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

[_daniel_]

---

@Gershon wrote:

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

You wrote that Fitbit Premium gives the maximum steps ANYONE averages a day and it's usually  between 29,000 and 30,000. I have a trial subscription to premium and I can't find where to access data like that. Can you describe how to get to data like that in the user interface? I see a Benchmark tab where I can see at a high level how I compare to others, but I don't see how to drill down into the data to get any details. 

thanks

[Gershon]

Daniel,

If you find one of the bell curves and hover over the bars, it will tell you the average number of steps in the week. As I got to thinking about it, maybe there is a minimum number of people before the smallest bars on the right will show. 

Gershon

[_daniel_]

Gershon

Okay. Thanks. I can see those bell curves. I just figured the number of people to the right of 30,000 was so small they weren't included in curve, but I don't know that. I wish the tool allowed us to drill down into the data behind the graphics. I would like to see the actual, total number of people being sampled and the actual number of people hitting the highest numbers.  

My impression is that people hitting average daily numbers of 30k+ are very much outliers in the real world. Which is not always the impression I get reading anecdotal testimonies on the forum, where people make 30k+ sound like the new normal/easy.

[Gershon]

Daniel,

The number is high enough that I think it eliminates any anomalies like a seven foot kid in the sixth grade messing up an average.

I'd consider 30,000 steps to be more like 25,000 steps of real walking which is about 12 miles. That's doable for many people although there will likely be breaks due to minor injuries and fatigue. People naturally tell fish stories about their performance. I see people say they average over 30,000 steps when they don't have a single day over 30,000 steps in their profile. That's human nature and I don't worry about it.

If you want to know what is enough, check out books on Aerobics by Ken Cooper. For minimum good health, he suggests 30 miles of walking a week. This doesn't include random steps around the house, etc. You need about 60 miles a week for optimum benefit. This makes walking a rather inefficient form of exercise for cardiovascular fitness. On the other hand, many people say walking is the best exercise there is. Choose your side because it probably doesn't matter as long as you get enough exercise somehow and eat well.

The 10,000 step theory is based on a Japanese study that showed people who get over about 10,000 steps a day are healthier. There is a recent field of study called "sedentary physiology" that addresses this. There is plenty of information on Google. A person who only gets 10,000 steps isn't doing much to help their cardiovascular system unless they are doing other cardio exercises.

If you are one of those who wants a fair contest, then I suggest competing against your personal goals and increasing them slowly until reaching a maintenance level. 

[shelene]

If u want it u find time and make time