How do you get those extra steps in?

[zapleahy]

I live about four miles from my workplace and although I haven't yet walked all four miles to or from work, there are a few games I play during the week to increase my stepcount.

Some days I'll take the hillier, windier, unnecessarily long route to BART (San Francisco's heavy-rail rapid transit system). Almost always, I forgo the escalator for the stairs. Today, that act alone added 5 flights of stairs and over 250 steps to my morning journey.

My other favorite "cheat" is high stepping in place. Sure, I may look a little odd bouncing up and down while typing at my makeshift standing desk, but it feels good to keep the blood flowing and the legs moving! 

What do you do to get your extra steps in?

[pbackma]

Great Stepping--I will try using the Malls since it is so dark when I get home.  Just walking the Malls not buying anything....Thanks for the tip!

[Jodi6682]

I've come up with a new way to spend my rest breaks at work and I'm calling it "Oyster cracker relay". I absolutely love those ranch oyster crackers but I know they are terrible for me. So I've placed them on a shelf on the far side of my office, so every time I want one, I have to walk to get it. It's about 17 steps total to get a cracker and back, but man it helps my steps!! Also I have a desk job, so it gives me time away from my desk, which is MUCH needed.

[stevew_68]

Im in a similar situation. When I was younger I used to do loads of running. These days ( Im now in my mid 40s ), due to work, and smoking etc, I never get out to excercise. Now, since getting my head together and starting using my fitbit and MFP again and watching every single thing I eat and drink, I want to lose weight and be fitter, BUT, and it is a big BUT, I have a back chronic back injury that prevents any form of excercise, even swimming. I'm hoping when I lose enough weight, so theres not too much stress on my back, I will be able to get out and exercise and maybes do 5k. At the moment, its a massive target, but something to aim towards.

[stevew_68]

Good on you, but I bet it looks funny, while cooking

[pbackma]

Have a visit with your doctor--get the green flag.  Put on your Fitbit and start stepping.  You can do it--you did it before.  Most of the time excess weight can add stress to the joints and back.  See you out there Stepping! 

[yldthng]

DANCING. 1,000+ steps in 15 minutes easily when dancing to high-paced music.

It's amazing how fast that time goes by. If I'm just sitting down mindlessly watching TV, I've been getting up, throwing on my headphones and dancing around my house. 

It's a fun, easy way to get some steps in AND get your heart rate up.

[SunsetRunner]

Im of the hot and spicy Latino persuasion. To get that step count up, i put on the salsa music and bust a move.

At work, i walk 5 min every hr around the office building and i send my print jobs to the printer on another floor.

Aldo park my car at the far end of the company parking lot. Helps me get in an extra 200 steps

[Seyler87]

Lots of great ideas! I make sure to use the restroom furthered the away and drink extra water

[coreybeth01]

I am on winter break from where I work during the day. And I am watchin school age kids. So I have been walking laps around the house while I put things away.

[jen48135]

I just got a under the desk pedaling machine for christmas.  I keep it under my desk at home and when I feel a need to get moving or know I need those extra steps.  I start pedaling while I work.

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@allison wrote:

I live about four miles from my workplace and although I haven't yet walked all four miles to or from work, there are a few games I play during the week to increase my stepcount.

Some days I'll take the hillier, windier, unnecessarily long route to BART (San Francisco's heavy-rail rapid transit system). Almost always, I forgo the escalator for the stairs. Today, that act alone added 5 flights of stairs and over 250 steps to my morning journey.

My other favorite "cheat" is high stepping in place. Sure, I may look a little odd bouncing up and down while typing at my makeshift standing desk, but it feels good to keep the blood flowing and the legs moving! 

What do you do to get your extra steps in?

---

---

@allison wrote:

I live about four miles from my workplace and although I haven't yet walked all four miles to or from work, there are a few games I play during the week to increase my stepcount.

Some days I'll take the hillier, windier, unnecessarily long route to BART (San Francisco's heavy-rail rapid transit system). Almost always, I forgo the escalator for the stairs. Today, that act alone added 5 flights of stairs and over 250 steps to my morning journey.

My other favorite "cheat" is high stepping in place. Sure, I may look a little odd bouncing up and down while typing at my makeshift standing desk, but it feels good to keep the blood flowing and the legs moving! 

What do you do to get your extra steps in?

---

I received a pedaling machine for christmas that I keep under my desk at home.  When I feel a new to get moving or know I need the extra steps I just start pedaling.  I trick I learned from someone was to put my fitbit in my sock to count the steps while I am sitting pedaling

[Sunnylane]

I park at the back of the parking lot at my office and  those extra steps add to my daily numbers.

[PaleoCrossfit]

Every day at work, I walk for five minutes at the top of every hour. Also, I do 50 squats every time I go to the restroom.

On my days off (or days that I work from home), I turn the TV on and walk during every commercial break.

[Liz_J]

You get the steps in by walking. It's not rocket science. Walking round your lounge room is doing nothing for your heart or metabolism. Some of it MUST be high intensity. Walk in morning. Walk at night and keep busy throughout the day. If your job requires sitting get up regularly.

[Shal-N]

You are right...but the point of the board is to help people become more active throughout a given day. If high stepping in place and walking a few laps around the house is helping people build better habits, perhaps that is good enough for now. Should we really be negative (your comment "it's not rocket science") and ridicule their progress (because it is progress)?

[Sunnylane]

There are some really good ideas here.  I get extra steps in  by taking my two Airedale Terriers for an extra walk in the morning.  Its good for me and good for them too. This usually adds at least 2 K steps to start my day.   I also walk in my office when I am on the phone as much as possible.

[Freja]

I've only been doing this for a little over a week but so far have managed to get my 10,000 steps in each day! I've been most successful getting to my goal by stepping/running in place.  I tune into a show I enjoy (eg Jeopardy) and walk in place while watching. To challenge myself a little, I try to jog during the commercials.  I've been to the mall several times this week as well and at work, rather than phoning a co-worker in the office I make a point of walking to their desk to talk. I appreciate this forum and all the great ideas - thanks to everyone!

[pbackma]

To be a part of the FitBit Community is to look for others help in helping us keep Stepping.  I really enjoy all the postive feedback from others--it has helped me so much.  The feedbacks keeps me stepping when I do not feel like stepping.  Happy New Year To All!

[idonotdonot]

I intentionally use small cups of water so I have to go down and backup the stairs to re-fill and go down and backup to use the bathroom since all that water makes me have to "go" a lot.

[pbackma]

I wonder if I can do some standup abs or crunches when I go to the bathroom--I will try doing some

stand- up cruches or abs  in the bathroom.  50 squats are good--this is a great idea!  Will try today.  thanks

[KatieOW]

When I take my 4 year old to.park I walk the perimeter of park with my pram (newborn) can see kid at all times and usually manage a few kms instead of sitting on a bench.