Walking 3½ miles a day

I walk 2 miles most mornings. This morning I did it in 52 minutes. I used to do it in about 40 minutes before I came down with bursitis in my right heel, but now I've slowed down to a Death March of Bataan pace. I counted my steps several times and found that I am averaging about 90 steps a minute so that would come to 4,680 steps for the 2 miles. I'll round it down and call it 4600, or 2300 per mile.
 
I was an athlete in my youth. I played sports and ran in my twenties and thirties, and since my forties, have walked almost daily. But I felt something was missing. Last night, I saw a Youtube video that talked about a 2024 Copenhagen study on 8,000 seniors, and there were five exercises that they claimed were better than walking. I tried them out last night. The last exercise in the video, I had a hard time getting up afterward, lol. Let me know what you think:

Thanks for this. Yes, I should be doing more of a variety, not just walking, or change up what I do to make it more interesting.
 
So many of you are doing great. I had no idea there were so many members as active as what I've seen posting here.

Part of my problem is a short attention span and becoming bored quickly with repetitive routines. It would probably be best if I split up what I do instead of trying to just walk a certain number of steps each morning.
 
So many of you are doing great. I had no idea there were so many members as active as what I've seen posting here.

Part of my problem is a short attention span and becoming bored quickly with repetitive routines. It would probably be best if I split up what I do instead of trying to just walk a certain number of steps each morning.
Variety works different muscle groups and keeps things on the move.
 
For my stride length of 22 inches (I'm short), 7000 steps is 2.43 miles.
It varies from one person to another, I just grabbed the AI answer when I asked how many steps in a mile. This was the response:
"There are roughly 2000 to 2100 steps in a mile for the average person, but this can vary significantly based on your individual height and stride length."
 
This NPR story from last month says we need to get in 7000 steps of walking per day for maximum health benefit. A mile is only 2000 steps. I walk 2 miles a day most days and thought that was enough. None of the seniors I know personally have mentioned walking 3½ miles a day.
My doctor says the 3000, 4000, 5000 steps thing is a myth especially for seniors. 2000 is more than enough, the important thing is that you are moving and doing things every day.
 
I'm tired of being governed by numbers - how much I should eat, drink, walk, run, weigh etc etc... I just try to stay healthy and active and don't count.

The best shape I have ever been was after the summer between my junior and senior year (1968) when I worked construction in New Jersey. They had us summer college kids do all the hard grunt labor. No formal exercise at all was needed. Just the job kept me solid as a rock and the palms of my hands were mostly one big callous. But nowadays if I use a shovel or a rake for 5 minutes without gloves I end up with a blister. :(
 
The Australian guidelines say 150 mins of moderate intensity excercise per week - eg brisk walking,
1/2 hour 5 days a week or any combination of days/ times to equal 150 minutes

Lots of people these days have smart watches that record steps per day, heart beat, BP, sleep rythms etc etc - I do not have one and just keep doing my activities as I listed above.
The only thing I time is parkrun - and I usually run 5km in around 34 minutes
 
So many of you are doing great. I had no idea there were so many members as active as what I've seen posting here.

Part of my problem is a short attention span and becoming bored quickly with repetitive routines. It would probably be best if I split up what I do instead of trying to just walk a certain number of steps each morning.
I get bored easily too. That’s why I do 3 different things in a week and I’ve found that each thing benefits me in different ways.
 
There are frequent differing articles on how much and how often exercise is needed. There are commercial companies that benefit from pushing more exercising.

No one would point to this person, given athletic accomplishments and results, could argue I need to exercise more. Despite clearly having lived an adult lifetime exercising less frequently than recommended, nor walking as much. Before retiring, most of this 8-5 m-f work week person's exercising was through outdoor activities only on weekends and vacation periods. Have never used gym memberships.

After retiring in 2017, I have been active a few days most weeks and rather not active for other days. With winter approaching, I am looking forward to a fair amount of snow skiing. In the mean time, will walk several miles most weeks over at least 2 or 3 days, that includes plenty of freestyle dancing.
 
This NPR story from last month says we need to get in 7000 steps of walking per day for maximum health benefit. A mile is only 2000 steps. I walk 2 miles a day most days and thought that was enough. None of the seniors I know personally have mentioned walking 3½ miles a day.
Good for you for getting in 2 miles a day Mack. 🚶‍♂️🚶‍♂️My BFF is an exercise fanatic. She walks for about an hour, then swims in the pool and bikes a few miles. She's 7 years younger than me, but still a senior. The only time I come close to walking that much is when I stay at our timeshare in Atlantic City. I walk the boardwalk and clocked 5.67 miles (the most I've ever walked in one day) while there and that was done in two parts.
 
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So many of you are doing great. I had no idea there were so many members as active as what I've seen posting here.

Part of my problem is a short attention span and becoming bored quickly with repetitive routines. It would probably be best if I split up what I do instead of trying to just walk a certain number of steps each morning.
I’m find walking outside to be much more interesting than walking inside. I find it easier to keep going for longer Because there’s things to look at and it feels good to be outside.
 
I walk my dog 3 times a day in and around my retirement community, plus some other walking most days to the main building on campus from my cottage. According to my cell phone, I average about 2.8 miles a day which for me is 8000 steps (approximately 2850 steps per mile). Unlike many of my fellow residents, I take the stairs in the main building (3 levels) rather than the elevator. Rain or shine, hot or cold.
 
I’m find walking outside to be much more interesting than walking inside. I find it easier to keep going for longer Because there’s things to look at and it feels good to be outside.
I understand. And we get sun (vitamin D) outside. I would have a problem with walking outside much of the time where I live, since it's in the mid 80s or lower 90s by or before 9:30 AM, which is about the time I get started. Then, when I got home, I'd need a shower. I may walk some outside now that fall is here, even though I usually haven't.
 

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