walk 10,000 steps a day

I’m trying to do all of my 10,000 steps all at once—which means walking for about 60-65 minutes, a distance of between 3-1/2 to 4 miles.

In February, I met this goal 19 out of 28 days – 68 percent.

March is not getting off to a good start, either. Oy.

I’m challenging myself to up the fitness level, by doing the 10,000 steps all at once each morning. It takes approximately 60 minutes on the treadmill; that’s about 3.6 miles. And I’m giving myself permission to take Feb. 6, 24, and 25 off because I already have other appointments on those mornings.

Last year, I was wearing the pedometer all day, accumulating anywhere from 2,000 to 5,000 or 6,000 in just everyday activity, then getting on the treadmill in the evenings to finish off the 10,000 steps. While that was getting my activity level up, and while I was meeting my 10,000-step goal (about 75% of the time in 2006), I realized that I wasn’t necessarily getting a cardiovascular workout every day. And I was definitely postponing my date with the treadmill to as late as possible in the day. But I don’t really like exercising on a full stomach after dinner; I don’t really like exercising just before bedtime.

I’m not a morning person, so exercising in the morning doesn’t come naturally, either – but it does seem physically easier in the mornings, after only a light breakfast of a banana or a piece of toast. I’m trying to make this a new habit.

So far:

Feb. 1 – 10,840
Feb. 2 – 10,301
Feb. 3 – 10,350

was delivered today. 65 minutes later, 10,025 steps. :-)

This goal began as a New Year’s resolution in January, and my first pedometer was a very basic one. Coincidentally, in February, my husband (along with a bunch of other people at his place of employment) was chosen to participate in a health study and was given a very fancy pedometer with lots of bells and whistles on it for the study. I was very envious of that pedometer.

I was meeting my goal of 10,000 steps a day anyway, but once my husband got his pedometer and the element of friendly competition kicked in, it was a lot more fun and I was a lot more motivated. I’d pick up the phone in the middle of the day and he’d say, “Five thousand, two hundred nineteen,” (without even saying hello first), and I’d counter with whatever my total was at that moment, gloating if my number was higher, or panicking if it was lower.

Later in the year, an acquaintance gave me a fancier pedometer than my original one. I used it for about a week, but it drove me crazy because the clip on it was not very strong. The fancier pedometer was always falling off at inopportune moments.

I continued to use the original, basic pedometer, through the summer months, and to keep track of my steps each day. (I was meeting my 10,000-step goal about 50% of the time.) Then I managed to misplace that basic pedometer.

A couple of weeks ago I bought a new pedometer that had the weekly memory on it. But I’ve never really figured out its controls, and it resets itself midday….

Last night my husband came home with a surprise for me: A new, extremely basic pedometer. I’m going to give it a whirl today, see how strong its clip is, and get back on track. “Stick with the basics” is actually a fine philosophy. Fancier pedometers are no good if they won’t stay on or if they require too much thought to use.

In other news: The belt on our treadmill has gotten misaligned and is no longer functional. We’re in the midst of the wettest November, and it will be perhaps the rainiest month ever, here in these parts, so walking outside is not attractive right now. I think a new treadmill is the next step (pun intended).

yesterday. It kept reading 2159 during the day when I checked it, but I didn’t realize that it hadn’t budged off this number until 9:00 last night. Argh.

I’m going to get a better pedometer. When I bought this one, it was a cheap-o, since I wasn’t absolutely sure that I would use it or how seriously I would take this goal. I think I’ve earned a higher quality model.

Report on Week 4—I met my 10,000 steps goal only one day that week. My excuse: I was super-busy with work and had difficulty putting in the time for walking. (As always, it isn’t the actual walking that’s hard, it’s making the time for it.) My average for those other days that I did not reach 10,000 steps was 4500.

Report on Week 5—I met my 10,000 steps goal only two days that week, having gotten out of the walking habit. Average number of steps on those other days still hovering at around 4500.

Report on Week 6—I met my 10,000 steps goal only one day that week, but pushed myself to get in at least 6000 steps on all other days.

This week—I’m going to get back on pace for 10,000 steps each day. (Yesterday’s total will remain a mystery.)

Jan. 29 – 11,542 steps
Jan. 30 – 10,265 steps
Jan. 31 – 11,231 steps
Feb. 1 – 10,534 steps
Feb. 2 – 2,542 steps – Because I had met my goal for the previous 7 consecutive days, I treated myself to this day off. Was experiencing some pain in my left foot, too, and thought a day of rest was called for.

Feb. 3 – 10,902 steps – I met my goal, again, and this time at an easygoing pace. Still letting my foot recover from its tendon pain, so I didn’t push myself—was amazed at how, even at any easy pace, I got in well over 10,000 steps.

Feb. 4 – 10,551 steps

Glad I’m keeping up with meeting this goal—I’m feeling good about the goal and feeling healthier (despite a little foot pain) for it!

Jan. 22 – 4,100 steps. Because I’d hit my goal every day for the preceding 7 days, I’d cut myself some slack and wasn’t trying for 10,000 this day. I thought 4,100 was still a respectable number of steps.
Jan. 23 – 11,205 steps. Yay for me!
Jan. 24 – 5,205 steps. This was an extremely busy day. As I’ve already noted, the hardest part about this goal is making the time to get the exercise in. I was busy every single second, this day. My schedule didn’t free up for exercise until 10 PM, which didn’t fit in with my family’s getting-ready-for-bed routine, so I didn’t walk on the treadmill that day. Silly me, I thought I might make up for it the next day.
Jan. 25 – 3,200 steps. Oops, I was beginning to backslide. Not only did I not make up for the lapse of the preceding day, I didn’t even get in as many steps as the preceding day.
Jan. 26 – 10,450 steps. Made a definite recommitment to getting the exercise and meeting this goal. It took an hour on the treadmill to do it. But I did it anyway.
Jan. 27 – 12,471 steps. I am making peace with the treadmill. I am feeling good about this goal again.
Jan. 28 – 11,040 steps. Yay for me!

I have reached the goal 4 days out of 7 this week. After the backsliding of mid-week, I understand that I can’t make bargains with myself about making up the steps later. I’m feeling positive about this goal again, given the results of today, yesterday, and the day before.

I’ve hit my target every day for a week. I’m really happy about it! It feels good to be developing an exercise habit. Success breeds success; I hope this energy can carry over to at least one of my other goals.

The best day yet! I split this up between walking out-of-doors in the afternoon and walking on the treadmill in the evening (and other steps incorporated throughout the day). I prefer walking outside so long as the weather isn’t too crummy—it makes me feel far more awake and alive than plodding along on the treadmill.

40 minutes on the treadmill this evening, plus other steps taken throughout the day. Have hit the target 5 days out of 5. I hope I am not making this goal look too easy! Today, the difficulty, once again, was scheduling in the time - I had appointments, lots of other things to do, so the exercising had to happen in the evening. 40 minutes on the treadmill are 40 minutes I’m not knitting, not converting the garage into my studio - in short, not working on my other goals. It all gets me to thinking about what my priorities are, and how best to manage my time.