New to Forum, Not new to Walking 🚶

Hi everyone. I'm new to posting a msg, but not new to reading all the motivational messages from other people on the forums. I like going for walks, usually during the morning in all kinds weather and have been doing this for a few years🙂. I have sevear osteoarthritis in my foot caused by an old injury, which required hospital treatment🙁. I've set myself a challenge of walking a minimum 12,000 steps a day because I regularly do more than 10,000 steps. However, I'm surprised I'm sometimes struggling to reach my daily target. I'd be interested to read comments on how others 'up there steps'🙃.

[Oldfloss]

Hi there... Walking is great isn't it... not sure how your day pans out...?

I find I am walking so much currently as I have a new granddaughter, averaging 45 miles a week with the prom. Four and a half miles. a.m. and the same p.m. ( I run too )

Not sure steps wise, as it is something I have never really bothered about

Is the upping of steps just for your own satisfaction?

Are there any short journeys that you usually use transport for that you could walk instead ? You say you walk in the mornings, is it possible to have a mid day and an evening walk... ? Maybe a power walk, but, that may not be possible with your foot issue, but that could help your step count...?

I am looking forward to replies too... Realfoodieclub , who is our administrator on C25K and on here, is planning a walking programme for this forum, so there may be helpful tips for you there I think you are doing brilliantly anyway!

[Hidden in reply to Oldfloss]

Hello Oldfloss

I love your nickname! Thank you for your kind words of encouragement🙂.

Congratulations on gaining a new granddaughter 🍾🎉. I tend to walk in the morning after dropping my daughter to school. I'm out of the house and try and 'do a walk' before heading home. This strategy has worked for me to ensure I get regular exercise. Unfortunately I'm unable to run due to the nature of my injury 🙁. However, as I've lost some weight l'm able to walk longer distances and include short but slow jogs😀.

Thanks for suggesting walking instead of taking public transport. There's a 35-45 minute walk to a centre that I'll visit twice per week...so I can up my step count there😉.

I average 4 to 8 miles per day, during week days. I'd like to increase my steps for my health and fitness level. From what you've said about the miles you walk/run that you have a good fitness regiment🙃. You're also doing brilliantly👍🏼.

[Oldfloss in reply to Hidden]

Nickname..? That is just who I am... Floss and I am old .. tee hee!

I love the walking and now, I think of the long gone days when I used to use the car for short journeys...! I started C25K October 2015 and have not looked back since... I love this forum though as I have always loved walking and it has been so great whilst I have been on the IC and could not run !

It is just great for keeping our minds and bodies healthy and such a wonderful way of losing any stresses or worries

Keep us posted please of your progress ?

[Hidden in reply to Oldfloss]

Hi Oldfloss

I certainly will keep all who are interested posted on my progress🙃.

Happy Walk/Running🙂!

[Nottobad]

Hi I have COPD psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis. I have recently got a Fitbit. But my steps are now way near what you do. I try to walk every day I also do a cardio excersise once a week at my local gym I was refered there after I finished my pulmonary rehab course. And I do home excersise 2 days a week on recommendation of my PR physio.

[Hidden in reply to Nottobad]

Hi Nottobad

Thank you for responding to 'my introduction' msg🙂. I'd never heard of COPD psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis that I had to look it up 😦(I'm not a doctor 👨‍⚕️Lol)! It's good to read you've finished your pulmonary rehab and great that you've taken up walking everyday, if you're able😊. I started with short 'hobbles' around a small local park😖Lol. Within a year I was able to walk more than one park during a morning. I've used various 'trackers' but not FitBit. I currently have an Apple Watch which I think is great 👍🏼.

Well done for attending your local Gym💪...and doing home exercises. The great thing with home exercises is that you can do them any time that suits yourself 🙌. There are loads of good Apps available🙂. I currently use 'Results.'

It's wonderful you're determined to get back 'on the mend'😀...and you're 'not doing too bad😀!'

Good Luck on your journey 🙃. X

[JaySeeSkinny]

I'm averaging about 15,000 steps a day and have done for the last 18 months. I built in an early morning walk before work, about 40 minutes. Every day, come rain or shine. After a while I took up running and I now either run or walk every morning at about 6 am (not at weekends though). Then I started walking to a station further down the line after work, again about 40 minutes. It's a great way to switch off and gets a bit of extra mileage in. On Fridays I even walk all the way home which is about 9 k. What with the steps I get at work, walking home from the station etc that gives me a good basis of about 11k during the week. At the weekends I try to get longer walks (or runs in), about 13 k. I'll even try and do a long run and a medium walk on Sunday. All in all I cover 90 - 100 k a week at the moment. In the summer I'm hoping to get a few good hikes in. Last summer the longest was 24k. But I do live in a beautiful part of the world (Munich) and I love exploring the Bavarian countryside. Oh, and we don't own a car, so everything has to be done on foot/bike or public transport (not a huge problem here in Germany!).

I think the main thing is to break up the walks so the mileage is not quite so daunting. A walk in the morning, a couple of km at lunch and then a walk in the evening and it quickly adds up.

It sounds as if you've got a good basis anyway. Good luck with your plan!

[Hidden in reply to JaySeeSkinny]

Hi JaySeeSkinny

You have a funny photo 😁.

I'm impressed with your walkingschedule before and after work...well done🙂. I can relate to you 'switching off while putting in your mileage.' I call it 'unwinding and enjoying my surroundings' or if I'm Jogging then 'trying to get into my zone😉.' It's a very good idea to do exercises first thing in the morning as I believe it sets me up for the day🙃. However, more recently I've not been very good at achieving very early morning rises. I'm working on getting back on track 😇. We live in a city (London) so unfortunately we aren't overlooking countryside...the closest is about a half an hour drive away😕. We also don't own a car (by choice)...so it's public transport or feet 👣! Exploring the Bavarian countryside sounds wonderful.

Thank you for suggesting breaking up my walks. Today I did 21,664 steps without even realising it.

Cheers and happy Walking/Running🙃!

Best wishes.

[JaySeeSkinny in reply to Hidden]

That's a lot of walking without realizing it. I think we non-drivers automatically get more steps in. I am very grateful that I live somewhere where I can survive very nicely without my own transport 😈

[runswithdogs]

You could try adding an extra section onto any walks you're already doing. It's what I did with running - after my usual route was getting easier and easier to hit consistently I turned down different streets to add extra loops. The other option could be to add an additional intentional walk during the day. A mid-day trip around the block or something.

[Hidden in reply to runswithdogs]

Hi runwithdogs

Your photo of your dog reminds me of my family dog when I was a kid. She was a Greyhound and Collie cross🙂!

Thank you for suggesting breaking up my walks. It sounds so obvious but I wasn't doing it🙄. Sometimes you get stuck in a routine. Today I'd found excuses to run errands and avoid, where possible Public Transport. I mentioned to another poster that I doubled my step count without realising it🚶!

Completing a 'short round road trip' during the odd evening is another option🙂!

Again thank you for your helpful advise.

Best wishes 🙃X.