This is the real question. How to get 10000 steps a day? Realistically?

 

Getting 10,000 steps a day is actually really hard when you start tracking it. 

 

Because in your head, it feels like you’ve walked 5,000 steps at the supermarket, but it’s really only a thousand steps if that.

 

Why are 10,000 steps a day the golden number?

 

Is it because it just sounds good in our heads? 

 

Are there really any health benefits to reaching 10,000 steps a day?

Not everyone has time to go to the gym and walk 10,000 steps on the treadmill. The weather doesn’t always permit a nice walk around the neighborhood. 

How do we get 10,000 steps a day then?

Keep reading for the answers below.

 

 

Do steps around the house count?

 

Yes. Every step you take from the moment you wake up counts towards your 10,000 steps.

Walking from your bed to the bathroom counts.

Vacuuming the house counts.

The tiniest of steps from your daily life count (thank goodness!).

 

 

How many miles is 10 000 steps?

 

10,000 steps is approximately 5 miles. Average Americans only get around 3,000 to 4,000 steps a day, which is about 2 miles.  

 

 

How long does it take to get to 10000 steps a day?

 

It would take about 2 ½  hours of activity to get to 10000 steps a day. Depending on how long it takes to walk a mile, determines how long it would take. 

Realistically, we need to get to 5 miles a day to reach our 10000 steps. If it takes 30 minutes for one mile (which is the average time it takes), it would take 2 ½ hours.

Americans are typically awake for 16 hours a day. 2 ½ hours of walking doesn’t seem very hard. However, we Americans tend to be sedentary in our jobs and lives, so it’s important to be aware of how many steps we are taking and how to get 10000 steps a day. 

Awareness is always the first step.

 

 

What exercise is equivalent to 10000 steps?

 

Running or jogging can be equivalent to 10000 steps quicker than walking. However, running isn’t always the best choice of exercise for everyone. It may be too hard on joints. Too much on our hearts. 

& to be honest, it’s not that much fun. 

If you are trying to lose weight by taking 10000 steps a day, as a woman, be mindful that intense running and jogging can unbalance your hormones, preventing you from losing weight. Walking will keep our hormones balanced, which will make it easier to lose weight. 

Just something to keep in mind.

 

Realistic ways to get 10000 steps a day

→ Walking/playing with a pet

→ Walking to the mailbox to get the mail

→ Vacuuming the house

→ Getting up to go to the bathroom

→ Intentionally walking around your house or job location for 5 minutes

→ Walking while talking on the phone

→ Parking farther away in the parking lot

→ Taking a longer route to go to the bathroom at work

→ Take a walking lunch (be careful with this one!)

→ Get a treadmill desk

→ Watching Netflix (or a show) on your phone while walking

→ Take the stairs

→ Place your alarm clock across the room so you have to get up to turn it off

→ Walk your garbage cans back to the house

→ Avoid using golf carts, four wheelers, gators, etc. around your property

→ Take an after meal walk 

→ Pace the room while waiting for the microwave to go off, food to cook, etc.

→ Avoid drive throughs and walk inside the building to get what you need/want

→ Take a workout class

→ Mow your lawn with a push mower

→ Avoid riding escalators and elevators

→ Go to the park and play a game with friends/family (basketball, soccer, tag, etc.).

→ Make a competition of who can get the most steps a day

→ Take 5 and dance it out with some good music

→ Go on a hike 

 

What can we use to track our steps?

 

→ Apple watch

→ Fitbit

→ Health app on smartphone 

→ Google Fit app

→ Pedometer

 

 

What happens to your body when you walk 10000 steps a day?

 

When you walk 10000 steps a day, you will notice your body getting leaner and your lower body and core getting stronger.

Walking is a superior form of exercise. It will keep your heart in good cardiovascular health and will reduce the chances of getting dementia and 13 types of cancer later on in life. 

It is also amazing for weight loss, if that is one of your goals.

 

 

How many steps is a 30-minute walk?

 

A 30-minute walk is about 3,300-3,500 steps, depending on stride length and speed. 

 

 

Is it better to get steps in or workout?

 

For optimal health, it is important to do aerobic (cardio) and strength training exercises. Getting steps in is aerobic and great for burning calories & burning fat during it. However, it is important to also strength train because it strengthens your muscles and helps you burn calories for up to 12 hours after your workout. 

Your goals will determine what type of exercise you should do, BUT for overall health, you should do both types. 

 

 

How many steps does it take to lose a pound?

 

70,000 steps. 

Let’s break it down.

There are 3,500 calories in 1 pound.

Walking one mile burns about 80 to 100 calories. 

To burn 3,500 calories, you need to walk about 35 miles (100 times 35 equals 3,500).

35 miles is about 70,000 steps.

If you walk 10,000 steps every day, you will burn 1 pound a week.

It may not sound like a lot, but our bodies are only capable of losing 2 pounds a week, healthily.

 

 

How hard is it to get 10000 steps a day?

 

It’s definitely harder than you think. You do less steps than you think when you are doing everyday chores and tasks. 

Tracking your steps will make it easier to get to 10000 because what you track increases and I know once you start tracking, you’re gonna want to walk as much as possible just so that number keeps increasing. 

10000 steps a day is achievable, keep going. 

 

 

How many steps equal 1 mile?

 

1 mile approximately equals 2,000 steps.

*Depends on stride length.

 

 

How long does it take to see results from walking?

 

You will mentally feel results after one walk. You will/could see physical results after one week of consistently going on walks.

 

Read 5 Benefits of Incline Walking: Upgrade Your Life to see why you should add an incline to your walks. 

 

 

How many steps a day is considered active?

 

You are considered active when you get 10,000 steps a day or more.

Sedentary is less than 5,000 steps a day.

Low active is between 5,000 and 7,499 steps a day.

Somewhat active is between 7,500 and 9,999 steps a day.

Now that is eye opening. 

If you haven’t been tracking your steps, track them for the day and get a baseline of how active you are. 

I’m embarrassed to say that I range between sedentary and low active quite frequently.

It’s never too late to start improving, though!

 

 

How long to walk 10,000 steps on treadmill?

 

Depending on the treadmill speed and stride length, it would take about 2 ½ hours. I recommend 30 minute walks and then getting the rest of the 10000 steps from every day walking. 

 

 

Does walking in place count as steps?

 

It depends on the tracker you are using. Typically, yes, they do count as steps, however, some trackers go based on your walking route. 

For example, the health app on my phone that I use, counts my steps based on my height (so it knows my stride length) and my walking route (It has a gps of where I have walked…creepy, I know). 

 

 

Does walking 10k burn fat?

 

When walking 10000 steps a day with a calorie deficit, you are able to burn fat. 

 

 

How many calories is 10,000 steps?

 

About 500 calories. 

Every 20 steps a calorie is burned, therefore walking 10,000 steps will burn 500 calories (10,000 divided by 20 equals 500).

 

 

Conclusion

 

I hope I have answered the golden question of how to get 10000 steps a day.

Don’t get discouraged if you don’t reach your daily step goal, it happens. Right now I am having trouble logging more than 5,000 steps a day. 

It is an eye opener of how sedentary my life can be on a daily basis. Start with getting a baseline of how many steps a day you usually get. 

This list will help me get to 10,000 steps a day consistently and I know it can help you too. 

The goal always is to live a healthy, balanced lifestyle.

 

Email [email protected] and let us know if this list helped you make it to 10000 steps a day consistently.