I asked for, and received I hit 10,00 steps easily on Monday, but it was my birthday and a holiday so that made it easy. Sure, I had a lazy morning with breakfast in bed and a chick flick. But the sun was shining and my Fitbit was calling, so Pete and I went for a run by the ocean. And before going out for dinner, we took a nice long walk on the beach. Bam, goals reached, thank you very much.
Then Tuesday hit and the normal weekday routine kicked in. Long walks on the beach are replaced by long hours with the laptop. And the step goals? Not even close. So I cut all goals in half, as a start, and will take the advice I read about increasing them by 5% each week. Even though I cut my goals in half, I still didn’t meet them on Tuesday. So I’m learning ways to be more active during the day. And part of that seems to include being less efficient.
I’m a wiz at efficiency and multi-tasking. But my new goal is to knock down my efficiency in order to take more steps. The recycling gathered in a neat pile to be brought to the basement at the end of the day? Well now I’m bringing each item downstairs immediately. Belongings gathered on the main floor landing to be taken up in one trip? Nope - each thing gets whisked upstairs and put away immediately. On the upside, my house has never been cleaner! Straightening up adds steps. Vacuuming adds steps. Wiping down counters and scouring out sinks adds steps. With a little more cleaning and a lot less efficiency, I’m learning how to work more movement into my day. 10,000 steps still might be a tough one to crack, but I’ll keep trying to add 5% more steps each week and see if I can make it work.
Do you find an activity tracker is helping you move around more? What are your secrets for working in more steps?
I have used a pedometer for the last 20 years, when my HMO gave them free to members.
ReplyDeleteI got a Fitbit in January and love it. I love the weekly reports and charts & graphs and the fact that you get an email when the charge is low. It is, without question, helped me to stay active.
ooooh, I got a FitBit for Christmas, and returned it to exchange for the color I wanted when that color came back into REI. This has never come to pass. I am interested in how many steps I take, and also the sleep feature seemed really cool to me in December 2013.
ReplyDeleteThis is a good reminder. I owe me a FitBit.
I hjave wanted to get one but have heard mixed reviews about the fitbit and jawbone and haven't taken the time to investigate. I don't exerceise at all so I really SHOULD get one of these to at least get my steos in which I can't imagine I even do! Why do you like the fitbit over a pedometer?
ReplyDeleteHi Nina, Well, I like that the FitBit tracks a lot more than any pedometer I've used (although I admit I've only used very cheap ones that I've gotten for free). The FitBit syncs to my iPhone and computer and tracks my steps, flights of stairs and calories. I've been tracking food / calories in LoseIt for a while, and that syncs up to FitBit too, so I can see all my info in one place. It also tracks my sleep. It lets me set and revise goals as needed. And it tracks my water consumption, which is something else I've been working on. Basically, I like it more than my old pedometer because it tracks so much info all in one place. :)
DeleteI've been to your house. I don't believe it could be any cleaner!
ReplyDeleteThis really makes me want to get a fitbit! Love the idea of adding in more steps to your day and having a record so that it keeps you accountable. Reading this post encouraged me to pick the healthier options of walking rather than driving earlier on today!
ReplyDeleteWe have the same FitBit! :) I actually wrote about a few ways that I sneak more steps into my day (http://www.probablyrachel.com/stepping-it-up/). Aside from parking farther away, I've been setting mini goals throughout the day for the number of steps I should take by lunch and by dinner.
ReplyDeleteOops - I LOST my Fitbit, like I think last week......
ReplyDeleteOh NO!!!!!
DeleteI have a fitbit - same color as yours (2 of them - I bought a second one when I thought I lost the first). It encourages me to walk to a colleague's office instead of phoning or emailing them, or at lunch walk to the restaurant a block or 2 farther away, or getting off 1 train station before my usual stop. Every little step helps me move. But I live in a city where walking is the norm (and even then, I don't always reach my 10,000 steps target).
ReplyDeleteI read a news report of a study which concluded that walking 7,000 steps is a good enough goal. And did you know that there is no scientific basis for the 10,000 steps? The number was first promoted by a Japanese pedometer maker as a marketing ploy.
Good to know!! I'm working my way up, at 6300 this week, but maybe I'll cap my goal at 7,000, Then when I do more, it's fine, but I'll be at a goal that seems more reasonable.
DeleteMy Fitbit helped me move around more until it didn't! Haha, when I first got it I was so determined to get 10,000 steps but then as time wore on and I usually hovered between 3,000-4,000 per day, I got discouraged and stopped wearing it...I should probably get it back out :-P
ReplyDelete