steps per day

I am confused. How many steps are we supposed to do in a day??
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Replies

  • belgarath64
    belgarath64 Posts: 125 Member
    The usual accepted is 10,000 steps a day, but that is including just normal movement. Wearing a pedometer to record every step is the best way to go. Hope this helps.
  • PerkisPower
    PerkisPower Posts: 74 Member
    The usual accepted is 10,000 steps a day, but that is including just normal movement. Wearing a pedometer to record every step is the best way to go. Hope this helps.

    This is correct. It's actually a lot more moving than you would think but is a great goal to strive for.
  • CoachJen71
    CoachJen71 Posts: 1,200 Member
    Should that include or exclude exercise steps?
  • brianpperkins
    brianpperkins Posts: 6,124 Member
    10,000 is just a recommendation intended to increase the activity levels of an ever sedentary population. There is no magic to it and the science shows that 10,000 is not enough to account for significant weight loss on its own. As part of a larger exercise and reasonable food plan, it helps.
  • Of_Monsters_and_Meat
    Of_Monsters_and_Meat Posts: 1,022 Member
    My office building has 3 flights of stairs, my house has 12 steps total. I'm guessing I do about 50 - 90 steps a day.

    Were do you people get these 10,000 steps? The empire state building only has 1,576 steps.
  • kellienw335
    kellienw335 Posts: 1,745 Member
    The 10,000 does include exercise steps. For me personally that's a lot of steps, so my goal is 7,500. Everyone is different. Good luck!
  • LivingtheLeanDream
    LivingtheLeanDream Posts: 13,342 Member
    the general consensus is 10000, everyone is different - I aim for 17K
  • granturismo
    granturismo Posts: 232 Member
    My office building has 3 flights of stairs, my house has 12 steps total. I'm guessing I do about 50 - 90 steps a day.

    Were do you people get these 10,000 steps? The empire state building only has 1,576 steps.

    By placing one foot in front of the other at any pace, on an incline or the flat or a stairwell. It doesn't refer solely to stair steps.
  • pjcfrancis
    pjcfrancis Posts: 121 Member
    My office building has 3 flights of stairs, my house has 12 steps total. I'm guessing I do about 50 - 90 steps a day.

    Were do you people get these 10,000 steps? The empire state building only has 1,576 steps.

    We're not talking about stair steps. We're talking about walking. I aim for 12,000. That includes exercise, but my Fitbit doesn't count cycling. At the gym it counts the treadmill, but not much on the rowing machine and nothing on the weights. To estimate calories out, I need to use other methods.
  • brianpperkins
    brianpperkins Posts: 6,124 Member
    My office building has 3 flights of stairs, my house has 12 steps total. I'm guessing I do about 50 - 90 steps a day.

    Were do you people get these 10,000 steps? The empire state building only has 1,576 steps.

    Steps ... regular walking ... not flights of stairs.
  • chaithraalex
    chaithraalex Posts: 5 Member
    My office building has 3 flights of stairs, my house has 12 steps total. I'm guessing I do about 50 - 90 steps a day.

    Were do you people get these 10,000 steps? The empire state building only has 1,576 steps.

    They are not talking about Stairs. just normal day to day steps taken while walking.
  • chaithraalex
    chaithraalex Posts: 5 Member
    the general consensus is 10000, everyone is different - I aim for 17K

    How long does it take you to get 17k? How long do you intentional exercise walking/running? And how much of the 17k is your usual day to day intake?

    I'm managing to finally get over 10k but literally being on my feet all day and never stopping now but I'm struggling to get much more than 14k even when I do exercise.
  • Of_Monsters_and_Meat
    Of_Monsters_and_Meat Posts: 1,022 Member
    My office building has 3 flights of stairs, my house has 12 steps total. I'm guessing I do about 50 - 90 steps a day.

    Were do you people get these 10,000 steps? The empire state building only has 1,576 steps.

    By placing one foot in front of the other at any pace, on an incline or the flat or a stairwell. It doesn't refer solely to stair steps.

    well, now I am confused as OP.
  • xcalygrl
    xcalygrl Posts: 1,897 Member
    My office building has 3 flights of stairs, my house has 12 steps total. I'm guessing I do about 50 - 90 steps a day.

    Were do you people get these 10,000 steps? The empire state building only has 1,576 steps.

    It's steps as in just walking, not steps as in steps in a staircase.

    I aim to get 10k a day. I'm pretty good at hitting that number most days, but I don't fret if I only get 5k-7500 because I almost always get 13k or more on the weekends so it averages out.
  • mjohnson1twenty
    mjohnson1twenty Posts: 932 Member
    10,000 steps is the daily recommendation. i aim for 15k a day as exercise. this doesn't include my casual steps. good luck with your stepping~
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    10,000 steps is a ball park figure suggested for good health (like 8 cups of water a day). It is not a "one size fits all" but is a good goal to aim for. I aim for 10K on my non-workout days and 15K on workout days with Sunday being a day of rest. I typically get about 3K when I do no intentional exercise.
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    xcalygrl wrote: »

    I aim to get 10k a day. I'm pretty good at hitting that number most days, but I don't fret if I only get 5k-7500 because I almost always get 13k or more on the weekends so it averages out.

    I am more interested in my weekly step count too. 10k daily is my Fitbit goal but in reality I aim for 80k a week instead of the 70k "official" goal.

