Getting in Shape: 10,000 Steps

Why is it so freaking hard to stay in shape? With BlogHer '07 quickly approaching, I am realizing that in less than a year I have gained between 15 and 20 pounds. As if that wasn't humiliating enough to admit all by itself, I know that if I show up in Chicago looking like this everyone I met last year will notice immediately.

What is an easy way to take off this extra weight?
Well, besides starving myself or going to the gym.

I don't have a miracle answer, but I have started doing something amazingly simple that seems to work.

My ~~ex-sister-in-law's mother~~ ~~brother's ex-mother-in-law~~ friend Deb (I have no idea how to refer to anybody in my brother's ex-wife's family, but I love these people) told me that she had started wearing a pedometer every day. Her goal is to walk 10,000 steps each day. Then she gave me a pedometer.

It is so easy. It is so motivating. It clicks (which is slightly annoying) and reminds me that I am trying to lose weight and get some exercise. Deb is a writer too, so it is so easy for us to just sit around all day on our butts in front of the computer. The pedometer just keeps me aware. I am loving it, and so far I am down about 4 pounds.

I'm not the only one doing this either (I guess it was on Oprah or something) Gretchen is doing it, Barbara is doing it, KGMom is going it and those are just a few of us.

The hardest part is remembering to put the thing on in the morning.

Contributing Editor Sarah also blogs at Sarah and the Goon Squad and Strollerderby.

Submitted by Sarah (view blog

) on Thu, 04/26/2007 - 8:13am

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Sports

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I need to do this, too

Sarah, I'm glad you posted this. I've been trying to remember to get my exercise in every day, but I am always busy and keep putting it last. I'm going to pick up a pedometer today and start keeping count. Thanks.

Birdie
Birdie's BlogHer Blog
Beauty Dish

Submitted by Birdie Jaworski on Thu, 04/26/2007 - 08:42

This is a great idea.....

Who would have thought to give a Pedometer as a gift? But, how great! I think the best way to lose extra pounds and work-out, is to have a "buddy". And what better way to get a "buddy"....give them a pedometer as a gift!

Good luck, and I hope to see you at the Conference, I am really looking forward to it.

I also need to lose some pounds...medication I have to take from time to time, always kicks me up 10 to 15 pounds. Unfortunately, with both Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Asthma....even light exercise is out of the question. I really need to focus on eating the "healthy foods" and staying away from the "all the other stuff that I love, foods".

Catherine Morgan
Women 4 Hope and Be The Change You Want To See In Yourself

Submitted by Catherine Morgan on Thu, 04/26/2007 - 08:57

I've been wearing one for weeks.

and seldom make 10,000 a day. Well, okay, I only made it once. This was on a day when I walked my usual 30-45 minutes of official "walk" (this totes up about 4000 steps) and then walked all over town shopping with a friend for the rest of the day. I was literally walking all day. The only place I didn't walk was the new Apple Store, which I made my friend restrain me from entering.

Sometimes I walk the track at the gym if the weather is bad. I can figure my distance at the gym. Two miles is just over 4000 steps for me.

Yesterday I did my morning walk, I walked to the library after lunch, and I walked around the house a lot because of a construction project going on here. It was just over 7000 steps. This is where I normally end the day.

I think its tough doing 10,000 steps a day without planning in an hour of solid walking in the morning.

http://www.webteacher.ws/
http://first50.wordpress.com/

Submitted by Virginia DeBolt on Thu, 04/26/2007 - 11:22

It's almost 4:00 pm

I'm at 3892. Virginia is right. Looks like I'll have to take a walk tonight.

BlogHer Contributing Editor, Sports and Fitness
Sarah and the Goon Squad
Draft Day Suit

Submitted by Sarah on Thu, 04/26/2007 - 12:50

What a great gift!!

Last year (about this time??) I joined Denise inthe Woman's Challenge. It will start again on Mother's Day and last until July 8th. Should we start another BlogHer team??

I got frustrated with the pedometer I was using, did some research and found the best pedometer in the world! (yeah, I wrote about it here.)

Highly recommend the Omrom HJ112.

Now I found I needed to plan a daily walk to get my steps up, but as I continued I got up to 15,000 steps a day. Unfortunately for me, I didn't lose a pound by doing this, but most of my friends did.

Debra
A Stitch In Time
Deb's Daily Distractions

Submitted by debra roby on Thu, 04/26/2007 - 20:00

Talk About Embarrassing

I write and blog about my experiences getting rid of unnecessary stuff in my effort to get organized. My (unused) pedometer, purchased about two years ago, is either currently lost among my remaining unnecessary stuff or somewhere "safe" where I'd be sure to find it.

Thanks for bringing it up because I'm now motivated to go find the thing and put it to use!

Cynthia Friedlob
Link TextThe Thoughtful Consumer

Submitted by Thoughtful on Thu, 04/26/2007 - 22:46

Walking

I have been doing this for about 4 weeks now. I have the Omrom mentioned in a previous comment. I average about 7k steps a day. Getting to 10k a day is hard when you sit at a desk all day long. I have also added in running to my fitness program and even on the days I run, I only hit about 9500 steps or so.

Dankinia's Demented Dialog

Submitted by Dankinia on Fri, 05/04/2007 - 00:44