Is 10,000 steps a day too much?

My Fitbit isn't a fancy one and I don't pay any extra for online extras with it. I find it reassuring re my heart rate, sleep, steps and active zone minutes. It also shows how long I've been sitting all day which always gets me up out of my seat!

I would say - don’t do it! A 10,000 step goal may actually cause you some discomfort, not to mention added chance of twisting an ankle or falling and breaking a bone.

At our senior ages we should do just enough to stay healthy and that would vary by everyone’s individual health status, age and mobility. Use common sense. Your dog walking duty sounds like plenty to me. Once the pup goes home do try to keep up the number of steps each day… then go home and take a nap. 😉

Never leave home without your phone in your pocket!
USA Gundy

Aveline

My Fitbit isn't a fancy one and I don't pay any extra for online extras with it. I find it reassuring re my heart rate, sleep, steps and active zone minutes. It also shows how long I've been sitting all day which always gets me up out of my seat!

That’s the bit that makes me laugh, Aveline. It always seems to remind me to stand, in the middle of Only Connect!

I'm 82 and walk 3 mile most days, so clearly doable, well for me, as I don't have arthritis or rheumaticy joints. A lady i know who is 93 walks two mile daily.

I’ve recently purchased a Garmin Vivosmart 5 Health & fitness tracker. I love the way it daily varies my recommended steps total depending on average daily activity and based on my age and other health data. It’s usually between 3-5k. Health issues make it difficult for me to get a set daily total of steps in or do a decent walk. But as long as I’m active and manage some walks during a week I’m OK with that. I think the stress of struggling to reach a set target is counter productive. As others have said, the 10k daily target has been debunked - and was probably aimed at much younger people anyway.

Spidergran3
As others have said, the 10k steps daily target has been debunked - and was probably aimed at much younger people anyway.
DH, whose steps are shorter than mine always has a higher step count when we go out together. I’d rather look at distance, and then look at our dog’s Fitbit, which shows that she has run at least 3 times as far as we’ve walked.

10K steps a day is doable but depends on your health and fitness. I would not want to do it everyday on my own as it would get boring. I am a member of a couple of rambling groups and often do more than 10K but it never seems so far when you are chatting.

Just a word of warning - we did 10,000 steps a day every day for 5 months during lockdown. (We were looking after our 16 month old DGS, didn't have a car, and there wasn't a lot to do other than walk, pushing him in the buggy! I developed plantar fasciitis ( a very painful heel condition) and 3 years later am still suffering. Don't over-do it! I would say 5000 steps a day is ample.

We try to walk at least 8,000 steps a day, but often achieve 14,000 or more. DH is 71 and has heart failure. We have built up our steps gradually. Do you have a friend who would like to go for walks? Maybe join a local rambling club. My Grandad walked up to 10 miles a day well into his 80's. He cut that to a 6 mile round trip to the newsagents every day until the day he died aged 96, when my Auntie found him asleep with his cup of tea and the newspaper open on his lap.

Someone shared this article recently that said a lot less than 10000 was necessary. If you walk 5000 you are getting most of the health benefits. Anything above this only makes a marginal difference. I try to average 10000 a day but fail miserably as my average is closer to 7000 - typically there are a few days a week when I hardly walk for whatever reason.

www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-12385553/Dont-worry-fall-short-10000-steps-day.html

I think the key word here for all those satisfied is 'dog'. Because it's not just the steps ...I mean the steps don't distinguish between walking round a supermarket or through the woods...the doggies get you to the woods which is doubly good for you.

We are actually allowed to walk in the woods without a dog!

Though I did meet a woman on a lockdown walk who asked me where mine was and said she didn’t think people without dogs went out for walks.

Maggiemaybe I often have people looking for my dog when walking footpaths around our village. Although I haven't had a comment like the one you received.

Currently I am walking with my blackberrying bag. I have 5lbs and hope to get more.

