steps - what is acceptable?

[mailfuckoff]

So last Jan I knew I had to lose weight and get fit. I started measuring my steps and weighibg myself. I lost nearly a stone but put some back on over the holidays so started back on low carb eating. Steps wise I have gone from a 3k average per day to a 5k average per day.
I'm bored of eating well and need a kick up the arse! How can I restart the good progress I was making and up my steps easily?

[Hercy]

Get a dog! Walk instead of drive where possible, get off train/bus a few stops earlier, lunchtime walk at work etc.

I think NHS guidelines say you should be aiming for 10k steps per day, regardless of whether you're trying to lose weight.

[mailfuckoff]

Dog not an option! I drive to work but do park as far away from door as possible. I am walking at lunchtime. I would love to manage 10k a day but at the moment only manage that when out for the day so walking all the time. I have a sit down in office job.

[mailfuckoff]

Thanks, so it is just a case of finding opportunities for extra steps?

[Badgerlady]

How do you get to work- could you walk? Get off a stop/station earlier and walk the last 20 mins or park further away and walk in?

[mailfuckoff]

I work a 40 min drive away, we have allocated parking for the office so have to use it. I'm not sure what else I can do other than park in the car corner of the car park

[Wishimaywishimight]

I manage 10,000 a day fairly easily - 10 minute walk to the bus in the morning then about 8 mins from bus to office, same home in the evening. Plus 20/25 mins walking at lunchtime and another 25 mins in the evenings.

[BIWI]

Weight loss is more about your diet than exercise. What are you eating these days?

[mailfuckoff]

I'm a low carbing pescitaeian. I calorie count and aim about 1000 calories a day

[Badgerlady]

That's very low calories- why that amount?

If you really want to increase daily activity then don't park in the office car park. Park 20 mins walk away and walk in. (Or 40 mins drive could be a manageable cycle commute depending on area / roads / distance).

[mailfuckoff]

The only place to park 20 mins away would be a pedestrian street or the motorway. It's a massive head office with 400 people in the outskirts of town. Can't cycle because of my heart complaint. I've looked into it but test runs mean that I just can't manage that distance.

[mailfuckoff]

It's low calories as losing weight equals less calories plus more exercise. As I have trouble with the exercise the low calories is my best bet.

[BIWI]

It's not, actually, mailfuckoff. If you're low carbing, then you really shouldn't need to be low calorie.

[ricepolo]

Don't go too low though or you'll screw your metabolism.

March on the spot. You can do that at home in the evening. And just don't sit down when you're at home: walk around, tidy up, clean etc.

[Mrstumbletap]

Do a youtube fitness workout in the evening, dance around to the radio whilst cooking, run up and down the stairs. Always take stairs instead of the lift. Go for a quick walk around the block after dinner (feels good and also increases steps). Try and do 20,000 at the weekend if you are quite low in steps in the week.

[NSEA]

Why are you only ealking for exercise. Can you get a cheap exercise dvd and do at home or look at alternative exercise?

[mailfuckoff]

Hi some great ideas here. Exercise dvds are difficult as if I raise my heartbeat too much I get very ill and may be collapse. I used to be able to exercise but now my heart is screwed in really limited which I hate. I ate really badly in my teenage years and early twenties (one small meal a day territory) so I think my metabolism is screwed anyway. I tend to be very restrictive or eat loads which is why I thought steps would be a sensible way forward. I still monitor it obssessively on a spreadsheet to work out step averages and get cross if not an improvement month on month.

[revolution909]

No amount of steps will make you lose weight unless you raise your heart beat. Simple as that. The 10k steps is just for general cardiovascular health

[FlightyMare]

Is that true revolution? Surely exercise is still beneficial without raising your heart rate? I love walking - I do about 15,000 steps on an average day, but I also include several high intensity exercise classes a week too, so my heart rate is definitely raised during those. Just wondering where you've got that info from as I always understood walking to be effective for improving health and helping towards weight loss?

[revolution909]

here's a brief explanation: www.livestrong.com/article/246237-how-fast-do-you-need-to-walk-to-lose-weight/

www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-33154510


I'm a runner, and even running around 35mi a week at a decent pace helps me maintain my weight (plus strength training around 12 hrs total a week) but, to be able to lose weight I have to be on a diet too. Plenty of runners haven't been able to shift the pounds because exercise alone doesn't do much.

[buggerthebotox]

I try to walk 10k steps a day, at a brisk pace. However I always stick to 1200 cals per day as I won't lose weight just walking.

Good for cardiovascular health, and helps create a calorie deficit, but you can't outrun or outwalk your diet unless you're doing absolutely shedloads.

[revolution909]

buggerthebotox you're absolutely right! It is possible to lose weight on exercise alone, but it's VERY time consuming plus exercise makes you hungry, so it still feels like a diet IMO.

[Gorgosparta]

I work in an office and just move rpund as much as possible. Dont email when i can walk over and speak to someone etc. Then go for a 20 min walk on lunch.

I always offer to make coffee or nip to the reception to let someone in, if needs be.

I also have to drive to work. But manage 10-11k a day. I have samsung gear s3. That buzzes if i dont get up for an hour. It does help.