How I Get So Many Steps Per Day

When I feel well, I have a very high average daily step count. Currently, my average is 21,578 steps per day. Some people have asked me how I am able to do this consistently.

First off, sometimes I'm not able to. It depends on whether or not I'm having pain and the severity of the pain. I can keep the count up pretty well, but not hit 20,000 when I'm having pain issues. Sometimes it's very low, but I'm learning how to move my body better when I'm in pain.

So here's my list of how I do it:

1. Bought a FitBit. This is the best thing on earth to me, and I wish I would have had it since the start of my journey. Check out their website. This tracks steps, mileage and calorie burn. Also, very important, activity level. It also tracks sleep. Love, love, love my FitBit. This is the tool that inspires me to get those high steps. Better than a pedometer for me, it's highly motivating.

2. Start the day with a short walk. I usually walk five to ten minutes right off the bat.

3. I do one or two Leslie Sansone DVDs a day. Every evening, I try to do one of her three-mile videos. According to my FitBit, they're actually two plus miles, not close to three, but it's a nice 45-minute walk.

A 1-Mile Leslie averages 2,000 steps. A 2-mile Leslie averages around 3,500 steps. A 3-mile averages about 4750-5000 steps. A 4-mile averages just above 6,000 steps. The 3-miles are good in that they come in at 45 minutes. That's about my boredom threshold. (These aren't real exciting videos! They are great stress relievers, though, because I can zone and think, letting my mind wander.)

4. My beloved exercise videos. One hour-long step tape usually yields between 6-7,000 steps and high activity level. Strength videos, obviously, don't yield very much at all--but it's still important to do those strength workouts.

5. I don't work outside the home, so I do have more opportunities to get in more steps than those that work. Sorry, one of the few luxuries to my unpaid job.

6. I take breaks and play with the dogs. We have a game where I go outside with them, they bring me a toy, and I kick the toy and then fetch. When they go off to retrieve, I walk a lap around the garage. I do this several times a day and usually average 4-500 steps per game.

7. Become inefficient in the home. My laundry room is in our basement but the bedrooms upstairs. Instead of putting clean clothes in a basket and bringing them up in one trip, I make three trips with an armful. More steps. I have become more inefficient in many ways around the home, all in the name of moving my body more. (Doesn't mean I'm not getting things done, I just take more steps to do it intentionally.)

8. I don't watch a lot of TV, but every Tuesday night you can find me walking in place while watching NCIS. Love the show, and I walk throughout half of the show at least.

9. I quit relying on my son to do little errands around the house. I get off my butt and do them myself now. No more, "Could you bring me X, please."

10. Go to Wal-Mart. If I'm short on steps for the day, I'll head off to Wal-Mart. I average 2-3,000 steps just walking around the store, going up and down aisles. No one has ever noticed me, because I'm pushing a cart and looking at stuff, but I go at a quick pace when I can.

11. Mall walk. In my town, I don't enjoy the mall. I go there for the post office. When I go, though, I do several laps. I've gone a few times just to mall walk. It's not my favorite thing to do, but it gets me out of the house. When we visit the big city, I love to mall walk. It's a huge mall and there's lots to see and I get tons of steps from one lap, but take two or three.

12. I've become very aware of those steps by checking my FitBit on a constant basis, so I get up and move around when I think I need more steps.

13. Sometimes I just dance to a favorite song when it comes on the radio or iPod. I am not a dancer at all, but when no one is watching me, I cut loose. =)

14. Became involved in the FitBit community and met some friends that have much higher averages than I do. Talk about motivating! Surround yourself with what you want to become, you know?

That's it. I am constantly aware. Just get up and move. That's all I do.