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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to think that many people over count their daily steps?

160 replies

SteppingMum · 25/09/2024 06:37

I have a very sedentary job. I’m at my desk pretty much 9-5 with an hour lunch break, then 45 minute drive there and back each morning.

I struggle to naturally get in 3,000 steps a day without purposely trying to. I can get up to maybe 8-9K if i go on a walk after dinner for an hour.

My colleague has a very similar lifestyle to me and often expresses her shock at how little I move and she easily accumulates 10-15k a day. She doesn’t go to the gym or have small children or a dog that needs walking (neither do I).

So yesterday i did an experiment. Let’s compare steps from the moment we clock in at 8.45 until we go for lunch at 12.30.

My step count was 484 and hers was something like just under 3K.

The difference? She wears her counter on her wrist whereas I wear mine on my bra strap (I have an old fashioned clip on pedometer that only starts counting after three consecutive steps).

She drinks countless cups of tea in the morning (not getting up and making it herself - delivered by colleagues to the desk), has more phone calls to answer and typing to do than I do, and in general talks with her hands a lot.

I think a lot of people who wear their step counters on their wrist are having their daily steps over counted.

I want to challenge people today to try and move their smart watch to their trouser pocket or fasten to their waistband somehow to see if my theory is correct!

So AIBU to think that people are being lied to by their step counters when worn on their wrists? I know that I tend to use my hands more than my feet and will be wearing a wrist strap with my counter today as an experiment. Can’t wait to clock in and get 3K steps without even moving from my desk!

Also this isn’t a request for advice about how to get more steps in. I know I can get a desk stepper exercise thing or walk at lunch etc. I know what I should be doing. I’m a healthy weight and otherwise seemingly in good health etc so not too motivated just now to increase fitness but I know what I can do to increase steps when I want to.

My slight irritation is with my colleague thinking she’s so much more active than I am just because she moves her hands more than I do. 😁

OP posts:
Almostneverunreasonable · 25/09/2024 06:54

My step count goal notification alarm went off the other day while lying on the sofa stroking the cat! YANBU.

WoahThreeAces · 25/09/2024 06:54

Maybe yours undercounts

fossilgap · 25/09/2024 06:53

Also steps are not exercise

ThinkingUpsideDown · 25/09/2024 06:52

I think your current sample is too small OP. It depends on the app used etc. They have varying degrees of accuracy. I log my steps on my phone so it only counts those where I have my phone on my person. I log as a minimum 20k daily and have for nearly a decade, but they don't include any steps I do around the house/office etc. so pretty sure I underestimate mine.

I do understand your point though. I noticed a big difference in running apps when I do the same route. It can be the difference between 9.4k and 10.2k. so I always use the one that's lowest as a marker to be sure and it's a sure.

Once you go over a certain threshold a couple of thousand steps here and there is nothing. Its better to track your changes in activity. Eg. Is your step count up or down this month?

2Old2Tango · 25/09/2024 06:51

I used to have this argument with my DH. He wore his on his wrist and, because of his job, and his hobby, he naturally had thousands of steps. Then he became ill and his mobility was severely affected. His only walking most days was getting out of bed and then a few trips to the bathroom or the kitchen. He was still notching up thousands of steps but he would be scrolling his phone or iPad all day so I can only assume it was movement of his wrist.

I think if you want to accurately count steps then you should wear something on your shoe/ankle/other body part.

WinterFrog · 25/09/2024 06:49

blackfushia · 25/09/2024 06:47

I have one of those rings that has a step count. I clock up a huge number of steps when I knit.

That's hilarious! Otherwise, do you find it helpful? Does it track your sleep, etc?

DancingPhantomsOnTheTerrace · 25/09/2024 06:48

Well I guess it will depend on what kind of device you're using - some will be more accurate than others I suppose. But when I spend the morning sitting at my desk, my apple watch doesn't give me any steps for it. Maybe if I vigorously shook my hand up and down, but not for normal movement. I'm sure it's not spot on, but I don't think it's recording thousands of steps when it should be just a few hundred.

Your colleague's tedious discussion around how she does more steps than you sounds like the issue.

WinterFrog · 25/09/2024 06:48

I stopped trusting those little clip on ones ,when it counted over 4000 steps when i pushed a wheelbarrow along a rutted track. It was counting the judders!

I use the map my walk app when I'm actually 'going for a walk' and that's been helpful for tracking distance and walking speed.

blackfushia · 25/09/2024 06:47

I have one of those rings that has a step count. I clock up a huge number of steps when I knit.

Anonym00se · 25/09/2024 06:42

Mine is on my wrist, but it doesn’t register steps when I sit and move my arms. My DD does a lot more than me when we walk together. She’s 6 inches shorter than me and has tiny legs. I’ve got a longer stride length than her.