Member Stories

I also have Fibromyalgia.

“I also have Fibromyalgia. Although I've always walked for all of the 22 years I've been ill with it -- walking is not enough. Over the last 5 years my health has been deteriorating and I've become quite desperate. But since May last 10,000 Steps has anchored my exercise program. I now have a personal training session every fortnight at the local boxing gym and from there now do 30 minutes each day at home of boxing exercises - which are pretty intense. Boxing is very demanding -- and challenging. I had been crippled by foot problems for years now which have limited my mobility but now I usually walk 40 minutes per day with the dogs and do 30 minutes of boxing exercises -- so that now (and I find it hard to believe I can do it at 59 ) I'm up to skipping 300 jumps in my skip rope sessions. Now that's a worthwhile challenge! Learning to skip is a skill worth mastering I reckon. Great way to get your heart rate up! And I ride a kickbike for my commute journeys, to the shops and for occasional tour rides. I find the low step much better than a bicycle peddle even though you work harder to kick and push.The kickbike is my second scooter -- the first was a heavy home made job -- and its so easy to get on and off or push it by your side while walking.I also see the kickbike as a substitute for jogging. Nonetheless my weight is still up there and it is so hard to bring it down. But the gym like work is reducing my generalised pain & stiffness even though I often take pain killers on a morning so I can do my exercises before lunch -- so that the natural endorphins are given a chance to kick in... Don't knock it -- it works. It took me years to discover a simple solution to such a gateway. You take analgesia then and you won't need to take other doses if you can harness your exercising as pain relief. But of course some days I'm bed ridden or can only hobble around the house. Other times I'm lucky if I can make it out the front gate. So fitting an 'exercise program' under those parameters aint easy. (And my life has many examples of such creative programs going back decades). But, you see, I get to log the advances here -- I get to record even the bad days -- because then when I do step out/ put one foot in front of the other, for a few times at least. I used to do circuits of our pool at home here -- for most days of the year(even in a wet suit) but nothing beats really standing up to gravity and sweating it up. I think I've let myself off too easily in the past. And I'm now working harder but it aint any easier for that realisation.”

Hi my name is

“Hi my name is Bec and from Melbourne. I have a ten month old little girl with the biggest blue eyes ever and I am having touble shifting the weight. I have also been diagnosed with severe depression and have so much trouble just getting out of bed. I found the website by chance in January 2008 and immediately told my husband about it and off we went to get a pedometer. The pedometer is giving me so much motivation to get walking no matter how bad I am feeling. Now I am addicted to getting out on a walk and getting excercise. Plus the challenges that is set are fantiastic to keep motivated. Everyone is an inspiration no matter what and your stories keep me going. Thanks 10,000 steps for your wonderful program”

I have been a

“I have been a 10,000 step member for nearly a year now - and love it!! Last week my son and I got swept away by flood waters and spent three hours clinging to a tree waiting for our wonderful neighbours and emergency services to work out how to rescue us. During this time the raging waters ripped off my shoes, my jewellery and all the clothes from my son - however when I finally got to the hospital and took off what was left of my sodden clothes - there was my trusty 10,000 steps pedometer still clinging on - a bit like me to that tree! The next day I actually pulled the pedometer apart and emptied the water from inside it! A couple of days later I put it back together - and you will never believe it, it is still working!! It actually has mud under the LCD screen - but is somehow still counting my steps! As you can imagine it is now more than ever very precious to me - as is of course my family! What a tenacious little piece of machinery!”

Pat, you are an

“Pat, you are an inspiration, congratulations, that has to be one of the most encouraging efforts of all - good for you, good for everyone. George S (vermont)”

Hi All,-I have now

“Hi All, I have now been using this site as a tool to aid me in the quest to become fit and healthy for going on 10 months, in March it will be a year. I have been able to shed some 40kg in the last 18 months, and I would not have been able to accomplish it without getting my 10,000 steps pedometer and getting on the tredmill (and also walking outside in the fresh air). I am now 56.9kg down from 96.7k (163cm tall) and have maintained this weight (Or there abouts) for 4 months. It was one of those light bulb moments that happen in life that enabled me to make the decision to loose weight, and do the work to maintain it. Yes! there is work in maintaining - but it is as hard as you wish to make it. But suprisingly! I have found it easy! 10,000 steps a day. I have made room for it (daily)in my life and dont think I could go back to the old habbits of poor eating and excessive use of alcohol if I tried. (Occasionally, as if to test my resolve. I have tried, but with adverse results). As I lost my Gall Bladder a few years ago for my poor life style choices, it lets you know when you go off the rails. Thanks 10,000 steps for being there for me and others like me, who just needed your particular type of motivation. Pat (Melbourne) ”

