Do you do 10,000 steps a day?

[Fantina]

As the thread says. I’ve been trying to do this and I have massively upped my activity levels this year but I’m finding it so hard to find the time to do this many walks.

I am a single parent who works full time in a sedentary job but even by making all the changes I can, such as going for a walk during their extracurricular activities instead of watching them, I’m not often hitting 10,000 steps.

do you manage it? If so, how?!

I manage it most days. For the days I'm working I park at a free car park a mile or so away, so thats 5000 each way.
It's harder when I work at home I try to go for a short walk before I start and then take the dog out during the day, but those days unless I make a real effort I'm at about 7000-8000.

Yes.

Hmm. A lot of this depends on your device. DH has a Fitbit and it seems to measure EVERYTHING, inc typing (!!?) so he always does his 10.000 even if he hardly leaves home. I have a different step count watch and it takes me at least an hour to get to 10.000, and way more if I’m holding a dog lead/carrying shopping etc etc. Mine under counts, his over counts. Mine does count way more if I walk slowly, which is interesting.

More when weather improves, but at the mo it’s 5,000 😜

Isn’t a mile about 2,100 steps so not 5000 each way?

I've started in the last two weeks. I walk around the park at work in my lunch. If wfh I go for a walk around where I live. I just go for walks until I hit them. I was inspired when we went to an raf museum and I realised I'd done 10000 just walking about so now I make sure I do them and I feel really good for it. And I've lost 3lb this week!

My friend at work shakes her wrists to get her step count up!

No where near on work days, I teach so on my feet all day but not physically doing steps. Leave early, get back late, two small children. I find it a real struggle. Non work days are much easier.

I got a Fitbit for Christmas to help
motivate me to be more active and lose weight. I was surprised to discover I average 13.5k steps a day.

I used to do a lot of ‘formal’ exercise before kids - gym, swimming, running, yoga. It’s been reassuring that I am getting more exercise than I realised as I don’t have time for classes anymore.

I’m a SAHM so it’s all from running round after the kids, walking to/from school, taking youngest to the park/activities. I also can’t sit still at home, there always seems to be something that needs cleaning or tidying.

I’ve found the Fitbit app really good for making me think more about my whole lifestyle, particularly bad sleep habits. I think my main problem is not getting enough sleep then eating too many unhealthy snacks to keep my energy levels up.

Also it measures the amount of ‘moderate activity’ you do each week, the recommendation being 150 minutes (~20mins/day or larger blocks over fewer days). This is a much more manageable target if you have limited time outside work, and has proven health benefits, unlike as others have mentioned the 10000 steps target.

You could try and fit in a short, fast walk in your lunch break, a YouTube workout in the morning before work or after your child is in bed, or do some activities with your child at the weekend eg swimming, cycling, trampoline park. It will all add up and any increase in activity will be good for you.

I've only read OPs update, but has anyone mentioned NEAT exercise?

In a nutshell... Be a busy person. When you think "oh I should sweep the bits in the kitchen/ fold the washing/take these cups into the kitchen" go and do it. Be that person who never sits still.

I did it for a bit but I'm naturally a lazy bastard, it works to get your steps up.

No idea how many steps but I run most days, do 2/3 dog walks and play sport a few times a week so I’d guess a lot more than 10000. I eat a lot more than 5 portions of fruit/veg too.

I do manage that and more but to be fair I don't work full time. I do avoid using the car as much as possible though, I walk everywhere that I can. On work days I do a walking workout on YouTube in the evening. That will always get me past 10k. There are tons to choose from. Dancing in the kitchen and skipping is also good!

To add, in the summer we always walk after dinner, we are lucky to have countryside on our doorstep and I don't find it a chore at all. It's lovely.

Some great ideas thanks, especially short bursts, can hopefully manage more of this once the kids have gone to bed !

Always. I walk the dogs. Walk to station and back for work. And run.

I did an average of 17,137 a day last week.

My job is extremely sedentary though.

Yes, more than 10,000 a day. But I do not own a car and I walk everywhere.

Yes, it’s a funny mindset to have because often people think they should do exercise then they might do 30 mins every other day but then be sedentary the other times

in terms of weight management, I think the most effective is:

1. diet
2. day to day activity (ie steps, bejng generally active)
3. lifting weights

This week so far. It's an average week for me. I've been at home all day today doing not a lot. Tomorrow I'll do a few miles. I don't drive so I have to walk everywhere.

I average around 15,000 - also a single parent with a full-time sedentary job. I think not driving helps. If I'm wfh, I get about 4000 for school and back in the morning, and another 4000 for childminder and back in the evening. Maybe 1000 from running around before work doing housework etc. Another 2000 if I nip to aldi at lunchtime. As often as possible I'll go for a run on wfh days.

My office is huge and my commute has a substantial walk either side of the tube journey, so even if I don't make it outside at lunchtime, I get lots in.

I'm a very fidgety person though which helps.

Mine are tracked by garmin - I don't think it overestimates. If I'm carrying too many bags or a child, it often automatically decides I'm on an elliptical and doesn't include those steps at all and it often seems to underestimate if I've been holding hands with a small child whilst walking too. So even if it occasionally thinks my toothbrushing is me walking, I think it's probably outweighed by all the high-intensity steps which get totally disregarded!

I average just over 17000 steps per day. I’ve usually done 6000 walking the dog before the kids get up, walk to school then take the long way home, short dog walk at lunch, school pick up, dog walk in the evening. I run 5k 2-3 times a week which also helps.

Unfortunately my diet is abysmal so I’m still slightly overweight!

I've been coming up with idea (what my fitbit says) that most generic or housework activity generate 800-1500 steps per hour. Cooking, cleaning, tidying, vacuuming, gardening, DIY, childcare. I seem to get 5000/day just fetching cups of tea & going to the loo.

I am building up. I WFH and got a fit bit at Christmas. I was on about 500 steps a day. I am at 2200 now but I can't imagine doing 10000 a week nevermind a day. Our bungalow is not that big to walk around

I think you're better off measuring distance OP. Different device vary so much as mentioned already.

These threads show this by there always being, on threads about number of steps, posts were people think its "easy" to get to 10,000 steps a day as they get that "pottering" around the house.

One memorable time someone thought they got 2000 step 'just by making breakfast" (which included emptying the dishwasher) couldn't possibly have been that there device measure any little movement. 🤣

Yes normally around 13,000 Monday-Friday as I walk to work (15 mins each way) and I am on my feet a lot. It’s really helped me lose weight.

It would be 3.7 steps per second, which would be some going. Not actually impossible though as some Olympic racewalkers can apparently get as high as 4 steps per second.