how do you get 10,000 steps

[Kayaem]

Since I retired it has become really difficult for me to get 10,000 steps. I exercise 50 min in the morning and go on the treadmill for 30 minutes in the afternoon. Plus went shopping on this type of day and only reached about 8400 steps.  Any ideas?

[Mary]

Are you sure your device is counting all your steps?  Or is the morning exercise not steps-based?  I think 80 minutes plus shopping would have me over 10,000, and that's only walking around 3.5mph.  

[Kayaem]

The morning DVD is usually Leslie Sansone walking video so it is steps based.  I also use the elliptical. I just measured my walking stride and updated the fitbit one. Maybe the one they automatically set isn't accurate? I'm sure if I was still working it would be a no brainer.  But around the house and retired, I like to read, knit, play on the computer ... not conducive to steps! I'm trying to figure out how to get the 10,000 steps.  I'm not a natural fidgiter (sp?) so my natural state is sitting or laying! LOL!

[Mary]

Oh, me too!  

The default stride works fine for me.  It should only affect your distance, not your steps total.  

You might want to walk 100 steps and make sure it counts at least 95 of them.  And see if it's counting your Leslie steps and your elliptical strides.  I would think you'd be getting 10,000.  I get about 2400 steps per mile, so at 3.5mph that's like 8400 steps per hour, or 70 mins. to get 10,000 steps, I think?  And I get at least 2000 just walking around the house without any intentional exercise.  If you walk slower it'd be more, but Leslie is usually pretty fast!  

[Kayaem]

Thanks, I'll try that.  I really like Leslie's DVDs.  I'm working on the 30 day challenge one right now.  I usually do 15 minutes of the 30 min cardio and then flip over to do the 30 min strength training with weights.  Took her with me on my last vacation! 😉

[ctrtle74]

I put my flex in the waist band of my pants when on treadmill or elliptical.  I tested it with my app open and it was very accurate.  That way I know for sure my steps are being counted

[slmaiden]

I've read that the trackers don't always work as well on ellipticals or bikes, depending on which model you have (I use One). Since my elliptical will tell me stats, I usually just don't wear my FitBit and then manually log the activity through the app when I'm finished (just type of activity, duration, and calories). Then it at least the dashboard will show how many active minutes you have. I know some ellipticals will also give you the number of steps, but I've never tried to log that rather than the activity, not sure if you can or not. Just a couple of thoughts.