Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

10,000 steps a day seems impossible??

226 replies

Walkwalkinthelight · 13/02/2023 16:50

Just started a 'healthy living ' programme (weight loss, well being, fitness etc).
One of the goals is 1000 steps a day??

I work from home, mad busy and sit at desk all day then gym at night. I've only done 1300 steps by teatime.

How the hell does anyone with a desk job do 10000 steps a day!!

My teenager walks to school and back and round a massive school all day and he only does 7500!!

OP posts:
MeridaBrave · 14/02/2023 07:57

5km run in the gym covers around 5000 or so. Couple of short walks each day. I never go under 10,000 and I work from home. Just have to get out a couple of times a day.

RememberFlimsy · 14/02/2023 08:02

TheTurn0fTheScrew · 13/02/2023 17:03

Genuine question - How do you know how accurate your step counter is ? On the days I walk 2 miles to work and 2 miles home (6.5k total) I still only make about 8k steps, so I'm intrigued that other posters hit 10k steps walking 5km. Today I've done a 5km run and been on my feet for a lot of the day and the step count is at 7700.

This is a major problem with many pedometers. I suspect no pedometers, except maybe the ones you attach to your shoes, are accurate. Fitbits seem to measure triple the number of steps compared to a phone pedometer. A way of checking is by calculating thr number of steps using the distance you've walked and dividing by the length of one step.

TheOrigRights · 14/02/2023 08:19

Ceilingplaits · 13/02/2023 22:14

My pedometer has it at about 1.5 hours walking, about 5km.
I manage it only by taking 45 minutes off work during the day, then the walk to school drop off/collection and back.

Do you mean 5 miles?
5k in 90 mins is very slow walking.
And 5k is not usually 10k steps, more like 5000.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Exercise & fitness Fitness
ErrolTheDragon · 14/02/2023 08:21

UsingChangeofName · 13/02/2023 23:50

@LaCerbiatta I have a friend who is a drummer.
I remember him telling me after a concert (and he had been rehearsing that afternoon too), that his 'watch' reckoned he had done 33 000 steps that day, and he'd barely spent any time that day doing anything other than sitting on his backside at his drum kit Grin

DH can accumulate a lot of 'steps' and even exercise minutes when he's making something like beef casserole which involves a lot of chopping - because he wears his Apple Watch on his left wrist and is left handed.
OTOH, if you're doing things with your hands which don't involve rhythmic movements (I would think pushing a pram is particularly bad) these devices will probably not detect any 'steps'.

That's why I don't really count 'steps' - I measure distances with gps when I'm walking with the fitness app, and try to close the 3 rings on my watch.

PuttingDownRoots · 14/02/2023 08:28

My MIL seems to get steps on her fitbit when she breathes, while mine records nothing while pottering *m(or cooking or cleaning). Weve come to the conclusion that my upper body is very static!.
I get the .out accurate result with it in my pocket, but it then doesnt record heart rate.

Dailywalk · 14/02/2023 08:32

I wfh but my average step count is around 12000 - 15000/day. I walk my dd to school and I walk my dog for half an hour at lunch. I met my sister yesterday at the park and all she wanted to do was sit on a bench and chat, but she’s trying to be more active? When I suggested we chat while we walked she looked at me like I had a second head.
Standing up more, making phone calls while walking round the room, taking a 10-15min break to get a walk in and clear your mind will all being up your step count.

stevalnamechanger · 14/02/2023 08:42

Walkwalkinthelight · 13/02/2023 16:50

Just started a 'healthy living ' programme (weight loss, well being, fitness etc).
One of the goals is 1000 steps a day??

I work from home, mad busy and sit at desk all day then gym at night. I've only done 1300 steps by teatime.

How the hell does anyone with a desk job do 10000 steps a day!!

My teenager walks to school and back and round a massive school all day and he only does 7500!!

Do the

Fit with Rick 10000 steps YouTube video

stevalnamechanger · 14/02/2023 08:44

Here you go

sgtmajormum · 14/02/2023 08:46

You can do it but need to change your habits. Go for a walk before work, in your lunch break and after work. Half hour each time. Aim to walk about 3-4 miles. Also get up and move once an hour so you are not stagnant at your desk.
I only do p/t desk job but I usually aim for 15,000 steps a day

SallyWD · 14/02/2023 08:52

I go for a walk during lunch and if possible an evening walk or morning walk. I easily get to 10,000 steps.

rockingbird · 14/02/2023 08:54

I work remotely and find hitting 10k can be a struggle.. I bought myself a fold up iWalk secondhand for £50 and at lunch times I listen to a podcast and walk fast. It's been a game changer for me. ☺️ if I go out for lunch I walk to and from the house to keep my steps up!

TenoringBehind · 14/02/2023 09:04

I swapped from a Fitbit to an Apple Watch. It’s much harder to get steps on the Apple Watch!

mindutopia · 14/02/2023 09:16

You need to move more in your non-working hours. I sit all day, but between housework before/after working hours, chasing after children, and tidying up outside after animals, I regularly do 11,000-14,000 a day without ever going to the gym.

mycatsanutter · 14/02/2023 09:16

I always do a minimum of 10k , I walk the dog , often pop out in the evening. Did 32k on Saturday got to say I was glad to sit down in the evening !

MichaelFabricantWig · 14/02/2023 09:26

This thread inspired me to get out and do a walk this morning, I’ll go again and lunch and after work and that should do it!

