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Health

Number of steps

(74 Posts)
Stillness Thu 29-Jan-26 20:19:38

I see that it’s recommended that a 70 year old woman walks 6000 to 8000 steps a day. Do you honestly do this every day? I don’t! ( even though I’m out most days).

Norah Thu 29-Jan-26 20:24:35

Yes, I do, walking with husband and dog.

Visgir1 Thu 29-Jan-26 20:45:57

Most days yes...

fancythat Thu 29-Jan-26 20:48:34

I doubt it[doubt you will get many Gnetters saying they dont].
I have never put something on me to measure it.
I prob do more than I think[am not quite at that age yet], but doubt I reach that number.
I have never been very sporty.
I had hoped I would improve, but sadly, no.

Stillness Thu 29-Jan-26 21:10:10

I use the pedometer thingy on my phone ‘fancythat’. I don’t know if it’s really accurate…

Gran22boys Thu 29-Jan-26 21:16:46

I don’t. I mean how does anyone find the time every day!

crazyH Thu 29-Jan-26 21:26:53

I don’t count my steps - I go for a daily walk - walk around the house, up and downstairs, couple of times a day, doing my chores, cooking, cleaning etc. I’m not slim by any means, but I’m certainly not overweight.
Isn’t it a bit OCD, to keep counting steps ?

YorkLady Thu 29-Jan-26 21:31:03

We try to go for a 30 minute circuit walk every day. Add that to the normal walking around the house and I think I achieve that.
I think the most important thing is to get up and move throughout the day, not just counting your steps

SueDonim Thu 29-Jan-26 21:33:24

The number of steps we do a day is an arbitrary figure, not based on science but for an advertising campaign in Japan in the 60’s.

Obviously, exercise is good for us and our health and strength but we don’t need to fret over an artificial number, we can just enjoy what we do!

Chardy Thu 29-Jan-26 21:46:43

An hour walking the dog is about 5,000, and I'm not speedy!

Scribbles Thu 29-Jan-26 22:02:37

Whence came this obsession with numbers? Counting steps, counting calories; who cares? I'm a couch potato who loves food! If my clothes start to feel tight or I feel a little sluggish then I force myself to eat a little less each day and move a little bit more until the staus quo is restored. But counting anything? Nah. Life's too short.

Lathyrus3 Thu 29-Jan-26 22:24:30

Just the walk into town, a bit of shopping and the walk back home is 5-6000. Without anything else like everyday stuff around the house.

I admit I now have days when that’s an effort and I have to take a rest halfway, but I’m thankful I can still do it mostly.

Everything’s better if you can take a walk and enjoy all the things going on around you. Snowdrops, ducks on the river and several cheery greetings today 😀

tanith Thu 29-Jan-26 22:26:50

I walk everyday for around 45 mins my tracker says that is nearly 2miles that’s enough for me. Lots of stairs in my house and I walk on pavement, gravel paths and uneven ground up and down several hilly bits, I think varying the route and getting out in the fresh air is what’s important.

LOUISA1523 Thu 29-Jan-26 22:30:17

crazyH

I don’t count my steps - I go for a daily walk - walk around the house, up and downstairs, couple of times a day, doing my chores, cooking, cleaning etc. I’m not slim by any means, but I’m certainly not overweight.
Isn’t it a bit OCD, to keep counting steps ?

Not really...my phone counts my steps everyday ...sometimes I check...sometimes I don't

LOUISA1523 Thu 29-Jan-26 22:32:54

Scribbles

Whence came this obsession with numbers? Counting steps, counting calories; who cares? I'm a couch potato who loves food! If my clothes start to feel tight or I feel a little sluggish then I force myself to eat a little less each day and move a little bit more until the staus quo is restored. But counting anything? Nah. Life's too short.

It might be a little bit shorter if you keep sitting on that couch

Maggiemaybe Thu 29-Jan-26 23:09:36

Yes, I do over 8000 most days. I used to aim for 10k, but found it a few steps too far. I like to get out for a brisk walk nearly every day, even if I’m just walking into town, doing a bit of shopping and bussing back. On very wet days I’ll often join in with a walking exercise video on YouTube. I know the original 10k was just an arbitrary number, but if I don’t exercise I just feel sluggish.

