Member Stories

My fellow steppers.--This will

“My fellow steppers. This will be my last personal entry here at least as a long time goal has now been met. You may have read my previous story, about my work related injury and subsequent weight gain and spiral downward hurting both myself and those I cared about. I went from 86kg's to 126kg's in eleven months. Sport was now impossible and my back did not seem to recover. It was not the pay cut due to the injury sustained at work or the weight gain that prompted me to try something else but a cd set from a man called Skip Ross {The Dynamic Living Series}. Work introduced the 10,000 step challange in 2006 and I set about on my own personal journey. Sixteen months later I am now 84.6kgs back to teaching karate and working for QR National at long last living a full life. My back is still injured but whats an injury over the human spirit, or triumpth without adversity. I sit here a changed man, better I hope in the realisation that YOU all can get from life whatever it is you want all you have to do IS BELIEVE in yourself and the things you can do. Farwell to all here and my sincerest thanks to the outpourings and wellwishes from you all. To those who shared there stories here and there influences on myself a big THANKYOU, you may not realise it but little things such as stories do make a big difference to those who are willing to listen. Anthony J L Kavanagh Australia.”

Hi there,-I found this

“Hi there, I found this web site by just surfing the net. I am probably about 6kg over what I should be. l weigh 68kg and would like to lose around 5-6 kgs. After reading peoples stories I have become motivated. Bought myself a pedometer and have walked at least 8000 steps for the last 14 days. More than anything I am thoroughly enjoying walking everyday. I have an underactive thyroid and have started putting on weight over the last 12 months. Inspired by other peoples commitment to get out there and walk, it has given me the incentive that I need to help me exercise. Thanks for all the stories of encouragement.”

G'day everyone,-I bought a

“G'day everyone, I bought a pedometer a couple of weeks ago and its my favourite gizmo! I get a buzz from reading the number of steps I clock up-particularly today, 17500...I have been a reasonably steady weight of 68-71kg over the last couple of years but am verging on overweight for my height (167cm). I wish to feel sprightly and toned and to look myself in photos (at least how I know I can look when I'm healthy and dedicated to exercise). All the best to everyone, Felicity.”

WELL TODAY I COMPLETED

“WELL TODAY I COMPLETED MY MILLION STEPS,WOW,IT HAS TAKEN ME 177 DAYS, AT AN AVERAGE OF 6,635 STEPS A DAY, BUT I MADE IT, I HAVE RECENTLY TURNED 70 , STILL WORKING, HOPING TO RETIRE NEXT YEAR, SO WILL HAVE LOTS MORE TIME FOR MY WALKING, I HAVE ENJOYED EVERY STEP OF THE JOURNEY, AND ENJOY READING ABOUT OTHER PEOPLES AIMS AND APIRATIONS, GOOD LUCK AND BEST WISHES TO YOU ALL OUT THERE RONZA ROO. ”

Thanks to 10,000 Steps,

“Thanks to 10,000 Steps, we try to organise walking club at National Taiwan Normal University to encourage our faculty and employees to reach the goal of " 10,000 steps a day". Happily we are having around sixty members interested in this programme this semister. Hopefully this club will grow bigger and bigger to spread healthy walking habit around the campus. Jiunn-chern Jwo Taipei, Taiwan. ”

Last night my blood

“Last night my blood pressure was 109/68..In April, just 6 months ago, it was 149-91 and I was told to take blood pressure medicine. I knew there had to be another way and thankfully I found your site that has motivated me walk every morning. And the added benefit is..I've lost weight,really toned up and feel great. Thanks so much for your site. T DeBord Knoxville, TN USA ”

I joined in sep

“I joined in sep of this year, I am also doing weight watchers, its great I love how im so motivated even getting up to change the station, I park as far as I can which is still safe when going to the supermarket. I call my friends and instead of going out for dinner they come walking with me! Its really great and I know that I will lose the weight. I am 153 cms tall and I currently weigh 68.2 (I began my journey weighing 86 kgs) so here is to a new me! I know I will get there..... Cheers to us all for making these wise changes : )”

I did it!!

“I did it!! I completed the September Challenge of walking from Vienna to Tata, and I had two days to spare. I actually reached the target on my 62nd birthday, which made me feel really good as I've only been walking with a pedometre since mid-August. By the end of today (30th Sept) I should have walked approximately 297,000 steps this month. I'm going to aim for a daily average of 10,000 steps for the October Challenge as I believe taking small steps and achieving is better than biting off a big chunck and getting discouraged. So my goal for October will be 310,000 steps.”

