Activity vs Steps

[SunsetRunner]

Hi all, Being an office worker I can find it very hard to hit my 10k steps, however, I am a gym member so will get my activity and like to record this with my Charge 2 but this often include non step based exercises. So as you imagine I don't win the challenges, it's a shame their aren't any challenges for activity.

I just wondered what people considered more important, steps or activity?

Thanks

[WendyB]

I dont think either one is more important.

You can go vote for it here

https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Feature-Suggestions/Active-Minutes-Challenge/idi-p/1192830

[BarkingBoyInOz · Accepted solution]

Hi Clarebear that's a good question and something i've often wondered given the huge emphasis on 'steps' in the Fitbit world.  I personally don't feel that even brisk walking/stepping on flat ground has much of an impact on my 'fitness' level-i need a full on bike, circuit session or a fast uphill walk to feel like i've given my body a reason to adapt. But, where i do see steps as being good is in countering the effect of not moving, so that even if by itself it hasn't done a lot for my fitness, the more steps the better because that means you have spent less time being sedentary with all the nasties that will bring-maybe steps are a  kind of a side salad to other more intense forms of exercise? That's just me though, so depending on their fitness level, even 3000 steps a day might be a postive increase in activity 'load' for some people. Caveat: i'm not an exercise scientist so these are just my thoughts based on my experience.

[WavyDavey]

Steps are a great entryway into getting more fit, but like @SunsetRunner said, there's lots of activity that isn't covered. I go back Active Minutes a lot, which requires effort of at least 10 minutes duration. It's hard to know from looking at Steps just how concentrated the effort is. There's a big difference between steps that come from walking, running, stairs etc. The most useful measure for me is calories-burned to determine intensity.

[A_Lurker]

I stopped chasing the steps a little while back.  I started with well under 10,000 a day - then worked up to over 20,000 each day (hit 25,000 a couple of times).  I like to look at active minutes and calories burned more.  I do make a point to still aim for the 10,000 steps.  I just don't pay as much attention to them.  I use a rower, an elliptical, a treadmill, and free weights.  Some of them will push my steps up more than others.  All raise my heart rate to different levels.

[KSCalgary]

Hi, I think both are good, I too sit at a desk all day, but every morning I park my car at back of parking lot, the walk is longer. All the running around in morning getting ready for work adds up in steps. Then I purposely will walk  around the office to speak to people about work related issues if I have been sitting for too long, not just email all the time. At lunch I will walk down to the cafeteria to see the wall menu even if I brought a lunch. As well I use the stairs at work and use the furthest bathroom in the building. Surprisingly it all adds up. Then that is not even counting the daily 45min work out I do or the dog walk. The dog needs his exercise. LOL. So, I think both are good, walking around and doing an actual workout are both healthy.

[emili]

I think both are important depending on where you are in your fitness level. I am step obsessed at times and ignore other parts of my fitness- until I catch myself doing it and reset my priorities. I have declined challenges because they don't help the obsession. my best days are in the spring/summer when I get a good gym work out and can be outside getting the rest of my "challenge" steps naturally.

[USAF-Larry]

As @WendyB said, I don't think one is more important than the other, but different exercises or activity will record one or the other.  For example, I enjoy hiking which adds a lot of steps and mileage, but not much other activity due to my frequent stops for pictures, etc..  But, working out on the Elliptical it does not create many steps or much mileage, but it does greatly increase the heart rate and records Active Minutes.  In fact, I may see more Active Minutes recorded for a 30 to 45 minute Elliptical workout than for a 2 hour hike.

[SunsetRunner]

I agree, I can do a gentle stroll round the block in my 15min break and it counts as active minutes and my heart rate hasn't really increased but to me active minutes are gym, hiking, biking etc, anything where I get my heart rate up. I have to admit I don't worry so much about the calories burned but if I can get my heart rate into Peak for a good few minutes and then try and beat those few minutes next time I'm happy. I have a long way to go to get my fitness levels up and want to lose around 5 stone but I've at least started lol

[cward1129]

I have been wondering about this also. Averaging about 6k steps a day, I consider myself active but it seems that I am always so far below everyone else in regards to steps.  I've started to focus more on quality vs quantity and not put too much emphasis on steps.  I also work a desk job. However I have a standup desk.  I alternate between sitting and standing and also do stretches throughout the day.  I walk as much as possible and exercise. I'm losing fat and continue to build muscle as well.  My primary exercises are the elliptical and strength training which do not yeild very many steps.  I also enjoy step aerobics.  I don't understand how so many people are getting 20k steps a day ubless their job requires lots of walking. Even on my most active days, walking all day, running errands, exercising, etc. I don't get near that many steps.

That said, I'm not sure the number of steps per day is as important as activity, self care or diet.  I think it's time to rethink the whole steps movement.  It's really not about how many in my opinion.  Unless you live a sedentary lifestyle.  My thought would be to diversify the metrics and to add more emphasis on tracking food as well as other activities including standing hours vs sitting.