Exhausted?

[kxk261]

I walk less than 4000 steps during the workday.  To reach my goal of 10,000 steps I need to run a minimum of 4 miles everyday.  I tend to run these miles becuase I need to get home and don't want to waste my time.  After 14 days of meeting my goal every day I am exhausted.  

How many people can run 4 to 5 miles every day!   If I switch to swiming/biking/areobics class etc I will never reach my goal because fitbit only recognizzes steps.   

I also don't believe the step count is actuate becuase 20 minutes of walking tends to generate more or less the same number of steps as 20 minutes of running even though I covered twice the distance running.   I am running at a 9 minute mile pace. 

Maybe fitbit is NOT for me. Anyone else feel the same way?

[Tcup]

I typically run 1.5 miles in the morning on the treadmill which takes about 20 minutes- but after that I am exhausted! However, I have started drinking or eating a little bit of protein within 30 minutes of my workout and it re-energizes me! The rest of my steps I get from walking to work, walking on my lunch break and walking home. I average about 13,000 steps/per day.

But I am definitely exhausted after running in the morning!

[wrongway]

Correct me if I am wrong but is you stride not longer when you run vs walking? 

[SunsetRunner]

running 4mi a day!  ROCKING!!!  Regardless of what your fitbit is telling you!

But doing it every day...not sure about the impact on your body and recovery time.  Recovery time will be very diet (meaning foods) dependent.  Faster recovery with plant- based, whole foods vs stand animal based fare.....check out brendan brazier as a reference.

I can kind of struggle like you as spending LOTS of time at work sat at computer or on telecon.  But squeezing in a 20 min walk at some point should be do able.  Also parking as far away as possible...but as you can run to/from work, sounds like you live and take mass transit to get to/from work so not so much of an option.

Personally, if on some days I knocked out my 2-3 mile run, whether or not fitbit gave me full credit for it, I know I did good.  Haven't tried fitbit at Krav class, but fully expect that it would not accurately measure the intensity of the workout.  Ditto with weights.  It's a too to get up off the couch, have a goal to shoot for...adapt as needed based on what you do.

I'd worry that if all you're doing is walking/running every day to get the 1000 steps, there's a lot of other body parts you're not addressing too?

[kxk261]

I agree that running every day is not ideal, but how else can I reach my step goal.  I don't have time after working a 10 hr day to walk 3 hrs to get the "required" number of steps. 

I personally don't think fitbit is an ideal way for me to measure fitness to match my life style.

I want to reach the step goal EVERY day but I also know my body CAN"T keep going running 4+ miles EVERY day.  I think I need a new metric. 

[SunsetRunner · Accepted solution]

Me.....I'd chuck it under the same mental goals of tracking total calories per day, gms of this or that...let the mirror be your judge.  IF, you know what you're eating, know what you've exercised, if on the busy day's you fall short of 10000 steps...does it matter?

But, if you're largely sedentary, and this is a chance for your activity.  Do what you can.  Knock out the 10000 steps MWF, and on T/Thurs take a break.   4-5mi every day is ambitious unless when you're training for a marathon or sim...

Just my thoughts.  Adapt what your doing to what you can do.  Then go from there...

[SunsetRunner]

though note....a bit dorky but effective just the same, however short you are, some marching in place after you get home still counts! and is still legitemate 'steps'...

[Stephen1227]

Hi kxk261, 

Personally, I think fitbit is awesome!  It encourages movement and fitness.  I think that if you are doing activities that benefit your health and result in better fitness, it really shouldn't matter all that much how many steps you take in a day.  In fact, cross training is good.  And cross training can include walks or runs when you can get them in.  Perhaps the biggest benefit of fitbit--besides it being a constant reminder to exercise--is the benefit of being a member of an impressively supportive, compassionate, and knowledgeable community.  

[Heybales]

Fitbit can be for you, perhaps the goals are not though.

I could care less about the VAM, steps, ect goals, meaningless to me.

I've got my workouts, and they are being done no matter what.

The fact that logging the running for more accurate calorie burn lowers the steps and miles is meaningless to me.

The fact I only get half steps on my biking is meaningless to me.

The fact that my TDEE was 5000, and I want 10% deficit so I better eat about 4500 calories to do another hard workout tomorrow - that has meaning for me.

The fact my much needed rest day was 2500 daily burn, and I want 250 deficit - that has meaning for me.

I've actually seen ones skip a more meaningful workout because it would take time away from getting steps to reach a goal.

Wow - talk about a mis-application of a tool, when their stated purpose was to be more healthy in general.

[gerrymcd]

Its all too easy to get locked into meeting goals and daily targets.   But, we all have good days and not so good days.  Days we feel full of energy, and days when everything feels like an effort.  The real goal is to be consitent and mindfull of the need to move (and possibly eat less).   Fitbit and the like can help with that, but you shouldn't let it become an overbearing PT instructor.  If you feel tired, rest.  If you feel energetic turn around and run another mile or two.  If you feel you are being forced to do something you have no control over - like run when you are tired - you will soon quit completely. 

Perhaps you should consider cutting the number of goal steps?  For some people its motivational to have a goal thats difficult to achieve, for others having a goal they can't meet every single day is disheartening.   Its an individual thing, with no approach better than the other.  Perhaps cutting your goal to 5k steps and meeting this will keep you motivated in the long run?

[katie-45]

Any way you can fit more steps in during your day? I walk to and from work, so it's easier for me (about 6500 steps just commuting), but if you drive it's a bit trickier. Try parking at the far end of the parking lot and taking a lap around the lot before going inside. Take a lap before getting in your car in the evening. Stand at your desk and walk in place when you're on the phone. Take the long way around to the bathroom. Go talk to your coworker, rather than calling them. Walk between stores in a strip mall, rather than moving your car each time. Walk the long way around in the grocery store. Never use a drive-through service. Walk in place while watching tv. Take the stairs rather than the elevator. Walk up escalators. It seems like a pain, but if you adjust your thinking to default to more steps, not what's quickest or most convenient, eventually these habits will be automatic. You'll still need actual exercise that gets your heart rate up, but trying to get all your steps in one go is much more exhausting than spreading them out!