I've just come back

“I've just come back to 10,000 steps after around 2 years of being away from it for various reasons. Yes I did put on just a few kilos, but the need and the love of walking didnt disappear during that time. Now its back on track, and back into walking, the only real exercise ive ever really enjoyed and know, if health permits, I'll always enjoy....My two pedometers have been broken or lost, so tomorrow its off to get a newer, streamlined model and its time for logging in here every day to record my steps.. I still have a dream of travelling aroudn Aussie, and walking a lot of the distance, to do my bit in helping to raise money for the less fortunate and improve my health at the same time...Love reading everyone stories.!! Keep em coming! Theresa ”

Hi my names Mathew

“Hi my names Mathew I started the 10000 steps in September. I think the stories are very inspirational and I would like to Congratulate everyone who is competing in the 10000 steps challenge.”

WOOOO HOOOOOO !!!!!!--Second million

“WOOOO HOOOOOO !!!!!! Second million steps in 2007 today!!! now to get my third by 1 Jan 2008. Computer estimates 25 Jan 07 so I want to beat it! Hugs and GOOD LUCK to you all! Jenn monsterbabys3mom@yahoo.com”

Hi everyone,--I have just

“Hi everyone, I have just joined the program and have found the stories very inspirational. I am looking for virtual walking buddies to share ideas and ongoing motivation with. Fellow aussies and o/s buddies would be great.I am 50-55yrs,living in QLd and wanting to lose 25-30kgs. My motto is to be trim, taut and terrific....... Left a message on the discussion forum as well. email: suziconsultants@gmail.com cheers and best wishes Suzi”

Hi my name is

“Hi my name is Karen and our workplace has just joined the 10,000 steps programme. Reading participant's stories has inspired me to increase my daily activity and aim for 10,000 steps per day. Married for 15 years, I find that my weight gain has averaged an extra kilogram of weight for each year of marriage! I am looking forward to uncovering the stronger, healthier (and slimmer) version of myself in the months to come. ”

I used to walk

“I used to walk the dog daily without any focus, but when I signed up with 10,000 STEPS my exercising became more conscious. That's the first achievement. I then signed on with a local personal trainer at a local boxing gym (can't stand the other kind) -- one half hour fortnightly -- and that racheted up my engagement. By doing follow up sessions at home I learnt I could invest my boxing exercise workouts into my 10,000 STEPS credits. This took a lot of work and perseverence -- but now my family has followed me into the boxing stuff: wife, 18 y/o daughter and 17 y/o son. "The family that fights together...." So thats' my second big achievement. I had ridden a bicycle to get around and because of worsening ill health over the past 3-4 years and wasn't up to that at all. So I got myself a scooter / kickbike/ footbike --and with its low footboard I now get out most days to shop or commute. And each journey I invest into my 10000 STEPS. Another achievement. Its' a spiral, but the 10,000 steps is my core and was my great beginning. ”

today I am so

“today I am so happy I have just brought a complete new wardrobe of clothes my others where either a size 24 or 26. Now I believe I am half way most of what I purchased where a size 18 I feel so great. I just love it a the end of the day when I get over 10,000 steps. suzanne”

I started this thing

“I started this thing in April of 2004. I was diagnosed with diabetes, and weighed 340 lbs (154 Kg). When I first started getting 3000 steps in one day was a major challenge. Now three years and a few months later I am at 270 lbs (122 Kg or 32 Kg lost!) I generally average between 9000 and 12000 steps per day. I feel great. I no longer need medication for the diabetes. I even lowered my WHR (waist hip ratio) from 0.87 to 0.85 which officially gives me one measurement so improved to be out of the "horrendously hideously BAD" category. It is a moderate! I also went through a very stressful last year. I was divorced, went back to college, had several job changes, had pneumonia (6 weeks on prednisone!); all things that in the past would have EACH resulted in a 20 or 30 lb (9-14 Kg) weight gain. I am happy to say that because of my "stepping" I haven't gained anything in the last year. I encourage all my friends to buy pedometers and I even give them as gifts. Its amazing because I got my first million steps of the year around 31 May. I will get my second around 1 Oct. Hopefully I will have my 3rd by 1 Jan... I want to do 4 next year. Its nice to be able to say I'm working on my second million!! Good luck and hugs Jenn monsterbabys3mom@yahoo.com”

