Forgot to say, it shows a red bar when you have sat down for two hours at your computer.

Haven't got any stairs, so my count on that would be low.
Yes, it's easy to set up.
You just go on their website and follow the instructions. There is a USB stick that you plug in and you have to pair the USB with the Vivofit.
That's just pressing a button. There's only one button on the Vivofit. You just have to keep pressing the button to get steps, time, calories used up, miles walked.
You can buy a more expensive one which gives you heartrate as well, I think. Since I had my problem with the aorta, I feel my heart rate all the time anyway because of the medication I am on. I do not want to frighten myself even more!
My sister has the more expensive one, but she never talks about it, so I assume she has not caught up with my 10,000 steps yet. Either that or she's doing far more and doesn't want to embarrass me.

My son's just phoned up and suggested going to Gibside this afternoon, so I will get my extra steps done there. Lots of uphill, too.

How do you set it up, durham? Is it easy to understand? I'm a bit dim...
And does it count calories and heart rate too? My friend's one monitors climbing stairs, but I'm not sure I can see the point!

My son bought me a Garmin Vivofit for Christmas last year.
It's easy to use, and I do more walking than I used to. It's just like wearing a watch - in fact it is a watch as well.
If you do not want it to monitor your sleep, just take it off at night.
Garmin realised that there was a problem with people losing them, and gave an extra loop to put over the clasp so it cannot be pulled off accidentally.

I tried to ask about Fitbit-type step and calorie counters elsewhere but now I can't find the post at all - seems to have disappeared! However, I'm pleased to read this thread.
A friend showed me his Fitbit which seems to be an expensive model, whereas the Fitbit Zip is cheaper and isn't worn on the wrist. I worry it wouldn't be secure and fall off, or alternatively not be as useful as the fitbit charge. Any thoughts on these, Fitbit users? I am tempted, and Which? seemed to favour the Zip. I have a smartphone but I'm not that good at working things out - is it easy to set up and sync with the phone?

I feel that having one would motivate me to walk more, but I don't need it to monitor sleep, sing, dance or do the ironing!

Any advice?

Thank you for that, auntie, A reasonably active life should do it for most of us. That and the odd glass of wine, of course.

Oh Jing you did make me laugh. I love animal jokes. I can just see a pedometer attached to the dog's collar.

Been feeling a bit off/grotty recently and have not walked so much, this thread has encouraged to get moving again.

I love to walk, but don't measure my steps - just one more thing to strain the brain

Not a tyranny - a pleasure.
I average 10000 steps a day. I feel really good after a long walk, full of enthusiasm for whatever is coming next. Since being widowed I get very miserable and sorry for myself and walking is the answer, either alone or with a friend - gets the brain going, not to mention the heart, and I meet so many people on the way. Apparently walking helps delay the onset of dementia so I shall try to up my daily total
I wear Skechers Go-Walk which are like walking on air - heartily recommend them

I've always been a great walker, and 12 miles was a stroll to me. Unfortunately, arthritic feet have ended my distance walking, and I'm lucky if I can hobble around the local shops. I do as much static exercise as I can, adopting strange postures and clenching my muscles - I gather it's called 'Isometrics' but DD refers to it as 'jiggling'. I might follow the advice of another GNetter and have my feet removed and wheels fitted!

. How many steps does your little dog do?!

My little dog is the motivation and I average 15,000 steps a day. I don't bother with the calorie count, safe in the knowledge that a stop off for an ice cream and a flake has been countered by the activity, or am I fooling myself? In any case, dog walkers are a sociable bunch and mileage is hardly noticeable with someone to chat with.

I aim to do 10,000 steps a day. I wear a Fitbit flex all the time so every step counts and it all adds up. I used to be in competition with a friend and would be aiming for more - 15,000, 20,000,25,000 - but I became a bit obsessive and wasn't doing things around the house because I was out building up my step count. Now I am content with 10,000 and it's not the end of the world if I don't get it. As for shoes, comfort is very important for my poor feet so I always wear trainers or walking trainers. (The Fitbit is good but too expensive just for step counting, by the way!)

I aim for 5000 a day and often exceed that. It's very easy if you factor in shopping.

I don't own a pair of 'good leather shops' and as I habitually live in jeans, so a pair of Skechers usually suits me fine. I have two pairs on the go, old ones for walking the dog or going to the allotment and a 'good' pair for shopping, volunteer work, etc..

Yesterday I made the mistake of wearing a pair of heeled sandals for my guiding duties at the local church and after two hours I was almost crippled and had to ring for a lift home.

I use a Tanita pedometer. Very easy to use

I totally agree with this article. This kind of self tracking just makes us more mindful of what we are doing. Agreed we need to wear shoes that we can walk in but, hello, this is obviously and logically what is authentic and kind for our bodies anyway!
I have taken to bamboo socks and brightly coloured trainers and if other people don't like it then... I don't know actually.....I feel less need to care about this now.
I would like to share that my love of exquisite footwear still exists but this quest for endorphins and feel good is stronger!
As for clothing, I just put trainers with whatever I'm wearing..
Walking is time consuming but so is Facebook, the Internet in general and TV watching so...you take your choice.....

I have a Fitbit chargehr and it really does create data that I can use to inform my physical life. I like the fact that I can have a readout of the day's progress at any time. I love making it buzz when I reach 10,000 steps. I think that it would be fun to share with other gransnetters for support.... Anyone interested?

Just doing SOME walking every day, if possible, however short is better than nothing and if you can throw in a couple of longer walks during the week, great. I am lucky in that I live on the edge of a small town so unless I am walking with friends some where else, I can always find a reason to walk into town ( half an hour round trip) and having a reason to go for a walk even if it is just to pick up a few groceries make it easier to do regularly and more fun. And there is always the chance of meeting a friend on the way and having a chat. We have health walks in our area. Worth checking out.

Doreen5 and Gangang - I have a Fitbit Zip too.. I love the challenges that you can do. Perhaps we should start a GN Fitbit thread so we can challenge each other

It all sounds ghastly to me.

Well, there was a very popular thread on here about it last year. A lot of GNs were extremely keen...

I'm afraid I only walk from A to B. I can't see the sense of doing so many steps per day. I live in a town house with 4 floors and do house work. good old fashioned house work. Carting baskets of washing up from the laundry room etc etc. I have my freezer im the cellar as well as an old fridge and walk up and down durng the day. I cook and clean and wash tiled floors and 2 WCs.
I did have a cleaning lady when I had a bad back but she herself became ill and so I have not replaced her. That will have to do for me I refuse to spend my remaining days walking aimlessly counting steps on a phone.
Yes 10,000 steps a day is a tyranny.

Surely the important thing about exercise is to find something you enjoy.
I dislike these tyrannical edicts from the NHS. Cycling, swimming, Zumba, ballroom dancing, gardening or working out in a gym are all beneficial forms of exercise.
I like walking both in the countryside and in a city, not for the sake of the walking, but for the enjoyment of what I'm seeing. I don't see the point of walking just for the sake of it.

I use a Fitbit Zip and am always surprised by the amount of steps I generate. I manage at least 10,000 steps daily and in addition work out in the gym 3 times a week. Then there is of course dog walking, caring for an elderly mother, the allotment and running after the grandchildren on their bicycles, (we childcare 2 days a week), and I work part time. I love it!!!

I don 't have any walking aids unless a walking stick counts I know when I am too tired to walk any further.