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]

My next Fitbit will have that feature--alarm.  I will need that at work when I'm sitting for long hours--that will make me get up and move around more....more stepping...LOL

[Wendylovespets]

Since sitting is giving us all bowel cancer (no kidding), I use my rebounder in the evenings when watching TV - I can usually add an hour or an hour and a half to my active minutes and make my step and distance targets.  Rebounders are also easy on the joints. I also try to remember to set an alarm (or kitchen timer) so every hour, I get up from the computer and do some training with my dogs, some housework/decluttering or have a stretch and do some yoga.  It's so easy to lose track of time and find you've been sitting for several hours!

[pbackma]

Just wanted to mention that Fitbits have alarms--pls think about getting an upgrade.  When I purchase my next Fitbit I will make sure it has an alarm.  I too sit all day at work--an alarm will alert me to get up and move....After I type this reply, I am going to talk a walk up and down the halls (at work no one here)....Lol

[SunsetRunner]

Before I retired, I would take breaks to walk the halls, too. I figured if smokers were allowed to take smoking breaks periodically, fitbitters could take walking breaks. 😉

[pbackma]

Yes--A Fitbit Break at work...I like that....lol

[MCarr]

So true.  Besides, anything to get us walking is good.

[Chocomelonhead]

Because I am such a shopaholic, I try to find excuses to go to the mall or a shopping center.  I looove going to the mall a lot, even if I have nothing to buy at all.  I would just browse in my favourite stores, and maybe grab something to eat.

Also, in the summer, since I kind of live in the city, I would prefer to walk a whole station away rather than taking the subway or transit just to get those extra steps in.

[Shannanon]

I do the parking farther away thing too. I work in a school and cover two lunch duties so I walk around the playground or gym during recess while keeping an eye on the kids

[OSOB]

I walk to pick my daughter up from nursery now instead of drive. Take the kids to the park after school. Every little bit helps!

[Tinman53]

I have always examined everything I do to determine the most effective and efficient way to do things.  Now, with the FitBit, I find myself purposely making extra trips just so I can get the extra steps in!!!

[SunsetRunner]

I try to wear mine as much as possible, only real time that I do not wear it is when it is charging or I forget....

I have thought about wearing it whilst sleeping via a lanyard, if I sleep walk I won't miss any steps plus I get actual confirmation that I do sleep walk 🙂

[Paradise555]

I know that feeling living in Canada about shoveling snow.

[MyHeartBeats]

I live in New York City and walking has become a way of life.  I've been walking at times when I would usually have taken public transportation.  I'm also walking in place while waiting for the light to change (usually when I'm wearing my workout clothes).  I guess it would look strange to people who are not aware of walking for health, but most strange things are considered normal in NYC 🙂

[pbackma]

You are 100% correct--walking in New York is normal.  When I lived in New York--I never had to go on a diet--I was always fit n trim....Now in Georgia--you have to drive everywhere and I am always on a diet.  My Fitbit helps me out becuase it keeps me moving and stepping...I keep going over 20,000...

[wizardprangz]

both myself and husband find extra reasons to go upstairs when home at weekends and evenings although as we're on a step challenge we've both taken to a few walks up and down the stairs for no reason in the evenings lol

[sskoko]

I walk to college now. First I was biking but I realize that does not give me the steps, so I started walking, 2 miles one way and 2 miles back. Also I run in the morning and walk the dogs at night. That way I get in around 17K steps.

[SunsetRunner]

To get the steps from peddling, I put my Fitbit in my pocket at my hip, or attach it to my shoe. It will be fewer steps because the "stride" of the bike wheel is longer, but you will still get your steps. I have a bad knee so get a lot of my steps on my recumbent bike and my paddle boat (if we are up at the cottage).

Good job on getting in the steps!

[sskoko]

Thanks for the tip. I attached it to my foot yesterday while bycicling on my way to the beach, and it worked.

[pbackma]

Be careful--I had lost my first Fitbit--I had put it on my sneakers while I was taking a jog.  I think it came out of the clip...lost it...that was a shock after I ran all those miles and was not able to see what I did...I just love my Fitbit.....

[Kirsty92]

I work in an office and as I have to answer the phone I have to spend the majority of the day at my desk, I've been trying to get up every now and again and walking around the office to get a cup of tea etc but I am no where near the 10,000 step goal, the closest I've been is on a weekend at 7,000 normally on a weekday I'm at about 3,500 steps 😞 any advice?