25Avalon Thu 29-Jan-26 23:48:47

No idea. What is it in miles? If I go to the shop and back it’s 2/3rds of a mile. Is that enough? Otherwise I am digging in the garden so does that count instead? Exercise is key but not necessarily measured in steps.

Maggiemaybe Fri 30-Jan-26 00:20:09

It depends on the size of your steps. I think mine are pretty average and my watch tells me 1 mile for me is 2300 steps.

MissChateline Fri 30-Jan-26 05:21:43

I’m 71. I do count my steps using an Apple watch and make sure I do at least 10,000 every day. I’m away on holiday at the moment exploring Egyptian temples and yesterday I did 27,000 steps. At least twice a year I go on a walking holiday where we are hiking for several hours a day. I think it’s really important to keep moving. One of my personal favourites is when I have several things to be taken upstairs I take one at a time so I’m doing more stairs every day. I have 3 flights of stairs in my tall thin house. My motto is “everything helps” in keeping me fit and healthy.

karmalady Fri 30-Jan-26 06:37:26

Yes I do that optinum number of steps at least, even if indoors all day, I am always moving around and up and down stairs too. I dont actually aim for a set number of steps, it just happens

Most days I add a short walk of around 30 minutes. It is so important to keep moving and lifting. I am 78 and still walk upright and have working muscles. I am no exercise lover, the exercise just happens and works with or because of, my healthy anti-inflammatory eating,

Two or three times a week I do incorporate a steep hill in my walk, enough to make me puffed, recovery is good, which makes me happy

I know about the number of steps I do, now I bought myself a garmin vivoactive last month

It is all about getting old healthily and being able to continue with summer cycling and my allotment and keeping my inner vital force in a good active state. So I can enjoy my life

Stillness Fri 30-Jan-26 07:01:23

I believe 8000 steps is possible 4 miles. And saying I don’t do that, I’ve forgotten about the stuff indoors..and I live in a big house! But thanks for the replies. Yes I agree it’s rather obsessive to keep thinking about it and I don’t and wouldn’t know if that’s good for you or not (although clearly being active is) but I was just interested to hear other people’s take on it.

Calendargirl Fri 30-Jan-26 07:28:50

I think we can just get bogged down with fretting how many steps we take, how much sleep we are getting, what our stress levels are……

All these gadgets that measure them are there for a purpose, getting us to invest in them.

As someone else said, how do you measure a ‘step’? One of my steps will be different to my DH’s. 🤷‍♀️

We just need to try and keep moving and not sit about too much.

HowVeryDareYou2 Fri 30-Jan-26 07:35:02

Scribbles

Whence came this obsession with numbers? Counting steps, counting calories; who cares? I'm a couch potato who loves food! If my clothes start to feel tight or I feel a little sluggish then I force myself to eat a little less each day and move a little bit more until the staus quo is restored. But counting anything? Nah. Life's too short.

I agree.

Maremia Fri 30-Jan-26 07:56:00

You will be amazed at how many steps you do around the house.

MartavTaurus Fri 30-Jan-26 08:16:44

Calendargirl

I think we can just get bogged down with fretting how many steps we take, how much sleep we are getting, what our stress levels are……

All these gadgets that measure them are there for a purpose, getting us to invest in them.

As someone else said, how do you measure a ‘step’? One of my steps will be different to my DH’s. 🤷‍♀️

We just need to try and keep moving and not sit about too much.

I agree, these gadgets can become an obsession. Count your steps, count your distance, count your heart beat, count your good sleep pattern, count your calories, count your life away! Of course, if there's a medical need for them, and they are interpreted sensibly, that's different.
What is "normal " for one person is not "normal" for another.
Hiving said that, my daily walk is around 2 hours, I'm forced out in all weather's by two big dogs, I in a beautiful part of the country in which makes it envigorating to do so.