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?

[Cande]

Ditto, Stand-up desk is fabulous!

[loveabull]

I would say a stand up desk is good in theory, but if you have any joint or vein issues...6-8 hours on your feet is gonna smart. I add in extra steps when I walk my girl Sophie. She's a boxer/AmStaff mix and she's a hiker. My boy is more bull dog and poops out early.

Sophie can take the hour and a half walk through the nature reserve and just be getting warmed up. She encourages me to keep going. Another idea is when you go to an outside shopping complex...if it's not -10 or pouring rain, park on the far side and hoof it. If you're window shopping the walking is easy!

[joshhuntnm]

I try to get up every hour or two and walk around the block--about 1000 steps. 

[skuggi]

I go to the mall or a big store like Costco or Target and browse around. I walk up every aisle and (if it isn't intense weather) I park farther away from the door than I used to.

[Zee]

That's very funny and very helpful. Thank you very much. I jumped on the treadmill last night for 20 minutes then, I turned on the radio and danced until I hit 10,000 steps.

[Zee]

Thank you for your response, very helpful.

[Zee]

I love this, I do work in an office and set silent alarms this morning. I have been up and down all day.

[Zee]

You are right every step counts. I am doing two hours of Zumba tonight certainly I should hit my goal.

[Zee]

I agree and thanks for your response.

[Zee]

40,000 steps, Wow you are my hero.

[demarya]

My Zip came in the mail this afternoon and I'm looking forward to using it. 

It's going to take me quite some time to work up to 10,000 steps per day but we all have to start somewhere, I guess!  Right now, I can walk slightly more than a mile when I go out for walks but haven't done any walking outside in a couple weeks due to the snow and it being so cold.

But I recently joined the local Y and am taking a water aerobics class that is 75 minutes long and meets 3 mornings a week. And that does tire me out. I'm going to try and go to the Y or to the local mall to walk when it's too cold to walk outside. And as my endurance increases, then I'll start learning how to use some of the cardio machines at the Y. Wish I could afford to get some kind of equipment to use at home!

[Zee]

You'll get those steps in I promise. I had 17,389 today. Amazing!

Zonia N. Veal
404.449.9043

[Zee]

Keep me posted on your progress. I am excited for you!

[demarya]

Thanks for your encouragement! 

[Nebraskalaska]

I only live 1 block from my work, so getting 10k steps a day is really hard.

I take two 15 or 20 minute walk breaks a day. The walk breaks have increased my productivity at work a lot, so I don't feel guilty about stepping out. I incorporate one of the walk breaks into my lunch break anyway. 

I work on the third floor, so I've started walking through the building to the back stairwell to take the stairs instead of using the stairs that are right next to the front door.

I pace when I brush my teeth.

I tidy up around the house a lot more and have found myself doing a lot more little chores lately. 

I drink a lot of tea and water so I have to get up to get a new drink, or go to the bathroom.

At work I walk down to the second floor to use the bathroom instead of the one right next to my office. 

[CindyK1974]

After I read this discussion this morning I spent most of my day at work jogging on spot while I was on the phone with clients lol!!  I worked up a bit of a sweat and got lots of steps in.  Think I'll do it tonight while we watch a movie! This is addictive isn't it!

[BarbaraH]

There are some great ideas here to get in extra steps. I really struggle to reach 10,000 steps a day but will keep working toward that!

[Pril]

Hi, I just started tracking using a fit bit this week currently tracking to see what my normal is. With the cold weather I have been thinking of ways to add more steps prior to having to do it. The main one that comes to mind is being forgetful, like I forgot that in the car, I left that on the bed, and I'll make that two trips instead of one. I also thought of a car maintenance schedule to do one a day. For example walk around the car to check all lights that are in working condition, the air in the tires and to clean the windows, up the trash.

I guess this would work if your lazy like me and tend to sort of collect things. There are lots of basic things that you could do and kill two birds with one stone. 

[IreneS]

I bought a pedal exerciser a few days ago. I put my Fitbit in my sock and sit on the couch and pedal when I'm watching T.V. The steps really add up!

[micheleruns]

That is a great idea disneybruin...jogging while getting ready in the morning and in the evening...I was reading all of the ideas because I sit at a desk and the building is not that big so there is no stairs to climb.  While I try to walk around the builidng a few times a day I am still only averaging 4,000 to 5,000 steps if it is a non-running/exercise day.