Steps and Steps and Steps

At work we have a little fitness challenge going--America On The Move, from October 22 to December 2. As part of it, they handed out pedometers and we have teams of five and you log the number of steps you take every day. We started the challenge when I was in New York for work and I've been a little surprised at how little I really walk here in SF! And if I don't walk that much, what about people who drive everywhere??? Scary.

There are also conversion steps for other sorts of exercise (thank goodness) and you can track your progress online. I'm walking the Pacific Crest Trail (south to north) and have already hit Tahoe.

My baseline for two days in NY were 9,300 and 8,400/day. The third day in NY included flying home (and some airport walking) and was 5,200, giving me an average of about 8,150 steps/day (average also includes one weight lifting session).

Here in SF, if I go to the pool, I walk to the bus, walk a few blocks from the bus drop off to the YMCA, more walking from the Y to work and then from work to the bus and from the bus drop off to home. Definitely no getting in the car in the garage, driving to where I'm going and back. So how surprised was I to find that my steps here ranged from 4,300 to 8,300 and most at the lower end! At least spinning, road riding, swimming and running pump up the totals!

Doing a little research on the internet, I found the following. I'd be interested to see what other people's numbers are.

"Since beginning America On the Move on Oct 22, 2007 you have recorded a total of 188,078 steps."

Based on the best evidence as of the end of 2003, Dr. Catrine Tudor-Locke recommends the following:

Classification of pedometer-determined physical activity in healthy adults:

1) Under 5000 steps/day may be used as a "sedentary lifestyle index"

2) 5,000-7,499 steps/day is typical of daily activity excluding sports/exercise and might be considered "low active."

3) 7,500-9,999 likely includes some exercise or walking (and/or a job that requires more walking) and might be considered "somewhat active."

4) 10,000 steps/day indicates the point that should be used to classify individuals as "active".

5) Individuals who take more than 12,500 steps/day are likely to be classified as "highly active".

Comments

[Lorri]

wow!