Before accusing someone of cheating

[SunsetRunner]

this is suppose to be a friendly forum, so before you accuse someone of cheating, have you taken into consideration, fitness level, step length and spm?

someone that is 6' 4" will complete 1 mile quicker than someone that is 5' 8" due to step length, just like someone that is 5' 8" will do more steps in that same mile than someone that is 6' 4"

someone that is fit will complete that 1 mile quicker than some who is not

take 2 people with different fitness levels, it goes without saying that the person that is fitter will do that 1 mile quicker than the person who is not

someone that is 5' 8" and fit, may complete that one mile quicker/sametime as someone who is 6' 4" and unfit, they may have shorter step length, but their spm will be higher

someone who works 9 hours a day sat down will do less steps in those hours than someone working on their feet

even if everything was the same, same height, fitness level, step length, steps per minute, same amount of spare time etc, determination/dedication comes into it, someone who is determined will do more steps than someone who is not

etc

it is not as clearcut as black and white

[ShariGaskins]

I understand that some people can't begin to fathom getting 50 plus steps a day. However it is possible. There are many factors to consider . Time being one of them ... I have done 60k steps in one day. It literally takes all day.  As someone stated , stride is another factor. I have gotten into marathon running  and have noticed that my  friend which is a lot taller typically has more steps than I do in a shorter period of time. I honestly do not think anyone is cheating! What would be the point?

[Bosoxlancer]

Make sure you set your custom stride lengths in your profile settins so that you are getting accurate readings as well... I think this is often overlooked by users.

[SunsetRunner]

a typical working day

30 mins to wake up get out of bed and get ready
15 mins breakfast
45 mins travel to work
8.5 hours work
45 mins travel back home
45 mins dinner including prep/cooking/washing
30 shower
30 mins to fall asleep
8 hours sleep

leaving you 3 hours and 30 minutes free time

now someone who is retired/unemployed etc

30 mins to wake up, get out of bed and get ready
15 mins breakfast
30 mins lunch
1 hour 30 mins travel to and from shop plus shopping
45 mins to prep, cook and eat dinner
30 mins shower
30 mins to fall asleep
8 hours sleep

leaving 11 hours and 30 minutes free time

a big difference in free time

[ShariGaskins]

Yep!

[SunsetRunner]

exactly

if you suspect someone you are competing against is cheating, then unfriend then, etc

but to accuse some random person who you do not know, or are not competing against?

I couldn't careless if every single person on this forum is cheating, it does not affect me in any way, not that I am saying any one is, but I simply do not see the point in cheating etc, people bought the device to exercise and lose weight, so by lying/cheating, they are only decieving themselves, and buying this device would simply have been a waste of money

anyway, enough of this subject, I will not bring this subject up again, this is suppose to be a friendly forum, and for members to support each other etc

merry xmas, happy new year, happy walking/jogging/running and hope everyone loses all that weight gained from the xmas dinner and eventually hit their target weight and stay at that weight 🙂

[shari]

I have no idea what you are talking about. You must have the wrong Shari.
I have never contacted the Fitbit community. Did not really know that it
existed. Sorry it happened it happened to you.

[SunsetRunner]

sorry Shari, msg was for ShariGaskins

[ShariGaskins]

I agree. I would never be bold or rude enough to say someone is
cheating.

[Gershon]

Height doesn't matter. A step is a step. The steps per mile is irrelevant. So is setting the wrong stride length. It will still count a step as a step.

50,000 steps is about 24 miles a day. Less if backpacking, but the effort on hills is greater.

Among the long-distance hiking world, there are few that average 24 miles a day for an extended time. They usually take a zero day every few days. Those I know who walked across the United States averaged about 20 miles a day. They had some 39 mile days because the longest distance between water on the common routes is 78 miles. They took a day off the day before the two 39 mile days and a day off after. 

There just aren't many real world examples of people averaging 24 miles a day for an extended time. I'll concede 30 miles a day because of random steps during the day. When people start claiming an average of 70,000 steps a day, all I can say is there are few historical precedents for this.