ReadtheReviews · 14/02/2023 09:29

The only time I hit it is doing an hour dog walk added to normal day.

TheOrigRights · 14/02/2023 09:33

MichaelFabricantWig · 14/02/2023 09:26

This thread inspired me to get out and do a walk this morning, I’ll go again and lunch and after work and that should do it!

It's a beautiful day here in Essex (cold but sunny and a sense of Spring in the air).

MichaelFabricantWig · 14/02/2023 09:52

TheOrigRights · 14/02/2023 09:33

It's a beautiful day here in Essex (cold but sunny and a sense of Spring in the air).

Show quote history

Similar here, not that sunny mind you but hint of blue sky and fresh

fellrunner85 · 14/02/2023 12:31

My MIL seems to get steps on her fitbit when she breathes

Mine is the same. She'll rack up 3k steps while cooking dinner and then declare how much "exercise" she's done. But I don't think it's her fault...
I have a theory that Fitbit do it on purpose. As they're not exercise trackers like Garmin, Suunto, etc they have to get a market somehow. So they deliberately make it so much easier to get "steps", so people who don't do that much exercise can convince themselves they're more active than they think (see the people on this thread claiming they rack up 10k steps pootling around the house). Then they like their Fitbit as it tells them what they want to believe - and keep buying and recommending Fitbits.

Vanity exercise maybe, a bit like the vanity sizing that encourages people to shop in M&S or Fat Face.

Garmin and other devices aren't anywhere near as flattering, and I struggle to believe that Fitbit would be so way out by chance. That sort of calibration has to be deliberate?!

Fizbosshoes · 14/02/2023 13:22

fellrunner85 · 14/02/2023 12:31

My MIL seems to get steps on her fitbit when she breathes

Mine is the same. She'll rack up 3k steps while cooking dinner and then declare how much "exercise" she's done. But I don't think it's her fault...
I have a theory that Fitbit do it on purpose. As they're not exercise trackers like Garmin, Suunto, etc they have to get a market somehow. So they deliberately make it so much easier to get "steps", so people who don't do that much exercise can convince themselves they're more active than they think (see the people on this thread claiming they rack up 10k steps pootling around the house). Then they like their Fitbit as it tells them what they want to believe - and keep buying and recommending Fitbits.

Vanity exercise maybe, a bit like the vanity sizing that encourages people to shop in M&S or Fat Face.

Garmin and other devices aren't anywhere near as flattering, and I struggle to believe that Fitbit would be so way out by chance. That sort of calibration has to be deliberate?!

I have a garmin and I think it massively overestimates my steps. I do have a very high cadence for running (200 ish) but it alleges I do 10k steps out of maybe 40 - 45 min of actual walking plus stairs and mooching around, on days I'm not running, which I'm very doubtful is accurate.

Yesterday I supposedly did 1k steps between getting home at 6.30pm and going to bed at 11.30pm. All I did was cook dinner, go upstairs a few times and watch TV!

WinterFoxes · 14/02/2023 13:29

Ricco12 · 14/02/2023 07:48

@MrsJBaptiste @WinterFoxes

Nope definitely not a castle a 5 bed house and no toddlers either.
I was just dotting about the house doing cleaning etc.

I never went outside at all, apart from hanging out washing to dry.

10200 was steps by time I went to bed. My average for last year is 14,000 a day according to my garmin.

Maybe I get up more than others, im not one for sitting down much to be fair.

Do you mind me asking what you are actually doing all day long? Are you permanently cleaning and tidying?
I work from home (desk job) so spend far too much time just sitting.But if I was at home and not tied to the desk, I don;t know that i'd find stuff to do on my feet all day long. I'm genuinely intrigued and owuld like to be a bit more like you!

NeverDropYourMooncup · 14/02/2023 14:27

UsingChangeofName · 13/02/2023 23:50

@LaCerbiatta I have a friend who is a drummer.
I remember him telling me after a concert (and he had been rehearsing that afternoon too), that his 'watch' reckoned he had done 33 000 steps that day, and he'd barely spent any time that day doing anything other than sitting on his backside at his drum kit Grin

He's being very self deprecating there.

A professional drummer's day can very easily reach demands very similar to that of a footballer in training and, for the gig, playing in a match. After all, their arms and legs are moving constantly, they're reaching, lifting, carrying - as a crap bassist myself, there are reasons why the fan is pointed backwards; nobody wants to be downwind - and I'm still vaguely traumatised by the gig where his radio pack died and I had to crawl around to retrieve it from his person, replace the battery and then put it back on mid song.

Those sweaty buggers work harder than anybody else on stage.

Ricco12 · 14/02/2023 17:47

@WinterFoxes gosh I'm not sure I've never really thought about it

I asked my husband he said you never sit still (I do have adhd) yesterday I stripped beds and hung washing up then remade beds. I hoovered whole house and washed floors downstairs

I was dotting about tidying , played with the dog for a bit. I guess I never really sat down properly till maybe about 8pm , but I have never really thought about it as such

I was just kinda cleaning house and sorting things out really in the house.

Glittertwins · 14/02/2023 17:56

My Garmin tracked 8500 steps for just over 6km walking this morning. I'm my experience, Fitbit is far more generous on the counting as my friend's device had her step count far higher than mine and we'd been together all day.
I try to get exercise in first thing and then at lunch time to break the day up.

Alisondewy · 14/02/2023 19:17

I have to get up before all my kids and do Zumba in my living room to get my exercise in. No other way around it than my 5.50am alarm. Sad but true.