10,000 thousand steps exercise program

[RunningMom]

I was wondering about the 10,000 steps exercise program, but I'm a little confused.  I was watching Dr. Oz(however, I'm not a fan) talk to this lady aout the 10,000 steps program.  He stated that the 10,000 steps needed to take place at least twice a week in the same day.  

This sounds interesting to me, but I physically can not take the 10,000 steps without going into unbearable pain if it is done all at once.  He was telling this lady on television that it needed to be done all at one time at least twice a week.  I personally think Dr. Oz is very closed minded and one sided with his views.  However, he does have some good eating tips and how to keep off weight.

I can do the 20,0000 steps and then some during the week, but I need to break it up.  I also need to hold onto the handlebars on the treadmill to support my shoulders from moving too much, which irritates the herniated discs in my neck.  I can walk up to an hour slowly on the treadmill.  I miss running dearly.

What are your thoughts?

[Barb135]

You can go to WalMart, Target, K-Mart, etc for a pedometer.  They come in all price ranges, depending on the "features" you prefer; however, you need not buy an expensive one -- so long as it measures your steps, you should be fine.

I would not recommend that you try doing the whole 10,000 steps/day right off the bat.  I believe that you experience pain after exercise, you have done too much.  It's always best to start small and work your way up.  

Just start out wearing the pedometer and see what you actually do during your normal routine and go from there.

[RunningMom]

Do you have a good recommendation for a pedometer?  I will have to pick one up.  However, I don't think I'm physically able to do the 10,000 steps in one day.  I can do up to 3 miles in one day, but I do pay for it with pain.  I'm looking for a surgeon to have a second fusion, I can't live like this.  I need to get up and exercise, as it is very improtant to me.

[Barb135]

The goal is to get in 10,000 steps each day; I've never heard that it had to be done all at once - just 10,000 steps/day.  That can include whatever steps you get doing your housework, gardening/yard work, walking for exercise, shopping or whatever you are doing.  

I haven't been doing it recently, but I used to wear a pedometer everyday and it was not unusual to put in up to 15,000 steps/day because I have a very physical job; but there were also days that I only got 4000-5000.

I suggest that you put your pedometer on when you get dressed in the morning, then do your best to get 10,000 steps on it before you take it off in the evening.  If you don't get the 10,000 steps don't stress over it because we can't always do that.  Some days we are just more active than others and if you have physical limitations, I'm the first to say -- make sure you don't push too hard or you may injure yourself even more.  

When I first started wearing my pedometer, I wasn't really aiming for a set # of steps -- I just wanted to see how many I did each day, but then it sort of became a challenge with myself to try to get more than I'd done the day before.  That might be a good way to "ease" into it.