hi Bronwyn,-good to know

“hi Bronwyn, good to know you are making progress at the gym and your walking. I am persisting with the walking and yoga. I had started by combining yoga and walking and was doing 5000 steps of walking and an hour of yoga. Now I have increased the walking part of the routine to 10,000 steps. I do not power walk, just go at an easy pace, but take a route that is steep, part of the way, and I have to huff and puff up the slope.I enjoy the tranquility and the changing colours of the morning sky and try to bring my mind and body in tune with the peace prevailing at the time. That in itself is such a joy. Hope you are having just as much fun. Bye for now. ”

hi all. -my name

“hi all. my name is michael and i at about 6 feet tall, used to weigh about 89kg. that is over the normal BMI but i never thought it was an issue, i thought it was normal. in oct 06 i started walking and wearing a pedometer. i now do about 14 500 steps a day. my weight has dropped to about 72 kg, thats a loss of 17kg or so. i have much more energy nowadays and feel much better i dont have any walking buddies - i'd love to have some on the list, doesnt matter whether you do more or less steps than me. if you are interested my email address is michael.ellis@bigpond.com Thanks, Michael”

Hi-I have reached another

“Hi I have reached another milestone, that of 5 million steps since I joined. it has taken me a long while and I'm only averaging about 8500 per day. However I'm still persisting, and i know it is doing good. I find it difficult to fit everthing in. So I will make a resolution to bring my average up by 100 steps by the end of the year, as I've been going for nearly three years this will take an effort of about an extra thousand steps to bring the average up by one step! Wendy”

I have been stepping

“I have been stepping since April 2007, wearing my pedometer every day. Yesterday i started to read other peoples stories and decided that it was time to really commit myself to the challenge. So today, so far I have logged over 13000 steps and by sharing my thoughts here I have made a commitment to carry through and walk 10000 steps per day. I will change my life for the better. Wendy”

Hi Raman,-Thanks for the

“Hi Raman, Thanks for the tip re yoga. I will speak to my specialist. I don't use the weights while walking ,just at the gym. My diabetes blood tests have dropped already ,the combination of walking and weights are working. Bronwen.”

Jenny i read your

“Jenny i read your post from july 29th. I had the gastric bypass surgery done 1 1/2 years ago. The surgery helps but you have to do the work. Exercise is a huge factor so keep up the walking and develope the positive attitude and it will get you to your goal. You say your alone here is my e-mail address if you need some one to talk to. tdaughtr@summitpolymers.com This program developed through work and so many of us have benefited from it. It so nice to see my fellow co-workers and friends taking their health serios.”

My name is Meleia

“My name is Meleia and I'm 51. It's amazing to me that I've walked 409,000 steps since june....that is 204 miles. I want to begin to run, however I'm walking at a pace of 3.6 mph. I'm very excited about being over 50 and as active as I am. ”

I just breached my

“I just breached my first million steps --and it feels real good. Just short of 12,000 steps per day, I found my walking not intense enough so I've been using my scooter --a push scooter which really works up the intensity of my travel time. Much more so than bicycling. (I have arthritis and bikes are a difficult mount and too hard on the knees. Scootering is like walking/jogging but without the weight bearing foot strike) I'm going to trade up to a KickBike (even easier to push)but keep this present scooter -- with 20 inch wheels -- for shopping trips(as I've rigged it up for cartage). When you don't scoot/kick you get off and push -- like wheeling a pram . But the walking has given me the confidence to do that after losing all hope of being so mobile. Now I trade off my intense scoot for so many extra walking credits. So I try to scoot every day as well as go for a scheduled walk. I've had a scooter for three years now and really love the ease of the transit it offers. Mine is a dogscooter built from a canibalised BMX. Yes you can 'run' with dogs -- like sledding. Mush! My terrier is too shy to go full out -- but my last dog loved to run with the scooter. But it's hard work if thats' what you want(and no dog is pulling). It aint a walk in the park to scoot around and especially up a hill.But you work the whole body. Full stretch/ drive from the thighs. Kick out and follow through... I reckon it's the next step up (and only a short one! -- 4-6 inches!) from walking. ”

Hello ,-I have just

“Hello , I have just read a previous story from David who is 59and wants to becomea vittual Walking Buddy. I would be willing to invite David to join my walking buddies. David or anyone else who wants to join if you post email address here I will invite you to our group. Hope this helps Marjie”