Hi everyone
A happy belated birthday to our Suzy and a big Hello to our Fred 😊😊
After Coughs post on tiredness, I was wondering how many of you keep track how many steps you take. Or miles you walk. If so, what do you use?
Have a great weekend everyone
Rubyxx😊😊
Hi Ruby, firstly, I have Emphysema FEV1 36%. I got a Fitbit Zip a couple of years ago, it tracks my steps and syncs with my computer. Started off with a goal of 3000 steps a day and have gradually worked up. I keep a notebook with my daily steps (and any problems I strike with breathing etc), each week I add them up and work out my daily average which is currently 7000 steps. I work full time so have to get some of the 'stepping' in before I leave the house in the morning, I use videos on YouTube (these are really helpful when you can't get outside because of the weather/conditions and you can pause them when you get puffed). Leslie Sansone Walk at Home is one I started with . I did pulmonary rehab course earlier this year which really helped too, gave me some guidelines how far I could push myself safely.
Hope this is helpful
Sue xx
Hi Sue
Are you new on the site? Don't recognize your name. Your very ambitious. I am also still working and get quite a few steps in while at work. ( cleaning offices)
Would like to see how many and add to it.Can you see how many miles you walk with the fit bit?
Also can you look while your walking, or only on computer?
Your very organized with the notebook and all. Thats my plans too. What type of work do you do? Thanks for your reply..
Rubyxx😊😊
I joined April last year, but I'm a reader mostly trying to learn as much about this condition as I can so I make the best of what I have. I do computer and web work for a charity. There's about 20 stairs to my office and am up and down them numerous times a day. I walked up them very slowly at first, still have to be careful as, if I rush, when I get to the top there isn't enough air again (horrible feeling isn't it). On the fitbit you can read the number of steps you've done, the time, how many calories you're buring and the number of kilometers you've walked. fitbit.com/nz/zip.
I live rural and we don't have any verges to the road so unless you can quickly jump into the ditch (which I can't) it's unsafe. Plus, I was making excuses for not walking (too wet, too hot, too cold, too hilly etc) so being able to do it at home, setting a weekly step goal was my way to remotivate myself.
After doing pulmomary rehab I have joined up at the gym so I can continue to work on my upper body strength and get onto a treadmill for some of my steps. They're very understanding of this funny lady who gets out of breath from almost nothing hehe
Sue
I'm probably going to pick one up tomorrow. First I'll see how steps I take a day, before adding any. Do you ck. Your oxygen with all the walking your doing? I'm going to do like you and get a notebook and keep track of everything. Sounds like a plan 😊 Also Sue, Welcome to the site. Any time you have any questions we're here.
Rubyxx😊
I got the Zip as it was the cheapest and I didn't know if I would keep using it (have never been good at committing to exercise schedules). I will upgrade to one of the ones that monitors sleep and counts stairs when my budget allows.
No, don't check oxygen, probably should but don't have an oximeter. I stop if I get too breathless and keep an eye my fingernails (that they don't get blue). At pulmonary rehab when I was exercising I would desaturate quite quickly, but as soon as I slowed down my O2 stats would recover pretty fast. I got to being able to feel when they were starting to drop too far.
And thanks so much for the welcome
Sue xx
Nice to see you Sue 😃 well done on losing two stone. That's amazing and you've really inspired me and reminded me that to lose weight you need to burn more calories than you consume!
Ruby, nice post 👍👍 my phone has a pedometer on it. You can get apps for any smart phone - as long as you keep it on you it works really well.
As I forget to carry around my mobile phone I'm going to get me one of those there things you put on your wrist so thank you for bringing it up.
(Did you know, a stone =. 14lbs. Weird I know) 😉
Hi peege
You going to count your steps? I'm getting a fitbit or one of them today. Lets see how we all make out.😊 Have a great day Peege....
Rubyxx😊😊
After completing a pulmonary rehab course last year I got myself a FitBit. They may seem like a glorified pedometer but, being childish about these things, I like the 'reward' of feeling it 'buzz' on my wrist when I reach my target and seeing how the steps mount up. Walking is the easiest exercise for me and I don't beat myself up if I am unable to reach my 'target' - it tends to even itself out over time. I am two stone lighter and much fitter than I was before pr.
Hi Pentreath
I agree with the buzzing when you reach your target. Sounds like my kind of toy. Whats your target? I'm anxious to get one, and get started. One foot in front of the other. How hard is that 😊
Rubyxx😊
Just so, one step after another. I have a target of 10,000 a day but built up to that gradually. Yesterday I only did 5,000+ because I was in a meeting most of the day and then had a visitor as soon as I got back home again. The previous day I did 12,000 so over the week/month it usually evens itself out. Where I live there are some lovely walks to do and I usually do circular ones and after doing this for nearly a year I know roughly how many steps each one takes. If I am not well then, naturally, it drops right down; think the lowest was under 1,000.
