runner (I may become one, you never know) - the rest seems to come from daily life. I park in the furthest spot in the parking lot at work, grocery store and the mall. At work, if I need to ask someone a question, I would walk to their desk, not call them. On a really hot week I average 12-13K a day. On cooler weeks it's usually around 16-17K, I tend to do rounds around the playground while my kids play with their friends or ride their bikes.

Keep on stepping ... every single one gets you closer to your goal.

I have 2,903,014 total lifetime steps since getting my fitbit 1 year ago. I aim for 10,000 daily. I have days where I can hit upwards of 20,000 and lazy days where I might get less than 5,000. But it makes me aware and pushes myself to meet my goals. Anyone on the fence about getting one, definitely should!

I got the Fitbit Flex four days ago and was pleasantly surprised to hit 10,000 the first day before I knew how to log in and check the progress. I saw the email they send and was very happy!!! I have a sedentary job and looking at my stats, I have to consciously walk one hour to one hour fifteen to reach 10,000 steps.

I like the bracelet because I know I would wash the other kind as folks have said. It reminds me to walk while talking on the phone, standing at bus stop with kids, etc.

I have loved reading all the sucess stories! Thanks to all who have shared!

For those considering purchasing a pedometer, there is a huge difference in quality. I had one in the past that would count the smallest jiggle as a step. Do a little reseach and find the best one for you!

My average for this week is 12,290. I do cardio on the treadmill 5 times a week and walk a lot at work.
Keep up the good work everyone!