Want to do 8K steps a day - but how is it always possible? Thoughts pls!

[Thebrutalstage]

I already do exercise 3/4 a week in the gym (mostly strength work). But I'm trying to build up movement. But some days it just seems impossible to get 8K steps in.

Any thoughts for cheats/ways you do it if you already have a lot on in your day?

I easily double this every day but I get up first thing to walk my dog for nearly an hour. If your circumstances suit I would recommend getting up for a long walk before you start your usual day, I feel great afterwards as well

Walk instead of taking the car.
What is your usual step count, getting 8k shouldnt take much extra effort? An early morning or evening walk should do it.

If I’m having a lazy day at home I do 6000 steps, are you counting all your steps OP?

Just walk as much as you can - if you drive to the supermarket, park at the far end of the car park, take the stairs instead of an escalator, walk the long way home, if you use the bus, get off a stop earlier. 8k steps should be easily acheivable if you are fit and healthy.

I do a 30 min walk at lunch then 40 min walk after work to get my steps in. WFH so stuck at my desk all day.

I struggle to get to 3000 when I'm at work. it's a shockingly low number since I'm a runner and I'm very healthy.

My advice is to walk around the block when you get home from work. I do mine once I get back and I'm usually back in time for the oven to warmed up and ready to go 😂

Felt so nice!

I don't have a dog.

Also it has been Winter and terrible weather so don't beat yourself up..You'll probably notice more steps as the weather gets better

You see, I don’t believe this. I have done 2.4 miles today and am just on 7k. How do you manage this? Ot is your step counter tracking arm/hand movements too?

I've started doing cardio instead of strength purely for the steps as we have a work challenge. Not advised really.

It adds up quicker than you know. Just a ten minute walk will help. On the days I clean ir go to the supermarket it's loads higher.

I do a 3 mile dog walk every morning plus another mile in the afternoon, and two YouTube walking workouts to bring it up to 6 miles a day. Yesterday I walked to the post office and back but missed out the YouTube and that made it 7 miles.

I walk up and down my living room, I can get 15-20k steps a day doing that (and obviously outside walking too)

or try leslie Sansone on YouTube

I don’t know. I’ve been on my feet all day, up and down the stairs, hoovered the whole house and have done 1848 steps. I’m not convinced my watch records them all!

If I go for a walk during my lunch break I can easily get up to £8k steps.

Walk to work and the shops, carry heavy shopping. Always take the stairs.

I'm already on 8848k today and have miles to go yet, walk home from work, back to gym in town, then home again.

Walking videos on YT are good. They're usually quite pacey so rack them up more quickly. When I was consciously trying to do 10k a day I'd often walk on the spot watching telly, waiting for the kettle to boil, while cooking etc. Madness but it worked.

We walk to the coffee shop every morning. It takes about 20/25 minutes all together but regularly get up to 8,000 steps

Thank you - I'm impressed with each of you!

I do have a dog but he's not well at the moment, so long walks are out. And days where I work out, I feel done in. Whilst my job is desk based, I'm actually quite an active person - I do lots of exercise - it's just movement/walking.

Also, I'm pretty shit and don't actually have a step counter. I'm just gaging it on when I did have one.

I found the step trackers really pricey and i'm currently quite skint.

I WFH, logged on at 8am and been in meetings all day. 30min lunch where I cooked, ate, emptied the dishwasher and made a brew. I am on 748 steps for the day. Oops. Long walk after work I reckon.

What do most people use to track steps?

I used a Garmin but it didn't last v long and I replaced it with a simple smart watch for £30 from The Watch Shop.😊

I have an Apple Watch so that tracks my steps. If I didn't have that then I know that 20 mins normal walking for me equals one mile. I'm on 7269 steps right now and that's 3.25 miles. The YouTube workouts I do tell you how many steps you will rack up, they're good fun and you have the challenge of learning new routines.

Average it out across a week, it’s the same thing. That way you can perhaps do more over the weekend and it will balance out across the week.

Step to the beat! In the kitchen, waiting for the kettle to boil? Put a song on and literally step to the beat of the song. B52s love shack for example is nearly 1000 steps if you step to each beat of the song

I walk for 40 minutes, that's to work and back. 20 minutes at lunchtime, sometimes 30 minutes.

I used to do an hour before or after work as well. I have to say I loved the feeling from the early morning walk - that easily got me up to about 17,000 in total with walking to work.

I’ve done 7330 already today and it’s not even 3pm. It’s really achievable if you walk places.