How can a person average 80,000 steps in a day?

[prc1977]

I don't mean to call anybody out or question somebody's integrity but there are fitbit users who average better than 75K steps a day over the course of a week. Assuming they get eight hours of sleep, that means they're walking almost 40 minutes each hour every hour of the day unless they're asleep. Every day for a week.

It is possible that they're running or training for a marathon or walking really fast or are really really into this walking thing but it seems like it is too much. Any way you do the math, it is an incredible amount of walking and it is sustained over the entire week.

What's the most anyone has ever walked in a day? How about in a week? 

I wonder what it would be like if I got up at five am and walked all day until midnight? Doing the math, it would theoretically be possible to break 100k but I don't think I could get anywhere near that. And 80k a day for a week seems too much too.

What do you think?

Moderator edit: Clarified subject. 

[paso]

PinkRhaynedrop, thanks sounds like it's really worth checking out

[shipo]

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@PinkRayneDrop wrote:

Some of the time. It's still a workout when you break into a sweat in the dead cold of winter though. No different to being on a treadmill. 

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While stepping in place may be a workout for some, in the opinion of many, myself included, what is logged are "fake steps".  Folks who rack up huge numbers like that are exactly why I will not participate in any challenges.

[PinkRayneDrop]

So I take it that walk at home dvds are fake as well? Cause that's walking in place as well....... fake steps also on a treadmill.

Oh well.... I guess those steps never leave the floor? Never move my legs, work my abs, thighs....... calves? Yep all fake. 

Why fake? Is it cause I'm not in a forward motion? Hmmmmm. It's people like YOU is the reason people stop all together. 

[shipo]

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@PinkRayneDrop wrote:

So I take it that walk at home dvds are fake as well? Cause that's walking in place as well....... fake steps also on a treadmill.

Oh well.... I guess those steps never leave the floor? Never move my legs, work my abs, thighs....... calves? Yep all fake. 

Why fake? Is it cause I'm not in a forward motion? Hmmmmm. It's people like YOU is the reason people stop all together. 

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Yes, fake because no forward motion.  Think about it, your 111,000 step day would have to have been the equivalent of walking 55.5 miles during that day; are you really capable of walking over 50 miles in a day?  If not, then yes, those steps are fake, and when you enter into a challenge with other folks who are logging forward motion steps, you're effectively cheating (unless the rest of the folks in the challenge are okay with you stepping the way you do, which I doubt).

As for folks like me being the reason why other folks quit exercising, no, sorry, you cannot lay that rap on us, they quit or don't of their own volition.  If you personally are okay with your activity level, I say great, but please don't brag to us how "simple" it is to attain 100,000 steps in a day when you really can do nothing of the sort.

[SunsetRunner]

I think walking on a treadmill counts for walking , if that all u can do. Some high step I can see people doin if u training for an marathon or an iron man. But something is of if u can do 1 million steps in a day.

[Corney]

Question to an 80k stepper, giving you 6 hours of sleep, you must take 74 steps per minute for 18 hours. Do you take 74 steps a minute when you shower, dress, eat, brush your teeth, comb your hair( if you have hair) shave( if you shave).  If you work, what can you accomplish at work taking 74 steps a minute.  Bodily functions must be a chore taking 74 steps per minute.  Do you talk to your family(if you have one).  Do you talk to friends while walking 74 steps per minute?  Do you walk to and from work, if you do watch out for cars at intersections.  If you are in some kind of competition, what do you win if you come in first?  A medal, a certificate you can put up on you wall while completing 74 steps per minute I hope it's a certificate because you are certainly certifiable!  GET ALIFE!

[AKCLMR]

Your question is hardly a question. Anyways. It goes like this. Walk for 12.5 hours like you're late. The whole stopping to eat, drink, poop, eat some more thing. Well don't be silly. Of course that all happens. It's really pretty simple (to a person who has accomplished this task) just walk a long **ahem** time. Done

[AKCLMR]

Ohh found a piece of question in there. What do I win? Besides endorphins.. Nothing I always loose.

