If you have a busy day-to-day life, does that count as an active lifestyle?

[VerrryNiceIndeed]

I don’t get anywhere near 10,000 steps a day and I don’t go to the gym but some days I am non-stop busy eg giving dc a lift, shopping for elderly parents, visiting family, meeting a friend, an occasional walk, going to a meeting, general errands. I can be out and about all day long and not sit down till the evening. I am retired now but I had a busy job all my life where I stood up all day long most days.

I am sure none of that compensates for a lack of exercise but I am wondering does it count for anything? [hopeful] I am expecting some people to say I am having a laugh but what do you think?!

I think the only thing it would count for is that you aren't sitting - isn't there something about sitting down for more than three hours per day being increasingly unhealthy in the long-term? Although if you sit in the car, sit at the meeting, sit with your friend - even that doesn't matter.

I wonder about this, I'm office based 3 days a week. Always go for a walk at lunchtime. I'm also really busy with kids and animals after work, I usually get around 13000 steps but mostly from "pottering". Still movement though?

I never know. I tend to sit for around 8+ hours a day, at work.

BUT I also get about 15,000 steps in daily - a combination of dog walking before and after work plus other bits.

I never know if I am sedentary or moderately active

Yes true that some days I am driving around a lot and that is definitely sitting.

You can’t really be moving around that much if you’re nowhere near 10,000 steps a day. On days I don’t do formal exercise, I usually still get above 10k steps though walking to the station, walking around at work etc.

It counts but doesn't sound 'active' in the right sense. If your phone has a step counter and it's on you most of the time and you still aren't doing 8-10000 steps then you are sedentary. If you do get those steps in then id say you are 'lightly active'. Get those steps in plus an hour of exercise a day you might be classed as 'active'.