elliptcal vs walking?

During breaks could you walk around the building, up and down stairs? Fit a 15 minute walk in your lunch break? Also I second a pedometer to track your steps.
Also parking your car slightly further away meaning you have to walk to and from it?xx

I love this thread! Thanks so much everyone, for putting what may seem obvious to some, into perspective for others (ME). I have a fitbit and get so frustrated at the end of the day when I realize I only logged 3000 steps.

I will now try walking for 5 minutes several times a day! I work from home and my office is in my lower level. I tend to go down stairs to my office in the morning, and not come back until its time to make dinner.

Thank you for the reminder that these little breaks will help me. I also have an elliptical and try to do that 3 x a week, but for some reason, it doesn't seem to register on my fitbit.
I do use the arms so I don't understand why. Any ideas?

Thanks again!!

10K steps equates to about 5 miles for most people. At a solid, but not super hard, pace, that will take about 90 minutes. If you get a pedometer (many models sync with your smart phone), you can track daily steps all day. There are ways to add steps here and there that can add up:
- Park further from the door and walk in (I am in the furthest parking spot from the door, which is nearly 125 yards each way).
- Take regular breaks (set an alarm for 45 minutes), walk to the restroom or coffee room, but take a round about way (bonus, you meet and talk to people from work you wouldn’t normally run into).
- Walk some during lunch (not too fast to work up a sweat, but enough to loosen up and feel refreshed).
- Ask for a set of wireless headphones, and walk around your office/cube while taking calls.
- Use the stairs instead of the elevator.

On a good day, I could get half of my 10K steps in during work, leaving a simple 45 minute session in the evening. The elliptical is fine, but it isn’t taxing the same muscles and you aren’t supporting your bodyweight in the same functional way you are while walking. And, I’ve always found a good walk, evening in the evening, much more enjoyable than a session on an elliptical.

I've done just over 10k steps today and my Fitbit says I've done 4.46 miles. I did spinning which was about 3500 steps, and the rest is just walking round at home, and I went into town with my family, just wandered about a bit. It's quite easy to get 10k steps really. If I stay at home (very rare) I do over 3k steps just running about doing housework, looking after my kids etc.

I'm on maternity leave now so it's easy for me to walk lots, I average about 12k steps, but some days do 18k, and I'll do more in the Summer. I go back to work soon and I'm a teacher so I'm curious to find out how many steps I'll do as I rarely sit down.

I use the elliptical at the gym often. I have a fit bit. I work long hours in an office and have a long commute. I find the time. I get up early and go to the gym. When I use the elliptical (60 minutes + 5 minute cool down) I get approximately 6500 steps according to the machine. My fit bit does not pick up all the steps, so I pretty much trust the machine. I have actually counted the steps while on the elliptical, and it is pretty much spot on, of course it depends on how fast you actually step. I do love my fit bit, in spite of it being inaccurate. It is a great motivator to get me to move more. I have been getting between 18,000-25,000 steps daily for over a year now and have had my fit bit 2 years. I was doing no exercise at all when I began MFP 3/12/12.

You can do this! If I can do this (age 63) anyone can!

Hello sallyn04,

Last Nov. I weighed 169 pounds and my janitor asked me in front of my eldest son, how much longer I was planning to hide my pregnancy. To say the least, I was not pregnant and devastated. ATM, I decided it was time for a change. I began using the elliptical for 30 mins a day and worked up to double sessions, a full hour. By May, I weighed 125 and most people could not stop acknowledging my change. I enjoy the treadmill or walking with my husband but for me the elliptical is my new BFF. LOL. Also, I agree with X073201, the VivoFit arm band is a huge resource to me. I bought mine in October and I absolutely love it. As a teacher it tracks how much walking I do throughout the day and I have just now synched it with this app. With a 30 minute elliptical sessions and teaching, by 10 a.m. I have reached my goal and it automatically sets mine pretty high. Best of luck to you!

Just a thought, but I would think calorie burn would also be related to the amount of resistance you add on the elliptical. I am anywhere from a level 4 to 6 usually

jsimms435 wrote: »

Just a thought, but I would think calorie burn would also be related to the amount of resistance you add on the elliptical. I am anywhere from a level 4 to 6 usually

When I use the elliptical at the gym I put it on the hill programme.

I also do intervals on it in PT sessions, he puts the level up really high and I have to go as fast as I can for about 30 seconds, slow down, then repeat.

Sallyn04-keep moving forward and you'll get to where you want to be. Everyone has their own pace and I think its important to remember to just move.
Dallas-Queen-sorry for the insensitive janitor but what a progress you made!! You made me think of my elliptical in a different light, now, Thank you.

I use the elliptical more often because I have a bad knee, and it's not as hard on my knee as the treadmill. When I do use the treadmill, I have to go at a slower pace because of my knee, so in 30 minutes, I get about 3500-4000 steps. On the elliptical, I can get up to 5000 steps in 30 minutes.
I agree with what's been suggested...just make small changes that add up. Park further away from the door, take the stairs instead of the elevator, walk in place at your desk, etc.

pyrowill wrote: »

If you have time for the eliptical surely you have time for walking? Real life.....less excuses please.

When she gets home it's probably dark out! I know when I get home it is!