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 think it's easy too. I've done 9000 and haven't walked the dogs yet. You just have to walk everywhere when you'd normally get public transport.

Do you work out of the house?

If you don't have step counter, you're probably doing more than you think. I did 6000 steps on Weds and didn't even leave the house!

Well yes of course it is if you walk places. The poster I was quoting had said they did 8k just at home on a quiet day

I walk to the station and back and go for a walk during lunch, get 10,000 most days.

If you have a smart phone it should have a step counter built it. If not there are loads of free apps.

I’ve read threads like this before where posters claim to do 8-15k steps a day just lounging around the house, and 10k steps doing a 30 minute walk. I guarantee your watches are picking up wrist movements.

I WFH and have little reason to walk in the day (school run is by car) but I go for a 30 min walk at lunch time, and that always means I am over 8000 steps, closer to 10,000 on gym days.

I have an old fairly low tech Garmin tracker which is perfect for me. I left it at a friend's house a few weeks ago so bought a cheap replacement until I get it back - £19.99. It is perfect for basic step counting, I'm keeping it as a spare.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/GRV-Pedometer-Bluetooth-Activity-Calories/dp/B09J8S3S5Q/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3N71XVV159NU7&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.PYIaZInRf_QTzwsxE6VtGMmwkWzFaPAruA98K4u3vQhbLTf6JJ9DgQkrotulKVxxhddVTVUTJuENswaDxjLLInJIW6sDFUiotnaT04-hgc8_NoP4ZYThLWFKF1Yg_rd54hYpjQjYTnQuZwljk5_y3pfafVMEKjorRJ0FsXyw10Rxpib8Wzq9Ng3J-Ll-xipEKP5tUz2vnoZ-8oo_tK_rV2g1VrBpGvRGBBQB3rhNMy6e-a6oPEfWwP7I8Yl3MMdFTSA5NJCmR1po6CArbi9KcPg5LLPJ0uatmrfHm0utr0U.8eO54Salv0ForJeIMRPupczmbToWrh64RGRtsm_YLns&dib_tag=se&keywords=GRV%2BPedometer%2BWatch&qid=1709823563&s=electronics&sprefix=grv%2Bpedometer%2Bwatch%2Celectronics%2C112&sr=1-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1

I’ve read threads like this before where posters claim to do 8-15k steps a day just lounging around the house, and 10k steps doing a 30 minute walk. I guarantee your watches are picking up wrist movements

Or have big houses. My step counter lives in my trouser pocket.

I manage it by being a dog walker

I manage it by working at IKEA
Also means I don't have to do too much exercise on days off ;)
And I get paid for it

I've done a total of 995 steps today as I WFH. I'll go for a walk to the beach tonight (20min walk there, 20 mins along the prom and 20 mins back), that'll do it.

Building activity into your day, running up and down the stairs when the TV ads are on, running on the spot whilst the kettles boiling etc. the point of 10k steps is to build in activity to people's lives, if you are exercising in other ways then it's less important

I know you’re currently skint, but I’d advise saving up for a walking pad. I jump on it when I have any spare time. I set it to 9.5km/hour and easily do just over 3.5km in 20 mins. Sometimes I’ll do it in the morning with a sports bra chucked on over my PJs (I.e. no faffing having to change to go outside). I put my headphones in and find it v relaxing.

They are compact and fit under most sofas.

I guess think about where you can fit it in during the day.
I walk wherever I can - to and from work, school run, into town, kids swimming/brownie lessons. I don't actually always count steps as mine is on my phone but I try and think about it in terms of time/distance.
People who claim to be at 7k pottering around the house/going on a 30 min walk must be counting arm movements surely? The reason i prefer to think of purposeful walks/steps rather than just step count is that for me, the real health benefits come from walking continuously and quickly, not just racking up steps wandering around the house.

Walk to and from any exercise class, to and from school - never ever use car on school run, to and from grocery store two or three times a week with a back pack rather than once a week with car. Walk to a nice coffee shop about 30 mins away with family or friends a few times a week.

One I'm trying to do is - run upstairs to speak to DH in his attic office, rather than holler upstairs. That's several flights several times a day!

I'm on just under 7000 today - I didn't do much around the house before I started work this morning, walked half a mile to the gym and back at lunchtime and did 22min on the cross trainer and some weights.
Yesterday I did 15,200 - walked 3.5km to work, popped round the corner to the shop at lunchtime, and walked another 2.2km to the supermarket when i got home. Plus steps around the office and to/from the bus stop heading home.

One I'm trying to do is - run upstairs to speak to DH in his attic office, rather than holler upstairs. That's several flights several times a day!

I'm now wondering how much my steps would go up if I switched off all the Alexas in the house...

I just track mine on my phone, so any figures are a slight underestimate as I don't always have it on me. I have to try really hard to walk since I started WFH in the pandemic. I'm not really a fast walker, so if I leave it all day I might only have walked a few hundred steps and then I have to walk for about an hour and a half to get to 8000. The walking is fine, but the time can be inconvenient. I find I do much better if I make myself get up at intervals and just walk round the block (about 750 steps each time). I feel less stiff and I'm left only having to do about 3-4,000 at the end of the day.

I currently use a bellabeat leaf but previously had an app on my phone. I have no idea how a lazy day at home could reach high thousands... for me it would be a few hundred!
I try to walk or cycle for school run where i can. Take public transport, walk or cycle rather than drive when possible. If i have a work teams meeting when i know i don't have to speak, I log on by phone and go for a walk with earphones in. On my day off I go for a hike and weekends we try to have a walk or cycle as a family.
But, i still find it hard to ensure I'm active every day.

I’ve been making an effort to do more steps. I have a sedentary job and can only get a few thousand steps in if I don’t get out and walk. I’m finding I have to do a 5k each day to get my steps in. In non work days I do a lot more steps just cleaning, pottering and doing a big shop ! Like you I go to the gym 3 days a week at least but it’s only since I’ve been making a conscious effort to walk each day as well that I’ve noticed the weight dropping off me.

If I’m meeting friends for lunch or coffee, I usually suggest we tie this in with a walk too or instead. On DH’s wfh days we will have a walk at lunchtime. On his office days we have a walk in the evening. Dance party/walking workouts on YouTube if the weather is bad. Park runs at weekends. Kids like doing adventure labs which usually involve a bit of walking.

Buy a cheap tracker for £10 or £15. I find them pretty accurate. If you are already at the gym for weight training, why not jump on a treadmill for half an hour afterwards? You'll boost your steps by a good few thousand that way.

I average around 2,000 steps a day. Commuting and sitting at a desk all day is my issue (plus I'm not into exercise at all). When the weather improves I'm going to try and go for a walk at lunchtimes and walk to the local shop more rather than taking the car. I'm also going to walk for the school pick-up on the days I work from home. This is the plan anyway! Fitting it in where it's convenient.

The iPhone health app has a step tracker, so if your phone is always in your pocket it will count them.

Martin Lewis is obsessive about steps and will take any possible call as a phone call he can do while out for a walk, rather than sitting staring into a screen.

Fit bit.
Could you get a second hand one or does your phone track ?

@Fluffyc1ouds do you listen to audiobooks? This really motivates me to get out and walk at lunchtime! Have a look at BorrowBox, it's free.