fitbit in the suburbs

[Anonymous]

So I got a fitibit and I'm appalled at how sedentary I am. I live in the suburbs and drive a lot, obviously, but I also have two little kids and feel like I'm running around all day. Obviously I'm not, since on a typical day I take 4000-5000 steps. So basically, so get the 10,000 goal, I'd need to walk an extra 2 miles or so a day. That's a lot!

Anyone who doesn't walk to work or walk around a city all day able to do this on a regular basis? Do you have to do a dedicated "exercise" type walk to make it happen? Any other tips?

I think that the 10000 number is fairly arbitrary, but it seems to be the standard.

[Anonymous]

I have a big living room and I walk around it at night in front of Golden Girls reruns until I get to my 10k. It's the most relaxing part of my day.

[Anonymous]

^ to make that even sadder, I'm only 28 years old.

[Anonymous]

I have a route that covers four-plus miles, in addition to my incidental walking and my three-miles-each-way bike ride to work. I average 14,000 steps a day.

The walking is in the city, though, so much more pleasurable!

[Anonymous]

I live and work in the suburbs, but I am usually at 7,000 when I get home from work. I walk to get lunch, walk around the office, walk to and from the parking garage. I can get 2,000 steps just cooking and cleaning up dinner and doing laundry

[Anonymous]

I was in your shoes about 3 months ago. I started upping my steps by walking during lunch. 2 miles takes about 35-40 mins. Now I get up earlier and do about 3 miles in the AM.

I typically get 10-12k a day.

[Anonymous]

does 10k steps = 4 miles?

[Anonymous]

I downloaded moves app last year and it was also a wake up call for me. I barely did 50 steps, but it doesn't count inside the buildings and when I am not carrying the phone. It was a complete shock and I started making a conscious effort to walk to places. Since then I have been averaging 7000. Made huge difference. Also suburbs so there isn't that many chances to walk to places. The steps I do get are in my commutes walks during lunch break and weekend walks.

[Anonymous]

Previous posters, curious ~ what benefits are you able to see from this?

[Anonymous]

Me too. Sell me on this. Are you losing weight?

[Anonymous]

I live in the burbs and I take walks every night around the neighborhood, to the pond, down to the creek, to the park.

I have no problem getting 10k in, I get 20k every Saturday because I can get to a gazillion hiking trails every Saturday morning.

[Anonymous]

21:44 here. Since I started increasing my mileage I lost about 6 lbs (with diet). I feel more toned and get less back ache. But the most important thing: I feel better.

[Anonymous]

Granted I don't live in the suburbs, but I have my tracker set to 15,000 steps (7.5 miles). I hit it on most days.

Do you do any kind of other exercise OP? An hour walk? A class like Zumba or something? Those will pack at least 5,000 steps into an hour.

There are also little things you can do:
- immediately park at the back of a parking lot
- when at the store and you decide you don't want something, don't be that jerk that puts something on a random shelf - walk back to the spot you got it from, and return it there
- take the stairs
- walk around during commercial breaks
- go for an evening walk
- take the long way on even short walks (it adds up)

[Anonymous]

I think that's the whole point of the 10,000 steps - it does require you to go beyond your normal walking around activity levels. I do need to walk at least a mile or two to get to 10,000 steps, maybe more. The value for me has been thinking about increasing activity levels. So I try to go up and down the stairs more often, park farther away from my destination, take the longer route somewhere, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Previous posters, curious ~ what benefits are you able to see from this?

2 miles at lunch PP here - between the increased activity and logging what I eat on myfitnesspal.com, I've lost 20 lbs.

Also, I just feel better - I like the way I feel when I'm more active. I sleep better, I have time to myself for about an hour each day just to think through whatever, and my legs look better.