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Steps? Big steps, little steps, slow steps, fast steps? 5k of steps, 10k of steps?

4 replies

soupfiend · 02/08/2024 20:12

So I obviously have heard about this idea of getting so many steps in per day. I am not an exerciser. I am trying to get a walk in every day but its hard and only managing to do it at 9pm at night so coming back in the dark and not sure how this will be maintained as the nights draw in later

However, having now got one of these little watches, its easy to become a bit fascinated with all the steps

Turns out I may have been doing more steps than I thought I was, I thought I would only have been doing around 500 or so a day without a walk. But I do much more than that, so thats reassuring

My target is 6k a day, thats because the watch has told me this. I can usually get this in a 3 mile walk and then about 2k more on top for the rest of the day.

But I know people go on about doing 10k a day

Where did that recommendation come from and why? I tried googling it but couldnt really see where it came from

OP posts:
BunsenBurnerBaby · 02/08/2024 20:16

It was a made up number for marketing purposes BUT is a good number (and I think subsequent studies have supported it) and a good goal. Basically more is better. I got a Fitbit 10 years ago and got hooked. Went from couch potato to regular walker (when backache resolved) to regular runner (over several years). Just keep moving - it’s all good.

BIWI · 02/08/2024 20:19

The idea of walking 10,000 steps a day comes from a hugely successful marketing campaign launched ahead of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. The number was chosen because the Japanese character for 10,000 resembles a person walking, and the idea caught on

BIWI · 02/08/2024 20:19

It's marketing - just like 5-a-day is.

soupfiend · 02/08/2024 20:21

Yes, I read about the 5 a day, apparently it should really be 10 a day but it was thought that was just too overwhelming for people and they wouldnt connect to it so it was reduced to 5 a day!

And I know the 2 litres of water a day isnt quite right either, its just to make sure that you drink enough food fluids, tea, coffe, water or milk to ensure that your urine is very very pale straw colour/slight green tinge

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