10,000 steps per day?

[froglady]

OK, I went out and bought a $9 pedometer and it seems to register about 2 steps for every step I take. I think it jiggles on my hip when I step and that does it. I don't think it is going to give me an accurate count.
Guess I should have spent $15?

Mine has to be clipped to the FRONT of my shorts- about where a pleat would be in pleated pants. I also got "odd" readings when I clipped it anyplace else.

 

[disneysteve]

Oh well. I just discovered on the treadmill that my pedometer isn't counting as well as I thought. The first few minutes I was walking, at a slower pace, it hardly moved at all. It wasn't until I got up to full speed that it started counting regularly and even then wasn't entirely accurate (though I already knew that). So I'm at about 7,200 for the day, but in reality it's probably hundreds higher than that based on the treadmill experience.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Steve, at least your heart thanks you even if your pedometer doesn't.

 

[Planogirl]

My son and I just walked a mile or so at a good pace. I've decided not to worry about counting steps but to just get out there and MOVE when I can. Counting makes me start to feel stressed.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Oh well. I just discovered on the treadmill that my pedometer isn't counting as well as I thought. The first few minutes I was walking, at a slower pace, it hardly moved at all. It wasn't until I got up to full speed that it started counting regularly and even then wasn't entirely accurate (though I already knew that). So I'm at about 7,200 for the day, but in reality it's probably hundreds higher than that based on the treadmill experience.

Where do you wear your pedometer? And what is your full speed walk pace?

Just curious--as I wonder how your warm up and full speed workout compare to your other walking efforts.

It would seem odd for the pedometer to work elsewhere but not on the warm up of the TM.

Congrats on your steps! Well done!

 

[disneysteve]

Where do you wear your pedometer? And what is your full speed walk pace?

Just curious--as I wonder how your warm up and full speed workout compare to your other walking efforts.

I wear the pedometer clipped on my belt near my right hip.

I start out on the treadmill at 1.5mph and gradually take it up to 3mph over the first few minutes. I think my stride is much smoother on the treadmill than when I'm just out walking on the street or in a store. Less bounce to my step so I guess the meter isn't sensing the steps as much.

Keep in mind that this is a really cheap pedometer so I don't expect perfection.

As long as having the thing clipped on reminds me to keep moving, it's doing just what I want it to do.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Gotcha.

You are moving--and that's what is important! Congrats on the steps today!

 

[Nancy]

We have a corporate challenge every January called eat well, live well. It involves monitering your steps and your fruit and vegetable intact. We strive for 10 thousand steps and 5 cups of fruits and veggies a day. The challenge runs for 6 weeks. We got a free pedometer. I was averaging anywhere from 5-13,000 steps a day and that was with a walking cast on! I work in a very large store and do a lot of walking. My doctor did say I could walk but to cut it down a bit. That was cutting it down. The days I didn't work were aroind 5 thousand, the days at work were always over 10. I did notice the pedometer registered different depending on where I put it. I actually attached it to my undies (I know TMI!) If I clipped it on outside my clothes it didn't register at all
One co-worker clipped her to her socks, that was the only place it worked for her. Some peds. you have to measure your stride and set up the length of your stride into the ped. That is too iffy for me, if you get your stride off, or your stride changes during the day, it messes up your step count.

 

[disykat]

Depending on what I'm wearing - I've done the undies thing too!

Steve, does your treadmill go faster than it says? I noticed you start fairly slow, so I wondered if yours was like mine. When I walk the mall, I can do 4 miles in an hour, but on my treadmill I have to jog to stay on at 4 mph - and that's too high impact for me. I'm convinced that 3.3 is 4 on mine.

 

[disneysteve]

Steve, does your treadmill go faster than it says? I noticed you start fairly slow, so I wondered if yours was like mine. When I walk the mall, I can do 4 miles in an hour, but on my treadmill I have to jog to stay on at 4 mph - and that's too high impact for me. I'm convinced that 3.3 is 4 on mine.

I've never checked and don't walk anywhere else that I could use as a comparison. Ultimately, it doesn't particularly matter to me as speed isn't my goal. As long as I do my 30 minutes and work up a good sweat getting my heart pumping I'm satisfied.

if you get your stride off, or your stride changes during the day, it messes up your step count.

I always think about this at work. My office isn't very big. I certainly don't take full-length strides going from one side of the 8-foot wide room to the other. Compare that to the strides when I'm exercising at 3mph. There's a big difference.

Bottom line: Keep moving as much and whenever you can. The more you move, the healthier you'll be. If the pedometer helps remind you to stay active, that's great, even if the step count isn't true.