if you use a pedometer, how many steps do you average per day?

[DarylDixonsDarlin]

Just got a fitbit flex, been using it for a few days and have been very surprised to have hit/exceeded the 10000 steps target twice already, on a quiet week at home with the DCs. No school runs and I've driven everywhere as its been pissing down since I got it. Now I'm wondering if its wrong or just a bit innaccurate...

(not a stealth boast, I'd have put myself down as fairly inactive on the whole, when I'm not actively trying to lose weight)

Just wondering: firstly how others feel it measures up for accuracy - if you have a Flex, what's your opinion on this? Secondly, anyone who uses any kind of pedometer/app to track steps - how many do you average, and how would you describe your lifestyle (active, sedentary etc)?

Thanks

I'd describe myself as moderately active at the moment, had a step counter since April and my daily average each month has varied from 11000 to 15000. Eg last three months

I achieve the 10,000 steps target most days, it is surprising how far you walk in a day. I do a fairly sedentary job, so don't always hit the target, but it usually averages out to more than 10,000 a day across a week.

I'm on day 10 with my fitbit flex. I'm hitting 10 000 everyday - but on work days (sitting at a desk for 10 hours) it is a struggle - having to walk in the evening to get my buzz! Days at home are much easier - all that up and down stairs, washing, hoovering, shopping etc. The fitbit is great - and is making me move more!

Mine doesn't work in the house, only when I'm really travelling on foot in the outside world :(

I have a Garmin Foreunner sports watch, and on an average day over the school holidays, I only do around 8000 steps according to that. If u add a 5k run in, it goes up to around 12k or above. My daily target of steps is usually around 8k. Not sure if that helps as it is a different product - maybe mine is less sensitive, or yours potentially more sensitive?

On a normal day I would reach around 5000 without specific "exercise" - a longer walk, a run. I walk about a lot at work but still would be nowhere near 10000 from that alone.

I've been thinking about getting a fitbit or similar and this is actually putting me off, if what you are all saying is true they musnt be accurate.

I know that 10000 steps is about 5 miles and it's no easy to walk that in a day never mind every day. I measure my walking with a phone app which is accurate as it uses GPS and I need to walk for over 90 minutes at quite a good pace to do 5 miles.

I don't want to discourage you but it doesn't seem possible to walk that far everyday in just day to day steps.

Which watch do you have Kathy? I have the FR220 but thought it didn't count steps so got the vivofit to wear on my other wrist

I work with small children and easily hit 10k on work days. On non work days it would be around 6-7k if I was at home pottering but since getting my fitbit I've made the effort to get the walking in. My weekly average is about 15k. I'm off on a 10-12 mile walk with friends today - will be the longest walk I've done so far.

spaniels are a big part of my everyday life (and horses) our shortest walk is 2 miles, longest 6, and if I'm feeling up to it I will walk to places (rural) within 2 or 3 miles rather than take the car

I know my vivofit underestimates distance and steps

20,000 most days (fitbit charge HR)

Lowest I've done is 14,000.

10k steps is less than 7k, not 5 miles.

My flex is fairly accurate I think. I don't hit 10k on the holidays unless I'm doing lots of errands in town on foot. I do on school days generally but it's 2km each way. Even so, if I'm stuck at my desk all day I don't always make 10k

I averaged 16,000 steps last week

DH has a fitbit and always seems to hit 10,000 without really doing anything. Whereas I use Moves on my phone and if I do a 10k it works out about 12,000 steps... I definitely think fitbit over-reads.

*weekly average per day
It's been one of the best fitness motivators that ice bought - and much cheaper than the bike and gym membership
I've joined a challenge to walk 2015 miles in 2015. I've walked 1,550 miles since Jan 10th so I'm on track at the mo.

10k run, that is...

Daryl perhaps you could/should reset your target to 15k or 20k?

I was recently awarded 8000 steps for a 10k trail run! Bit miserly, have been shortening my stride and increasing my cadence too so if anything it should count more steps. My vivofit is cruel.

I have a Fitbit, and usually make my 10,000 targets, but on days when I am home for the whole day, I'll only meet/exceed 10,000 steps if I go for a run as well. If I'm out and about in town, I make the 10,000 steps comfortably. I've noticed though that the Fitbit registers steps when driving, so last school year, I was doing 2 hrs of school commute each day, and inadvertently adding steps to my daily total, even though I was sat still in the car. I take mine off to drive now (and my kids have moved to schools closer to home for this year thank goodness ????)

How old are your kids? A day home with the toddler I'm easily at 10000 just me and the little one I'm lucky to hit 2000.

I thought I walked a lot, 2 45 mim walks with the dog a day most days but but my jawbone up seems to think I usually do around 8000.

I do wonder if you do the same distance but have longer legs are you penalised?

I also use My Virtual Mission, which is great. You can set yourself a mission to walk/run/cycle anywhere in the world. As you add your daily miles, it moves your icon across the route you've chosen, and you can zoom in using Google Earth to see what kind of terrain/town you are passing over. I find it ridiculously pleasing! www.myvirtualmission.com

I only hit 10000 if I walk into town and back (about 20 mins each way) which I do most days.

If I'm at home all day I only do a couple of K and that's even chasing round after a 1 year old.

My kids are 8, 8 and 7, so much less running around after them needed than with a toddler. I find that if I am out running, I will need to cover about 4.5 miles to reach 10,000 steps, whereas if I'm walking, it is nearer to 4 miles. I have no idea why it registers running and walking differently, but it does seem to 'know' which I'm doing somehow!