Walking 10,000 steps

I got a Garmin 920XT for Christmas. It tracks steps, and tells me to move if I've been inactive for more than an hour.

But even with that, I struggle to get more than 4-5K steps in a day on non-running days. I don't have the option to NOT drive to work, I don't have the option to park farther away from the office (we have assigned parking spots, and if you like your car, you park in the parking lot), our office is quite small and one floor (one lap around the office is 250 steps...maybe - I do a lap every time I use the one bathroom in the office...but there's no way I could take a full 5 minute break every hour to do laps), leaving the office and going for a walk is NOT safe (and is impossible in the winter due to snowbanks and companies that don't clear their sidewalks), I work through my lunch 90% of the time (I eat at my desk, like I am now). As someone else mentioned, I set my baseline as sedentary for a reason.

But, the picture my lack of steps DOESN'T show is that I do intentional exercise 6-7 days a week, on average 75 minutes a day. I am a triathlete, so I swim, I bike, I run (and at least once a week put 2 or more of those 3 together for a brick workout)...I lift weights, and I do yoga. The only exercise that actually counts toward my steps is running. So although I do make an effort to increase my steps when I can, I don't really worry about it because I know I am active in other ways.

I work in a daycare so I easily get in 10,000 steps. On days I workout I achieve 10,000 steps before noon. (split shifts: go to work, gym, back to work.) I imagine if I had a more sedentary job at a desk it would be much more difficult.

Abby2205 wrote: »

pinkraynedropjacki wrote: »

Get up early go for a walk, walk everywhere. I get 30,000 a day 4 times a week & 40,000 3 times a week. Then once a month 100,000 in a day. I get up at 4am if I have to in order to get my goal before I start work at 7am..

What's your walking pace? It would take me more than 13 hours to get 100,000 steps (which you could be doing if you have the time, I'm just wondering).

Yes, interesting. Math doesn't work out for me either.
It takes me about 10 mins to walk a thousand steps (that's on the treadmill at about 2.8 mph - yes, I'm slow!), so about an hour for 6,000 steps. Therefore it would take me nearly 17 hours to walk 100,000 steps, assuming I could keep up the same pace.

I too get 2-3k steps a day if I don't make an effort to move. I live in a tiny apartment with 15 steps between the two furthest sides. I have to consciously make the effort to get A LOT of steps in to reach 10k, which I do at least 3 out of 7 days a week, last week I got 10k 5/7 days ☺️ either I go on a long walk for an hour and a half or I dance at home

rhaiin wrote: »

I use the Pacer app to track steps. It works fairly well, but sometimes it crashes and I gotta restart my phone for it to work again. On average, I usually walk 3000-5000 steps a day. Its not too bad for a semi-desk job, but I need to work on getting more steps in.

I tried Google Fit for a while and found that it just killed my battery life. I really hated to spend the cash for a Fitbit, as I think they're way overpriced, but I gave in and got one almost 2 weeks ago and it's already making a huge difference.

I bought mine at Costco with the idea that if I didn't think it was working for me, I could return it within 90 days. After a few days I knew I'd be keeping it.

ashlygraves wrote: »

I have 2 dogs also. I can't usually walk them both because one sucks on a leash lol. He's a little special but we love him.

Look into getting a prong collar. They look cruel but are actually very humane for dogs that pull hard. The force of their pull is evenly spread over 30 or so blunt prongs around their neck. It gets their attention, but doesn't hurt. It worked miracles for my lab when he was young.

The dogs will also benefit from your walking if you can manage to take them.

ashlygraves wrote: »

SexyKatherine73 wrote: »

I used to set the timer on my mobile phone for 10 minutes and walk out the door and just walk when the alarm went off I would go home (you will walk home a little faster) and bingo you just did a 20 min walk ... after a while add 1 min or 5 min more, and slowly add more time. I enjoy walking, it's easy and takes no effort.

each step is one step closer to your goal

Hmm this is a great idea!! I'm a stay at home mom so I might just make that part of our routine. Thanks!!

I'm a nanny, I take the kids to the park almost every day and since it's been nice we usually walk there. Which gets about 3000 steps just walking there and back. If we drive to the park, I tell the kids to go play for 10 mins while I walk around the play equipment. I am still super close to see them and help if necessary, but I also get a little bit of a walk in. Also, make it a rule that if you are outside with your kids, that you don't sit down. If you are standing you're more likely to walk around and the kids will love having you more active with them!

I walk the dog on the pathways around the neighbourhood. Beautiful view of the mountains and I get about 8500 steps or 6.5 km done in an hour.

I'm chained to a desk all day with no time to walk at lunchtime so in the evening we put the kids in the stroller and walk 2.5-3 miles which usually takes us well over the 10k. Also handy if my dinner was too big! I use a Fitbit Charge.

Here tis.... I finally got a step tracker and my grand total of steps yesterday was.. 2381.
How bloody depressing! That's my average day too. It has definitely spurred me on to do more!

I've made a lot of small changes that add up, in order to increase my step count. For example, if I have something for the recycle bin in the office (empty bottle or something), I used to take it and toss it in there on the way to the bathroom. Now I do everything in separate trips. I'll go to the bathroom, come back, then take it to the recycle bin.
Things like that...they really do add up.

Wii Walk It Out is a mindless way of getting more steps in. Your steps earn points. You build an island by using points to "buy" trees, bridges, buildings, music, etc.

SexyKatherine73 wrote: »

they don't count steps ... eg fitbit is on your arm so it's counting your arm movement, and not your feet.

This is WRONG. Fitbit counts steps, arm movement has nothing to do with it (although you can occasionally get a false step if you jerk your arm). I have had my Flex for a year now and test it regularly when I am walking with my phone if I am also running the Map my Walk app. Holding my arm still, I get my steps counted.

i have a fitbit and cant even manage 8k a day most days. i set alarms to get up from my desk and take walks around the office, but if i get busy (or am not wearing proper shoes) it gets skipped. I have no clue how people do it! Unless i am running that day i hardly ever meet my goal and its frustrating!

christinev297 wrote: »

I work from home, sometimes I don't leave the house for days
I've already walked up and down my street 5 times this morning

Woo-hoo!

Soon you will be walking around the block, walking to the grocery store, dancing around like a crazy person...maybe even going to the gym!