[Corney]

I think I've said enough on this subject, it's insane, but if you have nothing else in your life except walking for 12.5 hours more power to you.  I choose a more normal existence, like interacting with family, friends, pets, neighbors without the obsessive compulsive need to always walk like I'm late.  A recent article in Time found if you exercised for 150 hours a week that's all you need to improve your health and wellbeing. When I was younger I ran 7 miles a day year round for the high I got from the endorphins and enkephlins, when my running began to damage my body I switched to less damaging forms of exercise like an elliptical, rower and stationary bike which I use for 45 minutes a day and I still get the same high I received from running.  In my younger days I felt if some was good more was better, but as I aged I got smarter, more was not better.  I still exercise 45 minutes 5 days a week, lift weights 3 days a week but have time to enjoy my life with family, friends, pets along with enjoying hearing the birds sing, watching a beautiful sun rise and sun set, read a book, work a crossword puzzle, keep up with the news and occasionally watch a good T.V. program or movie.  In other words enjoy life without walking 12.5 hours like I'm always late.  Good luck to you.

[AKCLMR]

Quite the assumption of how I choose to spend the other 364.4875 days of the year. But good for you and all your oh so wholesome activities.

[SunsetRunner]

Well, the most steps I have done is 30k, and that ones one time. I try to get up and move around watching tv and stuff. I play with my nephews. And I work. I not saying doin 80k+ steps a day is good. That is for that person doctors to tell them that. I would like to b able to do a 5k race to a 10k race

[Corney]

I made a slight error in my last post, the Time article stated exercising 150 MINUTES a week is all you need to improve ones health and well being.  Sorry for my error.  I'm done posting on the subject of 80K steps per day.  I think I've made my thoughts clear enough and will never change the mind of people who strive to log 80K steps per day.  Have a good day!

[GershonSurge]

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@Corney wrote:

I think I've said enough on this subject, it's insane, but if you have nothing else in your life except walking for 12.5 hours more power to you.  I choose a more normal existence, like interacting with family, friends, pets, neighbors without the obsessive compulsive need to always walk like I'm late.  A recent article in Time found if you exercised for 150 hours a week that's all you need to improve your health and wellbeing. When I was younger I ran 7 miles a day year round for the high I got from the endorphins and enkephlins, when my running began to damage my body I switched to less damaging forms of exercise like an elliptical, rower and stationary bike which I use for 45 minutes a day and I still get the same high I received from running.  In my younger days I felt if some was good more was better, but as I aged I got smarter, more was not better.  I still exercise 45 minutes 5 days a week, lift weights 3 days a week but have time to enjoy my life with family, friends, pets along with enjoying hearing the birds sing, watching a beautiful sun rise and sun set, read a book, work a crossword puzzle, keep up with the news and occasionally watch a good T.V. program or movie.  In other words enjoy life without walking 12.5 hours like I'm always late.  Good luck to you.

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You seem compulsively obsessed with your definition of "having a life" or what other people "should" do to enjoy their life. I fail to see how forty-five minutes on machines in your basement is more fun than my hour and forty minutes early this morning running with the coyotes yelping around me. After a quick shower, I went off to Planet Fitness for an hour of lifting weights with real people around, and not a TV.

As long as a person progresses slowly, the body is capable of far more than most think. Bones degenerate from not using them, not from using them. I'm assuming slow progress and taking time off if needed for minor aches and pains. 

[Corney]

Well I said I would stop commenting on those claim to average 80K steps per day, but here goes.  The one person that answered my last post said he walks 12.5 hours per day which means he's taking 106 steps per minute during those 12.5 hours, insane!  If he consulted his doctor I'm sure he/she would try to discourage such behavior.  He claims it's for the endorphins.  Well I used to run 7 miles per day, year round for over 20 years, and felt if some was good more was better.  As I got older I got wiser.  I ran 2 marathons, many 10k's,but all that pounding the pavement was taking it's toll on my joints.  Now I exercise 45 minutes 5 days per week using either an elliptical, rower or stationary bike and get the same high from the endorphins and enkephlins I got from running without do damage to my joints.  What he will find out if he keeps this up for years, which I doubt he can or will, he will find once his joints are damaged his body is unable to repair the damage done, only an Orthopedic surgeon can.  But trying to tell him anything is like talking to a wall.  Someday he will find out for himself just how insane it is logging 80K steps per day.  Good luck on your goal of running a 5K or 10K race, that's something that is do-able.  I would use an upcoming race as a goal to keep me motivated.  Have a good day!