10,000 steps a day? Or 7,000?
The Lancet has just published a report saying that it is not necessary to walk 10,000 steps a day and 7,000 is enough. The idea of 10,000 steps a day has always been wrong!
In East Asia, including China and Japan, the number 10,000 merely signifies "A lot!". When the Chinese say "May you live 10,000 years!" they do not really expect it of course. It just means "A long life to you!" It is the rough equivalent of hearing in English "I've told you a million time not to do that!" They haven't really as we know.
Many Asian counting systems use multiples of ten thousands whereas in the West we go from thousands then jump to millions.
We fell into a culture gap with fit bits, smart watches and pixel watches etc.

GrandmaKT

Just a word of warning - we did 10,000 steps a day every day for 5 months during lockdown. (We were looking after our 16 month old DGS, didn't have a car, and there wasn't a lot to do other than walk, pushing him in the buggy! I developed plantar fasciitis ( a very painful heel condition) and 3 years later am still suffering. Don't over-do it! I would say 5000 steps a day is ample.

Just seen this thread.

Try Fitflop footwear. I had plantar fascitis once - for just a few weeks. Read about Fitflop footwear and bought a couple of pairs and just wore them when out. Job done - problem solved. Thankfully they do make some attractive and normal-looking footwear - as I would never consider wearing "medical" looking footwear even on a temporary basis.

Grammaretto

I find even reading about all these steps exhausting!😀

If I get the urge to do some exercise, I lie down until the urge goes away.

Granmaretto, I love you!,

It was on the r4 Today programme this morning. Apparently 7000 is fine, but basically any movement is better than none.

I was out the other day and did 16,000 steps but to look at me I don’t seem super fit but I like a good walk. The most I have recorded was 24,000. My favourite cliff walk so a hard one, but the views are fantastic. ,

I think all these “targets” are entirely arbitrary, certainly the 10,000 one was when first used as a publicity gimmick.
But more walking and more exercise are good for us and if you walk that bit more to meet some self- imposed target, you will benefit.
Plantar fasciitis is caused by tight calf muscles, possibly aggravated by the wrong shoes, but not usually by walking itself.
I suffered for 6 months a couple of years ago and found a combination of calf stretching exercises twice a day, wearing Birkenstock clog slippers in the house( never bare feet ) and occasional shock wave therapy from a podiatrist saw it off.

At 71, I found 10,000 too much, and was get stressed trying to average 10k/day over a week. And I was getting very tired after a walk. I switched to 7,500.
Imagine my delight when Naga Munchetty told me this morning that 7.5k was enough!

Frankly I think this is all a load of rubbish.

Everything in moderation!

Mum lived until 101, my aunt until 96, they had never heard of this silliness.

My mother’s motto was “I’d rather wear out rather than rust out” and to this end she was as active as she felt happy with.

It all gets too intense imo.

Happy if I get to 2K. Yes about 1K just around the housework, gardening etc.

They now say nearer 7000. I do 10000 nearly every day without trying but I have been active all my life. As long as you move every day.

CanadianGran

I find 7000 to be a good day for me. But I still work, sitting at t desk for 8 hrs, so I have a limited time to get in those steps!

On a weekend or holiday I will get more. I think it's more important to stay busy throughout the day, to get the heart rate up several times per day, rather than get all your exercise in one longer time. My sedentary lifestyle (desk work) is not very healthy.

I read the other day that 7000 steps is considered to be around the right level.

Totally unnecessary 10,000 steps a day.
I think some people have possibly tried to achieve this thinking it’s a good thing, and have suffered with all sorts of problems.

As long as one keeps moving on a daily basis.

I heard about a chap who forced himself to walk into town every day to up his steps count and exhausted himself.
He was so relieved to hear that it wasn’t necessary and could do fewer steps.
And is it really necessary to count every step?
Absolutely not.

I had to smile when a character on a TV programme said the only steps she takes are the ones behind the coffins of her fit friends.
I have an hour's walk most days but don't count steps.
10000 steps a day was plucked out of the air by a Japanese man and has become the benchmark with no evidence.