Vocal Voices

Do you do these so-called 4,000 steps for health?

I think Mrs O and I did today. It was 2,000 steps up to the local cafe for a slap-up Full English and 2,000 steps back .....

Otherwise, I make it 28 steps from bedroom to refrigerator overnight and 28 steps back with the snack

I find it difficult to keep taking my shoes and socks off to count my steps on my toes!!

I do somtimes remember to set my counter on my phone when I go out.

Probably do double that, most days.

I know putting the dishes away is four steps each way, to the cabinet and then the sink

10,000 steps was a number plucked out of thin air by the Japanese about 60 years ago because that is what was thought most Japanese did in a day. It was a health and fitness thing, no more than that.

The Canadian military had a similar plan and that included gentle stretching, calisthenics (clenching and relaxing muscle groups) and running or walking. We did it in the RAF. It was another health and fitness thing.

Unfortunately with the introduction of fitness trackers and phone apps 10,000 steps became part of a populist slebfest diet regime on the good calorie, bad calorie bandwagon. It is nonsense.

FYI a calorie is a calorie. It is the unit of energy required to heat one gram of water by one degree Celsius. Food gives us energy hence the calorie counting, but each one has the same value whether from a lettuce leaf or a chocolate bar.

Easily most days Ossie, generally about 6 or 7k. Before Mick retired I did 10k plus nearly every day, now it's not quite that much.

The days I am at work I only average about 7k per day on my days off I average around 12k per day. When I am on holiday I average around 16k per day

Kaz wrote:Easily most days Ossie, generally about 6 or 7k. Before Mick retired I did 10k plus nearly every day, now it's not quite that much.

miasmum wrote:The days I am at work I only average about 7k per day on my days off I average around 12k per day. When I am on holiday I average around 16k per day

You both put me to shame!

I've done 21k today but I have been on a 6.5 mile walk

and I have had a huge sunday lunch out with a pudding and half a bottle of wine, so probably negated all the good the steps did

I’ve done 18000 today, that’s two walks with Bill plus having two flights of stairs helps
I usually do anything between 10000 and 25000 (if I go for a run as well as walking Bill) but it’s all weather dependent.

There is a lot of information on this but, just as people who bleat "5 a day" without context, results can vary.

After all with no other context or guidance 5 friut and veg a day could be two bags of crisps, a bag of chips and two sweetened fruit juices.

Context is everything.

There is more info here if you are interested.

But the short version is this. Ambling around the house are wasted steps. Steps which are continuous and "brisk" are the most beneficial. So going out and briskly walking 1 mile, twice a day, will meet the 4,000 steps and do a lot of good.

Walking 1,000 steps up stairs will give more benefit than 4,000 walking briskly down the street.

Before going for an all encompassing number you have to understand what that number means, how you should do that number of steps and under what conditions.

Without that, as WM says, the entire number of steps is meaningless. You are back to 2 bags of crisps, bag of chips and two sugary orange drinks.