AIBU to be a little proud of myself?

[Mailfuckoff]

Nearly 2 years ago I started to check how many steps I walk a day - it was an average of 3000. By building myself up slowly I now have an average of 10000. I'm the same weight (around 11 stone) but so much fitter and on the whole sleep better. If I can do it, anyone can.

Well done

Good for you

This is what I need to do. I am gradually increasing my steps, but it’s hard! My overall fitness is improving though, and I’m doing two classes a week which are really improving my core strength.

Well done OP

But everyone should be doing 10,000 steps. It is actually a very short distance in itself and apart from those with disabilities etc, there really is no reason why everyone shouldn’t be doing it

I think people know they should do it but habits/lifestyle can be a big impact.
I know days when i work from home I can barely make it to 2000 steps unless I explicitly plan to go for a walk which isn't always possible.
Equally some days i drive to work as after school I pick kids up from school for ECAs and a whole chunk of steps disappear.
Luckily I have other times I exercise but it's amazing how you can be busy all day but without actually doing many steps.

Shirley, you could have hit ‘Post’ after the first line. There is no need to belittle OP’s achievement.

Well done OP, great effort!

It’s not that easy. I work, I got to work in my car, work at my desk, drive to meetings, sit in meetings. I get home, shower, make tea & eat tea & then it’s 9pm. Where do you suggest I get 3,000 more steps in? Because I’d love to be able to do it as easily as you @ShirleyPhallus

Well done OP! I am pretty active and walk my dog most days as well as do the school run, and still find it hard to get to 10k steps unless i go for a run.

Some devices need a higher trigger to register a step so i would imagine those who find it easy (unless they genuinely find it easy to walk 6 miles a day which most of us struggle to fit in) have a device that counts it as a step if they just move their arm.

It isn’t belittling OP’s achievements, she’s done fantastically to start at 3 and work up to 10. But this is absolutely achievable for EVERYONE.

Katya you don’t need to be that sedentary - get up 30 mins early and go for a walk with a podcast and your morning coffee / go for a walk at lunch / try and get up more during the working day (loads of suggestions online for this - have a 1-2-1 while going out for a walk / do your smaller meetings stood up / always take the stairs not the lift etc) / park further away and walk in / go for a walk at 9pm after dinner - with these lovely light warm evenings it’s very pleasant to go out.

Lots of ideas and it’s actually quite easy once you get going

I get up at six am. I don’t consider it easy to get to at 5.30am.

I work in HR. I think it’s pretty inappropriate to walk round or stand in disciplinary hearings and grievances. I park as far from the office as I can every day. I never take the lift.

I do walk at lunchtimes. Except from when I’m on site and would have to change into safety boots, hard hat and hi viz to go for a walk. I don’t consider that easy.

I’m still not at 10,000 steps a day though.

I get that if I want to do this I need to make an effort. And I can and am doing that. But I think it’s naive at best to suggest that it SHOULD be easy. Because it’s not. Not for everyone.