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How far do you walk in a typical day?

(73 Posts)
Oriel Thu 24-Aug-17 16:56:42

I know that it's recommended to do 10,000 steps a day, approx 5 miles. Does anyone manage to do that much?

I walk my dog every day on downland, so up and down hills, and on average do around 2 miles daily (measured on my phone). I'm not sure how many other steps I do as I don't carry my phone on me all the time but in total I guess I do around 2.5-3.5 miles a day... way short of the recommended.

Does anyone manage to do the 5 miles a day?

Granjan06 Fri 25-Aug-17 17:58:05

Definitely nowhere near, I work full-time 14 miles from home so drive to and from work (spend most of time sitting behind a desk), by the time I have had tea, washed up etc I am usually going out of the door to Rainbows, Guides or Rehearsal and although moving about definitely don't do the 10,000steps advocated.

dahlia08 Fri 25-Aug-17 20:17:36

It varies....when I go for a walk......1 hr. about 7 to 8 thousands steps and by the end of the day if I go to the shop, by the end of the day I will do from between 9 to 13,000 steps. If I don't go fo the walk it will be just average of 4,000 some days.

coast35 Fri 25-Aug-17 20:21:31

To those of you planning to keep your phone in your back pocket to count your steps, beware. It's the easiest way for a phone to slip out of your pocket into the loo. #fromonewho knows!!! Lol

Caroline123 Fri 25-Aug-17 20:46:23

I don't do 10,000 a day,only about 3,000 pottering. I only do the 10 if I specifically go for a walk which I don't very often.Dont know how everyone finds the time.

grannyticktock Fri 25-Aug-17 21:39:19

I'm lucky enough to live in a lovely village with beautiful walks right from my front door, so walking is a delight. I don't get hung up on the number of steps, I just try to have a daily walk. I think of it as a "dogless" walk - I meet lots of dog walkers but I don't want a dog and am happy to walk just for my own pleasure.

Sometimes it is an effort to make myself find my shoes and coat, lock up the house and head out for a walk, but I always feel better for it, both mentally and physically. If I don't get out at some point in the day, I start to feel restless and jumpy, and really miss my walking.

I realise, seeing some of the posts above, that I'm lucky to have no real mobility problems, and I want to make the most of my good health, and prolong it if I can.

NfkDumpling Fri 25-Aug-17 22:31:55

It's fine to say walk 10K steps or brisk walk ten minutes or whatever. My nice new right knee could do it, but the poor old left knee is feeling the strain and the hip isn't too keen either. Today I could just about totter 1000 yards. I guess that means I'm doomed!

WendyBT Sat 26-Aug-17 09:04:57

I usually do about 10,000 plus every day but I don't obsess about it. The most I ever managed was about 21,000 ŵhen delivering election stuff.

The important thing is to keep moving and set reasonable targets.

Helen369 Sat 26-Aug-17 09:17:22

A couple of weeks ago I bought a cheap fitness band and boy has it been an eye opener. I found on a usual day I was lucky to clock up 3,000 steps! Since then I've taken myself out for an hours walk most days and that clocks up 5 to 6 K steps, but I still find myself just before bedtime walking around the house so I get the ping to say I've completed the 10K lol. I recommend getting one, they're quite addictive and they've certainly got me off my butt!

Imperfect27 Sat 26-Aug-17 11:22:22

Do you find that Gransnet matters worm away in your brain? Yesterday, I am sure this post inspired me to walk to my 'local' train station instead of taking the car - 25 minutes including a shortcut across a cornfield. I also seemed to notice more 'middle-agers' out walking yesterday AND a few shy smiles were exchanged. Perhaps we were all trying to be extra good smile.

lovebeigecardigans1955 Sat 26-Aug-17 14:57:51

I know I walk much less than I should. One excuse - when I was learning to drive I needed the practice and so what was once our 'walk into town' became a 'drive to town and practice parking' experience.
If the weather's good I might go out to buy a newspaper on foot but I'm afraid the car wins almost every time. Not good, I know.

Maggiemaybe Sat 26-Aug-17 15:51:28

I get out for some brisk walking nearly every day, at about 3.5 miles an hour. There are still days when I clock up fewer than 1000 steps, if I'm doing admin etc, but I aim for an average of 8000 a day - 10000 was a step, or a few thousand, too far. I've a MiFit and it's motivational and very bossy. grin Like Helen369 I often end up marching round the house or jumping on the stepper to get to the ping late at night! Before that I found my cheap Daffodil pedometers were accurate and reliable (even though they couldn't withstand going through a hot wash) grin

illtellhim Sat 26-Aug-17 15:55:29

I've just checked my mobile, and it tells me that I've walked 5403 steps that's 2.37 miles and I've burnt off 1401 calories. I didn't think it was that far to the drinks cabinet.

Leticia Sat 26-Aug-17 19:27:19

I wear a pedometer every day and have managed to walk 10,000 steps a day (on average) since I started 3yrs ago.

Leticia Sat 26-Aug-17 19:28:23

Wearing the pedometer helps- if I haven't walked much by 4pm I go out for a walk.

goldengirl Sat 26-Aug-17 19:32:36

I haven't walked much today outside but I've been up and down the stairs umpteen times. DH is one for walking; he walks miles. I have problems walking but I know in my heart that if I were to walk a bit more it would do me good but I prefer to swim. There is no way I would be beholden to a gadget - I'd find that very stressful!

luluaugust Sat 26-Aug-17 20:37:19

Does the 10,000 apply whatever your age? surely it can't. In our fifties we walked miles, in our sixties pushed grandchildren miles and now - well we try but not sure its anywhere near 10,000.

grannyticktock Sat 26-Aug-17 21:03:03

It's just a number, a nice round one that is easy to recognise on displays etc. Nothing dramatic happens to people who walk a bit more or a bit less than that in a day. All walking is good. Not walking at all is bad (unless you can't walk, which is bad in a different way). Just relax about it and enjoy walking when you can.

NfkDumpling Sun 27-Aug-17 06:55:50

Thank you Ticktock.

For me walking is just a means to get from one place to another. Yesterday we went birding so I walked quite a long way. Today I'm making jam and ironing and cleaning the house, so shan't. Either way, I'll be active which is what I think matters.

Anya Sun 27-Aug-17 07:28:54

I'm sure we all sympathise with those who genuinely can't walk far, it will come to almost all of us in the end.

However there's obviously a hard core of sloths who just CBA'd to get up off their backsides and would rather just sit around all day.

seacliff Sun 27-Aug-17 07:38:57

I had a waist step counter years ago but it wasnt very accurate. I thick because I was overweight. I jiggled (?word?) And that made it register extra steps.

I live about 4.5 miles from any shops etc, so its hard to build walking into my daily routine. Likewise work, it's a 50 minute drive and there's nowhere to leave car apart from at work carpark. Just have to park on furthest side of supermarket and walk to it.

I am making excuses but it's not that easy. Also, for you that walk alone for an hour, do you get bored alone?

Anya Sun 27-Aug-17 07:47:42

Could you get a lift to the shop and walk home with you shopping in a trolley once or twice a week?

Could you go out for a walk in your lunch hour? That's becoming increasingly popular where I live, you see groups, pairs and individuals all off for their daily constitutional.

You might find a like-minded colleague who'll walk with you and keep each other motivated.

And what about during the evenings? Have you anyone who would go for a walk with you? It's a great way to get rid of the day to day stresses of work etc and have a good old natter.

Anya Sun 27-Aug-17 07:48:18

A trolley shopper I meant, not the supermarket trolley ?