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. 

[b.chaudhury]

Discussion is about averaging 80000 steps in a day and not week. Average of
30000 steps a day over a couple of weeks is also plausible.
--


Bikash Chaudhury

[josekreif]

Well, 80,000 on its own would be 56 steps per minute, 60 times per hour, for 24 hours straight. That's practically impossible.

[Patrick]

There are always reasons why something can't be done.

What a country; you can't do this, you can't do that. So just sit there and be a keyboard warrior.

That's much easier.

@Incognito

"My point is, that if I wanted to, I can hit 50k a day with the correct discipline. 80k would be hard. To those who say they are doing this, how much of that time would have been better spent with loved ones and actually living life?"
-----------------------
Now the person who started this silly thread says it can be done but it would be hard.

I have done 60K.

I agree with people who say that it can not be done. They will find any excuse to justify why they cannot achieve a goal.

Others, who not only appear to achieve the goals that people say are impossible actually state how they hit those goals. They provide the rules that they use to hit 80K, to hit 100K....

But that requires actually working at achieving such goals.

Much easier to just say that it can't be done.

Moderator edit: merged reply

[checking]

@josekreif, you appear to be able to do the math, but 56 steps per minute is slower than I can walk. Many (fit) people can jog moderately at 150 steps per minute as a steady-state continuous thing. Perhaps you should recalculate for a realistic case. 8.9 hours leaves time for breaks and the other things you may need to do - hardly impossible.

@Patrick, I think you've got it about right. Those that claim it can't be done won't do it because they won't try,. Those that can do it don't really care and probably laugh at self-appointed experts who have no experience in the subject matter.

It is mostly a matter of mindset and commitment. You might enjoy this, even if it never discusses number of steps (ultramarathoners tend to think and measure distance, not steps). However, you can make a pretty good guess through observing the running style: very near the transition point between jogging and running - where stride length is about the same as walking, but using running mechanics and higher cadence). So probably somewhere north of 120k/day for 50 days or so..

Favorite quote: "It seems overwhelming, but if you keep going, it just happens"

Forgot the attachment 😉

Moderator edit: merged replies

[josekreif]

At 150 steps per minute, you are essentially jogging. Not walking. Not speed walking.

[checking]

@josekreif  Yep, that is what I said - moderate jogging. Do you have something against jogging? Perhaps it is time to restate the basic parameters of this thread: Average 80k steps/day for a week (not months or years or lifetime). Nowhere is it specified that it be done by walking, but if you insist, my normal walking cadence is ~110/min (not 56) - thus 12.1 hours: still time left for breaks, eating (mostly done on the go), sleep, and other 'must do's. Hardly impossible for a week, or even a couple of months, if you have the commitment. 

[uberwench]

just LOL.

[prc1977]

@Patrick  wrote:

""Now the person who started this silly thread says it can be done but it would be hard."

I started this silly thread that you stopped your life to comment on.

To clarify; the whole point was to question whether it could be done because I think it is unlikely. It seems like too much effort to sustain for a week.

Thanks for telling us that you did 60k. Thanks also for saying that some people say it can be done and others say it cannot be done. That helps. Very thoughtful assessment.

If someone says your comment is pointless and that you have not contributed to the discussion with your "...some say yes and others say no..." commentary, don't listen to them. Keep walking. Keep believing in yourself.

Walking is a simple thing. You got this.

[Patrick]

It is silly because it never dies.

It is perpetuated by people who say it can't be done.

Fine, it can't be done.

Don't worry about me stopping my life for this in the future; I prefer threads that are positive not negative.

[MihaiMVP]

This may be possible for a day or two, but definitely not for a whole month 🙂

‎09-04-2019 09:49

HEY FITBIT! does anyone in charge have any COMMON SENSE?  8,455,178 steps in a week!  Or 247,000 steps in 24 hours!  240,000 steps in 24 hours would mean 166 steps per minute every minute of every hour for 24 hours!  This thread has gone on long enough.  Have the courage to filter out some of these ridiculous numbers.  Call out the liars!

[MihaiMVP]

HEY FITBIT! does anyone in charge have any COMMON SENSE?  8,455,178 steps in a week!  Or 247,000 steps in 24 hours!  240,000 steps in 24 hours would mean 166 steps per minute every minute of every hour for 24 hours!  This thread has gone on long enough.  Have the courage to filter out some of these ridiculous numbers.  Call out the liars!

[checking]

@MihaiMVP , I don't think this thread is about 247k/day, even if somebody posted that here. This thread is defined by the original question of HOW to average 80k steps (real ones) per day for a week. It is certainly hard work, but it is certainly possible (working people probably have to take a week of vacation). I've done it, and I've averaged 64k+/day for a month. But I don't really claim them because a simple Fitbit step count without supporting evidence such as GPS tracks or being entered in a formal event (which I didn't have) only shows that the accelerometer has been triggered that many times - the measurement method is not sophisticated enough to determine if it is real steps or just a  bunch of arm waving or a ride in the clothes dryer, or any number of other ways of cheating - if one is so inclined. I would also point out that those that say it is impossible are trying to prove a negative (difficult in any case) that has already been proven positive (done, therefore possible) a large number times, verified by outside observation (e.g. Transcendence 3100 finishers, who average about 60 miles (or more) a day for about 50 days). Just because a lot of people using Fitbit devices to get to these levels are quite likely cheating, it does not mean that everyone cheats.

[MihaiMVP]

@checking  You are correct. @Gershon's answer (which is the accepted solution for this question) would suggest that it is indeed possible to maintain an average of 80 k steps / day for some time.

One idea would be to create another thread, asking whether 100 k / day is considered possible and depending on the popular answer there to try to narrow the range until we find a suitable value for what a person can do! 

[Jac1674]

I Too work 50 to 60 hours per week on my feet.  I consistently average above 150,000 steps per week.  It is easy to accomplish if you lead an active life as well as work on your feet.  I would sa6 if you feel you're getting enough remember everyone has different starting average. BE kind to yourself and try to beat your best average while being proud if you do have a week that gets higher than your friends.

[RobbieDi]

Good for you!

--

RobbieDi

[MikoGenee]

The title said "averaging 80,000 steps PER DAY" 

[Corney]

MikoGenee: You are absolutely correct, it means AVERAGE 80K steps per day,
not just one day! To average 80K steps per day for a 5 day week would mean
400K or 560K for a full week! Call it out for what it is. Use your brain
or common sense and just ignore it! Logging 80K steps for one long day is
not averaging 80K steps for a week!

[Pumpkinbutt]

Yes, you are constantly on the go. Yet are getting between 12K - 24K. So how are they consistently getting 80K a day. I also have wondered that.

I have oftened wondered that myself. I work sometimes 10 hours a day on my feet. And getting 20K a day. On my best day I hit 35K...Can't imagine getting 80K even for 1 day...

Moderator edit: merged reply

[MihaiMVP]

I believe I have the answer!

Mailman by day, barmaid by night.

[Pumpkinbutt]

Yes, I think you do!!! Have a great day.

[MihaiMVP]

Admittedly, you can do it in a single shift if it's an intercity delivery - and decide to jog almost exclusively, to keep the cadence up (165-175 steps / minute)