Wonder how steps are in a mile. Do you know?
😊xxx
Hi Rubyred
It, of course, depends on the length of your stride - mine seems to average about 1,800 a mile but I have not done an actual measure on this - I know it takes me over 5 miles to get to 10,000. I think the best thing is not to get hung up on the numbers, just start slowly, build up and get on with it! Should have said before: winter 2013/4 - five exacerbations back to back October to April; winter 2014/15 one chest infection abs only once. What a difference.
I use an old fashioned pedometer I had bought some time ago (and left in a drawer) but I have now ordered a Garmin - waiting for it to arrive. When I was diagnosed with COPD in February my minimum steps per day were about 2000; now it's about 3500; and I plan to improve even more. PR is helping me too.
Hi Ergendal
Glad to hear from you.
I have had numerous pedometers. They never agreed on how many steps I took! They just weren't accurate. I gave up with them. I'm a bit of a perfectionist.😊 Sounds like your doing well. Whats your goal?
5,000? I believe I'm going to get a fitbit tomorrow. Whats the difference between the Garmin and the fitbit ? So let me know how you progress with your steps. We need a little count your steps group. Right?
Rubyxx😊😊
Hi Ruby. I liked the Garmin because it shows more information on the wrist band than the Fitbit does. Still waiting for it to come from Curry's online sale. So far, my target has to improve my baseline from 3500, and aim for several days over 10,000 steps per week.
Sounds good 😊xx
Omg! I am feeling even lazier and more tired now reading all this! 
x
Hi Cough
You are not lazy. Bet you take alot of steps every day.😊 Think about all the places you walk.
You probably walk a mile day.😊
Love
RUBYXX😊
Actually you are right there Ruby I probably do at least. How many steps is that? x
I'm not sure. Trying to find out from someone on here. One thing for sure my friend-- you are not lazy...😊
😊xx
Looks like 2,000 steps is a mile.10,000 steps is 5 miles!
Think you walk a mile? Why don't you get a fitbit or even a pedometer? You would be surprised how many steps you take.
Rubyxx😊
I've found out I do 350 steps just getting up and doing my morning stretch exercises. It's amazing how many steps get added by making sure I don't sit for over an hour, even if all I do is get up to put the kettle on. That had been my mistake before - just sitting with the lap-top and TV for hours on end.
Hi Ergendal
Sorry didn't get back to you sooner. I will be picking up a fitbit hr today. Looking forward to walking with you.😊 Maybe every half hr. Add some steps!
I am still working so will be easier for me! Talk to you soon
Rubyxx😊😊
Great - I'll try not to compete, just do my best to improve. Curry's just emailed to say my Garmin is on its way. M xxx
Did you ever find out your fev1?
You weren't sure last time we mentioned it. I'm planning on keeping a notebook like Sue Mack. Sounds good. Right?
Rubyxx😊
Many thanks for asking. Yesterday my FEV1 was 1.83 litres, 73% of expected. My PEF has improved to 382 litres/minute. My readings are close to low normal, except that I am a trained singer, so you would expect my readings to be at the top of normal. Increasing my steps and doing the PR course have both improved my lung function. What are your results - FEV etc?
My fev 1 is 168 which is 62%. My peak flow is 300. Funny thing is, here the predicted value is 273. In uk it's 250!. Don't make sense.
They should be the same. My peak flow is 300. Maybe I should start singing! Got my fitbit on my way to work. Left it in my car!
Hows your oxygen levels? I'm 96-98.
😊😊xx
I recover quickly to 98-100% because of my singing, but I can drop to 90-95% if I'm not careful. Singing can make a difference to people's lung function. I'm about to start a singing for lung health group in the next couple of weeks, to help people with lung problems. It can be a gentler way to exercise than the gym, and lots more fun!
I recently updated my phone to an iPhone 5 & discovered that it comes with an in-built pedometer as part of a health app (on which you can also record peak flow, FEV-1, blood pressure & all sorts).
The pedometer is weirdly addictive. I've found myself walking up & down stairs or even going to the rubbish bin & back just for a few more steps. My average is showing at just under 5,000 a day but that covers everyting from over 10,000 at best to barely 2,000 at worst.
So, you going to improve on that
5,000 ? I'm anxious to get started. Got my fitbit today. Won't get alot of steps on it,
when I left it in the car!
😊😊xx
I'd like to but it is driven by work really. Some days I have to walk a fair way from stations, others i work at home & scarcely move. I think it's been good for my general health though. By coincidence I met someone wearing a fitbit today. Before this morning I'd never even heard of it! I hope you get good use from it anyway. Apparently my colleague said that it can measure how much sleep you get!!
Also your heart rate. There quite the thing now. Many people have them ☺
☺xxx
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