anyone find success with 10k steps a day?

katiev111
katiev111 Posts: 19 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Just curious :) I'm really not a gym person but I love to go walking and hiking since I live in the mountains so I'm just wondering if anyone has found success with walking 10k+ steps a day :)
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Replies

  • viren19890
    viren19890 Posts: 778 Member
    Only one time I was able to achieve 8k steps - I forced myself to do it because I ate an extra slice of pizza. Otherwise I'm happy with anywhere close to 4k a day.

    I lift and do other exercises that's why I'm not to concerned with it.
  • kgirlhart
    kgirlhart Posts: 5,165 Member
    I walk for exercise. I usually go about 3-4 miles so in addition to my regular steps that usually puts me from 10000-13000 a day. So far I have lost 38 pounds. Your diet is what is most important for losing weight. If you are not eating at a deficit it won't matter how many steps you take. But if you are eating at a deficit then the walking will certainly help.
  • jaynee7283
    jaynee7283 Posts: 160 Member
    I generally try to get out and walk 1-2 hours 3-4x/week. I usually go at least 3.2 miles, which is just over 6000 steps. But a good portion of the time I go 5 miles, which is about 10K steps. I much prefer it to the gym, although once summer hits I'll be hitting the gym more often because it is WAY TOO humid where I live.

    I have successfully lost 19 pounds thus far, since early January. My only exercise is walking. The longest distance I've walked in one activity is 9 miles - hoping to go 10 this weekend!
  • katiev111
    katiev111 Posts: 19 Member
    kgirlhart wrote: »
    I walk for exercise. I usually go about 3-4 miles so in addition to my regular steps that usually puts me from 10000-13000 a day. So far I have lost 38 pounds. Your diet is what is most important for losing weight. If you are not eating at a deficit it won't matter how many steps you take. But if you are eating at a deficit then the walking will certainly help.

    Good to know :) I definitely eat at a deficit :) I just can't sit inside a gym....I need to go outside !!
  • chrisso802016
    chrisso802016 Posts: 26 Member
    Hard to say for me, because I'm really just getting started. I'm sticking to my calorie goals, and getting more exercise than ever, so I am seeing drastic changes in everything for me.

    The 10k mark though is not at all a goal. My fitbit goes crazy when I hit it, and have been doing so more lately. When it does, I sure do get a good mental buzz from it.

    So outside of encouragement, I think it's helping me lose.

    Just trying to ignore those "Exercise Calories"........
  • katiev111
    katiev111 Posts: 19 Member
    Yay Jayne !!
  • kgirlhart
    kgirlhart Posts: 5,165 Member
    I walk outside with my dog at a park near my home. I love it. I don't live near the mountains, but the park is pretty hilly and part of the track has stairs so I get a lot of up and down. It is a lot more fun for me than the gym. I just don't think I could stick with a treadmill.
  • MommyL2015
    MommyL2015 Posts: 1,411 Member
    I walk for my exercise on my treadmill, but my main source of success is making sure I do not eat too much. Today, basically I walk more to eat more and get a slight bump up in a deficit. Days that I have the time to walk, I walk anywhere from 3 to 6 miles. I do try and get 10K steps a day, but for what I do for work, that can be hard to do.
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  • brb_2013
    brb_2013 Posts: 1,197 Member
    My steps are usually just a result of living my life, not exercise. So my doctor advised me not to think of 10k steps of daily activities as "exercise", so I personally think unless your steps include at least 30 total minutes of a nicely elevated heart rate you'll perhaps see slow results. That's been my experience. I'm starting 3-4 days of actual exercise per week now and seeing if that helps move things along.
  • Projectjustme
    Projectjustme Posts: 47 Member
    I wear a Fitbit and try to hit a minimum of 10k steps a day-normally average between 11-15k. I have lost 29 pounds since January but, as with posters above, it's the deficit that counts-the steps allow me to eat a bit more and I also find walking has helping me reduce stress (a lot) so I don't emotionally eat like I used to
  • dolfnlvr21
    dolfnlvr21 Posts: 1 Member
    I think it helps if you have a lot of weight to lose and you were sedentary. I have a desk job so hitting 10K at first was difficult. Now i've found it pretty easy to make it and strive for 15 most day and 20K if I'm feeling especially motivated. I get my steps from walking around the neighborhood and using an elliptical. I've lose 22 lbs since February.

    With that being said - I've also been careful with what I eat and make sure I am at a deficit and with exercise calories I'm usually 500+ deficit each day.

    Fitbit is set to 1.5lbs loss each week, MFP is set the same with activity level of sedentary so all my "work" in fitbit counts.
  • scolaris
    scolaris Posts: 2,145 Member
    edited May 2016
    I have to go longer to lose. 100k a week is about average. Stress relief + deficit enhancement.
  • pebble4321
    pebble4321 Posts: 1,132 Member
    This really depends on your definition of "success".
    Walking is great, it's good for your general health, bone density, and often good for mental health too.
    If you mean "will it help me lose weight?" - well, the answer to that really lies in the balance of calories in and out. If you have a moderate calorie deficit from food and exercise, there's no reason why you won't lose weight.
  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    scolaris wrote: »
    Today I walked 53289 steps (22 miles).... shocking! I did it for my 53rd birthday. I may not be ABLE to walk tomorrow LOL

    Holy crap, well done!!! How long did it take you?

  • middlehaitch
    middlehaitch Posts: 8,486 Member
    @scolaris happy birthday.
    <3, h.