  • Lizzy622
    Lizzy622 Posts: 3,705 Member
    I average about 4,000 which is up from 2,000 but am hoping to get to the magical 10,000 soon. I only hit it about 2x.
  • rprussell2004
    rprussell2004 Posts: 870 Member
    Cripes. I can only get a couple hundred in on my stair stepper. Doesn't anyone have a life outside the exercise room here?
  • denielle715
    denielle715 Posts: 101 Member
    edited March 2015
    I love my FitBit for this exact reason!
    I used to/still do live a pretty sedentary life.
    My average steps per day is around 8k. But I'm striving for 10k daily. With a gradual increase over time.

    I started with 5k set.
    Now I'm at a 7,500 goal. (And achieving, so it'll be increased to 10k on Sunday)
  • Lizzy622
    Lizzy622 Posts: 3,705 Member
    Cripes. I can only get a couple hundred in on my stair stepper. Doesn't anyone have a life outside the exercise room here?
    Pedometer steps. I use Breeze from Runkeeper.

  • snowflake930
    snowflake930 Posts: 2,188 Member
    10,000 is just a recommendation intended to increase the activity levels of an ever sedentary population. There is no magic to it and the science shows that 10,000 is not enough to account for significant weight loss on its own. As part of a larger exercise and reasonable food plan, it helps.


    Well actually weight loss is 80% eating at a calorie deficit (some people say an even higher percent).

    I have had a fit bit for a little over 2 years. I struggled to get 10K at first. Now my daily goal is between 18K - 20K. Between the gym (70 minutes), and a walk (50 minutes) before work, I have almost 15K today already (10 am). I work in an office and am on maintenance. I am 63 years old. Was sedentary 3 years ago when I joined MFP and have lost over 1/2 of my present body weight. If I can do this, anyone with no medical issues can.
  • ShellyBell999
    ShellyBell999 Posts: 1,482 Member
    My office building has 3 flights of stairs, my house has 12 steps total. I'm guessing I do about 50 - 90 steps a day.

    Were do you people get these 10,000 steps? The empire state building only has 1,576 steps.


    29x4l4.jpg

    :wink:
  • Katiebear_81
    Katiebear_81 Posts: 719 Member
    I attempt to hit 10,000 every work day. Usually this means spending some time on the treadmill at night before bed (at least half an hour). I work a very sedentary office job, and I do go to the gym at lunch time. I commute via bus/transit, so I get a few steps in there, but yeah. Unless you walk to work or work on your feet, it's not easy! :) Doable, but not easy.
  • denielle715
    denielle715 Posts: 101 Member
    I started c25k and that's definitly helping with getting my steps in. on the days I don't do c25k, I've been walking in the mornings after taking my kids to school (we walk their since we live so close). Good for me, and the kids!
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    edited March 2015
    The 10,000 does include exercise steps. For me personally that's a lot of steps, so my goal is 7,500. Everyone is different. Good luck!

    This^

    Wearing a pedometer helps you estimate your activity level, that's not the same as exercise. Some people do track brisk walking as exercise, with a total goal of 10,000 steps.

    10,000 is a lot of steps. Most people start out with a number much smaller with a goal to improve their level of activity. FitBits (and other activity trackers) are great for pushing you to move more.

    I was shocked to see how few steps I took in a day, I had always assumed it was more.
  • str8bowbabe
    str8bowbabe Posts: 712 Member
    I strive for 10,000 steps a day but I make sure this includes my exercise activity. I usually easily hit 10,000 even with a desk job. Weekends are a little harder but I usually make it at least one day on the weekend. I just upgraded to fitbit charge hr.
  • tulips_and_tea
    tulips_and_tea Posts: 5,741 Member
    I love my FitBit for this exact reason!
    I used to/still do live a pretty sedentary life.
    My average steps per day is around 8k. But I'm striving for 10k daily. With a gradual increase over time.

    I started with 5k set.
    Now I'm at a 7,500 goal. (And achieving, so it'll be increased to 10k on Sunday)

    Nice progress!
  • tulips_and_tea
    tulips_and_tea Posts: 5,741 Member
    10,000 is just a recommendation intended to increase the activity levels of an ever sedentary population. There is no magic to it and the science shows that 10,000 is not enough to account for significant weight loss on its own. As part of a larger exercise and reasonable food plan, it helps.


    Well actually weight loss is 80% eating at a calorie deficit (some people say an even higher percent).

    I have had a fit bit for a little over 2 years. I struggled to get 10K at first. Now my daily goal is between 18K - 20K. Between the gym (70 minutes), and a walk (50 minutes) before work, I have almost 15K today already (10 am). I work in an office and am on maintenance. I am 63 years old. Was sedentary 3 years ago when I joined MFP and have lost over 1/2 of my present body weight. If I can do this, anyone with no medical issues can.

    Excellent! Good for you. Just being more active and walking as much as possible is one of the best things you can do for your health.
  • ErikThaRed
    ErikThaRed Posts: 139 Member
    edited March 2015
    I have an UP24 to count my steps. My goal every day is 7500, but thats mainly because I work a desk job and its hard to get away to get the steps in. I do go for walks everyday on my lunch break and that usually helps me get in my steps, but I have only ever gone over 10,000 a few times. I've been looking at getting a better fitness band, this is starting to fall apart after only 3.5 months. Looking at getting the Samsung Gear S. More of a smart watch, but includes a pedometer, heart rate monitor and estimated calories burned, among other cool things.