Steps

[shadow2foxy]

Just a quick question... how many steps should i be doing per day to be able to lose weight? Mine are set at 3000 (which i know is low) but i cant even manage those every day (i am a full time carer and have to be on hand 24/7). Please can anyone advise me? thanks in advance.

[Caz28]

Hi, just try and build up gradually, whatever you are comfortable with. Have you got access to the Internet whilst being a carer? If so, if you get any breaks when the person you are looking after is resting there are loads of indoor walking videos on you tube you could walk along to. I know how difficult it is to leave the house, I used to care for my Mum. I agree with moreless , walking is good for you, but the most important thing for losing weight is calorie intake.

[shadow2foxy in reply to Caz28]

yes i have access to the internet and will try your suggestion. thank you.

[moreless Administrator 7 stone]

Hi shadow2foxy, while walking will help with weight loss, fitness and well-being, it will be your eating that's going to make the most difference to your weight

Although the recommended number of steps per day is 10,000, we can only do what we're able to do and if that's 1,000, then great!

I don't know if you would be able to take the person you're caring for out for walks in a wheelchair. I would have thought that would be beneficial to both of you

Just remember, that any time spent on your feet is good time! Have fun!

[Itsbab]

10,000 steps is just a guide line you have to take into consideration your physical ability to do what you can and as a carer your time is probably very limited. I wear a fit bit and check my daily steps, some days are good, I have a hip problem so days are sometimes poor, I add them up for a weekly total and post them on Kilometre Zero on here. Just do what you can and if you get the chance you can add a few more you can go on you tube there is indoor walking on there so you don't have to actually go out. Bev

[esull]

The recommended is 10,000 steps per day but I would work up to that If you are doing lower at the moment.

I think on average most people do about 7,500 steps.

[IndigoBlue61]

Current advice is to move regularly, which I'm sure you are doing in your job 😊 There are apps for mobile phones that record steps or devices you can wear 😊 10,000 seems to be recommended but less for older or infirm.

In addition, some cardio workout, where you get slightly out of breath, such as cycling, brisk walking, swimming, is also recommended, about 150 minutes a week, 22 minutes a day.

You can build more exercise into your daily life doing housework, gardening, dancing, stair climbing, siting up and down in a chair etc etc check out NHS strength and Flex website

Good luck 😊

[Osiris275]

It depends on how much you eat really! Everyone is different. I find to lose 1.5lbs a week I have to consistently do over 20K steps roughly a day. My average is 22k. But any movement helps. Jogging on the spot if you can't get out is good, or an exercise bike.

I would think being a carer you'd be on your feet quite a lot. What do you use to track steps?

[shadow2foxy in reply to Osiris275]

i have a DS and a game called Walk with me (which has a pedometer) and i do roughly 2500 to 3500 steps a day if i go out shopping but if i stay in i do less than a thousand

[Garfield_123 in reply to shadow2foxy]

Little things like walking on the spot while the kettle boils or going up and downstairs every half hour, can add up over the course of a day. I've just been walking up and down my hallway to make up the last 500 steps of my daily 10k. Felt a bit of a prat but please now I've done it!