    Personally I prefer a bottle of bubbles, but well done on your walk.
  • trjjoy
    trjjoy Posts: 666 Member
    kgirlhart wrote: »
    I walk for exercise. I usually go about 3-4 miles so in addition to my regular steps that usually puts me from 10000-13000 a day. So far I have lost 38 pounds. Your diet is what is most important for losing weight. If you are not eating at a deficit it won't matter how many steps you take. But if you are eating at a deficit then the walking will certainly help.

    Not true. Any deficit is important for weight loss. I have lost weight without even trying when I increased my physical activities.
  • scolaris
    scolaris Posts: 2,145 Member
    That's coming haitch... Hahaha

  • aflies
    aflies Posts: 78 Member
    I walk daily for my exercise. I average a little less thank 10k a day right now, but my goal is to be 10k a day before summer. So I say, YES, walking can lead to success.
  • DanaDark
    DanaDark Posts: 2,187 Member
    I got myself a fitbit and compete with friends lot for the 7 day running total, work week challenge and weekend challenge. Simply having it has made me more active throughout the day and stick to moving around.

    In addition to burning more calories through the day, I get a good amount of peace of mind as I like to make daily strolls through nice trails.

    Since starting (and in addition to reduced eating) I have lost roughly 18 pounds since January. I had done the math a while ago and found about 1/3 of that has been from extra walking.
  • scolaris
    scolaris Posts: 2,145 Member
    @Christine_72 it took me all day! I didn't run any timekeeper on my phone because I knew it would chew up the battery. And we took our time stopping for food, etc. At the end of the day Fitbit said 514 active minutes which is about 8.5 hours. We started in SF at Chrissy field, went up thru Russian Hill & Pacific Heights, crossed the GG bridge on foot, went on into Sausalito by trail, caught the ferry back & walked along the waterfront. I was 3k short when we left the city. I finished up at home after dinner. It was fun but I couldn't do it everyday. hahaha
  • Colorscheme
    Colorscheme Posts: 1,179 Member
    I take 10-12k steps a day. My highest was 25k steps. My legs felt like jello when I did that amount, though.
  • mrsloganlife
    mrsloganlife Posts: 158 Member
    scolaris wrote: »
    Today I walked 53289 steps (22 miles).... shocking! I did it for my 53rd birthday. I may not be ABLE to walk tomorrow LOL

    OK I walked over 22,000 steps one day and I was exhausted for the next 36 hours. 53k steps someone would have had to send out a search party for me because my legs would have stopped working lol. Amazing accomplishment! I also have the exact same Fitbit, color and all :)

    To the OP, I take on average 7k steps a day. I actually adjusted my Fitbit step goals to help keep me motivated. I started at 5k and once I can meet it for 14 days consistently (weekends and day trips for business are tough) I up the goal. I view 10k as a special accomplishment, but nothing that will break my motivation if I don't hit it. Being active has helped me lose over 26 pounds so far...just need to get back into running 3-4 times a week because when I was doing that the weight was sliding off!
  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    31,000 is my record, and I did it just once last year. I must have been on some sort of caffeine high that day! :lol:
  • shadowfax_c11
    shadowfax_c11 Posts: 1,942 Member
    I get 14-18k most days which is the bulk of my exercise. I use Fitbit to track my steps and calories burned.

    Works for me.
  • Sonyavdg
    Sonyavdg Posts: 17 Member
    I find that the extra calories I get from doing 10,000 - 13,000 steps a day makes a big difference to how satisfied I can feel while maintaining a deficit. For me it is the difference between about 1200 and 1600 calories which makes a huge difference to satiety
  • andysport1
    andysport1 Posts: 592 Member
    Hi, walking 10,000 steps for an overweight person will help but you won't really see much change, however if whilst out walking you think 1 x 100 cal biscuit equals 1 mile and gradually do a deal with yourself that for every 100 cals over yesterday you'll walk those off after the original 10k you'll soon stop indulging. We started walking an hour after dinner either half hour or to make up to 10k whichever was the longest, it stopped us snacking, gave us more motivation to lose and gave us time to chat.
  • scolaris
    scolaris Posts: 2,145 Member
    I did drive to my neighborhood school for subbing today I'm ashamed to admit! LOL But I feel pretty good overall. My previous high number was 36k or so, but on a rugged hike day. This was pretty easy on the feet. My husband said it felt kind of like he felt post marathons.
    Getting back to the OP: I think of walking as my main workout. It's the thing I do day in and day out without needing to change clothes completely or shower after that boosts my TDEE and allows me to lose weight more easily than if I just sat on the couch reading novels. I also get a mental boost that helps with anxiety and focus issues which can derail any diet plan if left unchecked. But human machines were designed for several kinds of work and to completely overhaul your fitness you will want to add a few other items to your routine. We are designed to go fast in short bursts. I use Zumba, take some quick wind sprints or just time myself climbing hills for this. We are also designed to lift heavy things and I lift free weights and take a yoga class for that. Walking for me has been the 'gateway drug' to a more full blown fitness habit, if you will. Hahaha
  • snowflake930
    snowflake930 Posts: 2,188 Member
    edited May 2016
    I have had a fitbit for over 3 years.
    My New Year's resolution for 2014 was to get 20K every day. Accomplished, and have averaged 20K ever since. Highest I have gotten was a 32k three times. Scolaris, kudos to you getting 53K, I know what it would take to do that. I am 64 so I probably will never see that many steps in one day.

    OP losing weight is about eating less calories than you burn. Walking is great exercise and good for your health, but unless you are eating at a calorie deficit you won't lose weight. Walking/hiking up and down mountain trails is burning more calories though. I live in country and it is very hilly. I go for walks in our woods on the trails up and down the hills. An hour walk gives me the equivalent of 33 staircases, so I imagine you would burn more calories.

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