[MihaiMVP]

How about running backwards, is it bending the rules as well? That would be the opposite of a forward motion, but it still counts on my tracker as (positive) steps. I even get a slightly higher cadence than with normal running. Are these fake steps, or a good staregy to fit in a bit more? 

[PinkRayneDrop]

Must be fake, negative steps. I often run backwards as well, fantastic on the thighs. But what about stepper machines? No forward motion... hell not even upwards motion....fake? Treadmill must be fake cause you are NOT moving forward at all, you stay in the one spot. 

Fake steps would be NOT moving your feet off the ground at all.......as far as I can tell. Otherwise there would be no steps registered via a Fitbit One...... cause it's on your hip....

[Colinm39]

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@MihaiMVP wrote:

How about running backwards, is it bending the rules as well? That would be the opposite of a forward motion, but it still counts on my tracker as (positive) steps. I even get a slightly higher cadence than with normal running. Are these fake steps, or a good staregy to fit in a bit more? 

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@MihaiMVP Walking backwards is one of the better methods to keeping fit. Especially for rehab...

There are statements like "100 backwards steps are equal to 1000 forwards steps"  for effectiveness on the body. In Japan it is quite common.

After my total hip replacement, in the later weeks of rehab I was walking 10 steps forward and 9 steps backwards and found less pain. I also have age related lower back issues and this is a way to alleviate the pain while in a planned walk.  Another link

My Fitbit One records them all. I admit I haven't tried it with the Blaze. (I'm a multi Fitbit user and the One keeps the Blaze honest...)

Here is a link and there are many articles on the Internet.

[MihaiMVP]

That's great, though if it actually were 10 x more efficient, I am sure many more people would use it 🙂  I just saw it occassionaly on runners warming up before an event (and "discovered" it during a race, after stopping to the loo and having some knee pain the following few minutes). Then, a few years ago, I took it to the next level ... I went on to ask in a local running forum about backwards running shoes. The date was April the 1st and most runners thought of course that it was a joke - so they were quite a bit surprised when a few weeks later I ran a half marathon in street shoes, facing the opposite direction. Took me almost 2 hours and a half. 

[Colinm39]

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@MihaiMVP wrote:

That's great, though if it actually were 10 x more efficient, I am sure many more people would use it 🙂  I just saw it occassionaly on runners warming up before an event (and "discovered" it during a race, after stopping to the loo and having some knee pain the following few minutes). Then, a few years ago, I took it to the next level ... I went on to ask in a local running forum about backwards running shoes. The date was April the 1st and most runners thought of course that it was a joke - so they were quite a bit surprised when a few weeks later I ran a half marathon in street shoes, facing the opposite direction. Took me almost 2 hours and a half. 

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@MihaiMVP

Excellent about the half marathon.. It's great to have lateral thinking. I have never attempted distances, rather the rehab type, and at 76, one has to be careful of falls etc..

But, when I walk around our sports arena, and then walk backwards I get strange looks.. If they only knew the comfort I get. For the last 20 years it was sciatica until I persevered with my physio because I had muscle wasting in my left thigh. The xray revealed no cartilage in my hip, and a few weeks later a total hip replacement, and wow... No sciatica.. the hip had occasionally been resting on the sciatic nerve for all of those years.  Never picked up...

When the pain started,  walking backwards stopped the pain immediately, so I can understand when you had relief.. It works, but at that time I didn't know about the hip problem..  It does take more effort because I wore my chest strap Polar rather than the Charge HR or Surge and my activity HR went up about 20% typically against my walking forward HR.

Fortunately, where I live in Australia there is a Japanese couple who keep active by performing all of their lovely graceful movements, so I don't feel that out of place because they probably realise what I'm achieving.

I have voted for your post.. Thanks for confirming I'm not an April 1st sceptic...

[MihaiMVP]

Thank you Colin for providing the background, I am quite happy that backwards walking worked so well for you. While I was fortunate to avoid any accidents that kept me away for more than a few days, it's inspiring to know that you managed to overcome these hindrances and enjoy a great level of fitness.

As for me, I am looking forward to embark in a monthly walking challenge, which is starting next week. Maybe I'll keep you updated on how it goes (and if I get anywhere close to that elusive 80,000 average).