I wouldn't accuse an individual of cheating. But I do know the frequency of people averaging over 50,000 steps a day is improbable. Especially since Fitbit Premium gives the maximum steps ANYONE averages a day and it's usually  between 29,000 and 30,000.

[Gershon]

Here is an activity group where someone is averaging about 82 miles a day. This is beyond unreasonable as it breaks the world record set by the famed pedestrians in the early 20th century. And they were only able to do it for a week.

These people always hide their profile so you can't see how many hours it took to get the steps.

There are activity groups with prizes and the leaders are clearly doing something fishy. 

Yes, it does make a difference to everyone. Walgreen's gives a small amount of money to Fitbit walkers/runners. There are other companies doing the same. Maybe more companies would if people weren't cheating.

Personally, I don't think logged steps should count for competitions. I don't know that they do as I've never tried it. If my battery dies or I leave my Fitbit home one day, that's my bad luck.

Maybe Fitbit will come out with a surgically implanted model where it's impossible to cheat. 🙂

[Algenon]

If someone is cheating, then they are cheating themselves and it is their issue so I would never accuse anyone..  I know the people I friend do not cheat....I think it would be easy to spot.

[Wafer47]

Wow,I have someone in my group who has 3.8 million steps so far in Dec,how could that be? I walked everyday 3 to 4 hrs a day,it is a chore and very time consuming to keep it up,it is a good thing that I am retired and able to have the free time.To do 50,000 a day a douable but it is a lot of walking,you need to be retired and no one to answer to.

[SunsetRunner]

if I was in a group competing then yes, but I am not in a group nor am I compteing against anyone, I am in it for myself, to get back into health, it affects noone but myself, so why on earth would I cheat?

it isn't like if I said I walked 1 million steps a day I would get fitter quicker

if someone in a group I was competing in was logging high amounts of steps, then I would simply discuss it with the other members and remove the said person from the group, but I certainly would not go randomly accusing people I do not know anything about as cheating, depending on the persons situation, 40/50k is easily doable, heck, if I was fitter and I'd jog/run and log more steps, better than what I used to do, sit on my backside watching tv all day or sleep

[SunsetRunner]

said day, I did 40138, I am unemployed and not exactly in best of health, with a bit of dedication, I did that, so for someone who is in a similar position and in better health, I am sure they could knock out higher steps

not to mention, I am not doing 40k everyday, since getting the zip, I am averaging around 25k, but if I was healthier, if I wanted to, I am sure could as I have the whole day free

this is said day

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B1-8GFRHN2w3YXVwVnBZWVFXOWc/edit?usp=docslist_api

now take today, 12:38pm 4035 steps, and I just want to cabbage out

[HelenaFitbit]

My 2 cents: 

There are infinite ways to get your tracker to count more steps to a certain goal, I mean... put it on your cat's leash and toss a ball of paper in the air so she can play!  

In the end, the only person you are tricking is yourself, because one day you'll have to prove all of your tracking (or lack of it) and things will crumble. The point of all of this, is that you are doing the walking, dancing and going up the stairs to have a happier, healthier you; if you are cheating, the only one affected is the cheater. 

Honesty is the best policy, even if you log 11,000 steps one day and 850 the other. 

[Gershon]

Wytey,

SInce different moderators have come into threads with this topic, I figure the original subject is becoming taboo. In my opinion, it may even violate the Fitbit Guidelines. Sometimes I can take a hint. 🙂 

Maybe it's time to make a cookbook with the number of steps I take while making different meals. 

[HelenaFitbit]

I dance while cooking, so I end up making a lot of steps 

[SunsetRunner]

whistle or sing yes, but dance? isn't that a little dangerous in the kitchen?

[SunsetRunner]

since we have moved onto cooking and kitchen, give this recipe a try, it will knock you socks off!

http://britishfood.about.com/od/recipeindex/r/beefalepie.htm

Jamie Oliver's version

http://www.food.com/recipe/steak-and-guinness-pie-jamie-oliver-429784