Hi Everyone,--I, like Anne,

“Hi Everyone, I, like Anne, have a condition called Fibromyalgia which is similar to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome with more pain and less fatigue!!! Because of this condition I have stacked on a few kilos, but the catch is that when I exercise it cause extreme pain and discomfort until I reach a high fitness level. In the meantime I am already in pain, so I can't win. It is very hard to stay motiviated and reading everyones stories have spurred me on. I realised that just by making a more physical effort around the home I can increase the reading on my pedometer without killing myself but doing real exercise at the moment. I will slowly get there. Thanks P.S. Anne, if you need someone to talk to about Fibromyalgia or anything else you can contact me. I have had the condition now for 18 years (I am currently 27)!!! Alison”

Well here I go

“Well here I go again, trying to shift that stubborn extra 20 or so kilos. But this time I am trying to get real and realise that I need to move my body every day and change a lifetime attitude that exercise is just about losing weight and looking great. It's about improving my lifespan, making me stronger, so I can trek around the world with my husband and respecting this one and only body that I have got. Thanks for sharing your stories-it helps motivate me and I am sure it helps others. Good luck!”

Good on you Anne

“Good on you Anne ,you have taken the first step . I have done a lot of my walking on a treadmill and I find it helps to have a TV to watch .Also taking a challenge each month helps to keep you motivated.You will find that you have more energy .Keep it up . Bronwen ”

My name is Abby.

“My name is Abby. I'm from Larkspur, CA in the United States. I just happened to come across this website. Yesterday was my first day wearing my pedometer and I was shocked at how sedentary I was! I now have a goal for this month and hope to increase my step goal in February. I am so glad to have found this network of support.”

Hi my name is

“Hi my name is Anne, i live in Sydney's outer western suburbs. I reached a staggering 126, and i was successful in losing about 6 kilos.. and have just started to think about losing more. I need to i have a range of health issues, depression, sleep apnea, ibs, fibromyalia, and couple of others which i am sick of. I have a pedometer, and a walking tredmill here at home, so i have no excuse now as i can do it in the comfort of my own home. I have just found this site by pure fluke but i have read some peoples stories and they have certainly inspired me. It is currently 1.22am as i dont sleep well. But as of later today.. i make a promise to myself to start walking on my walking machine. I know now that i can lose the weight but i need to excersie to. I also bought the "heartmoves" dvd from the national heart foundation and they also run classes in my area twice a week so i would also like that to be something i do to also motivate myself. I havent always been this big i just want to take control of my own life. Thanks for listening. Anne”

Happy New Year all,--Today

“Happy New Year all, Today (2/1/08) is day two for my "getting rid of the Winter coat". Yes Winter finished a full month ago and my coat was not coming off. I asked Santa for a pedometer for Xmas and I found one under the tree. It was a 10,000 step one and so here I am stepping my way into 2008. Good luck to us all in what ever our goals may be. Cheers Linda Adelaide SA Australia ”

I started walking on

“I started walking on the 1/1/2007 and should reach 4 million in February 08. I am 77 years old ,have Menieres,diabetes and last year had endometrial cancer. I am doing a Uni Balance Course at the local gym.I now have all three medical problems under control.I walk, garden,do weights and have fun on my computer.My husband and I dance once a week. I belong to a dance club, computer club and an investment club.I am enjoying life . I encourage everyone to keep walking,it does so much towards keeping you fit and it is the cheapesr exercise available. Keep on walking. Bronwen”

I left the Airforce

“I left the Airforce in March 1997 after over 20 years of physical activity. I've started the 10000 steps today with my first target being 5000 steps and hoping to be up to 10000 steps by about mid January. Hopefully I can keep this up and lose weight to live a better life. All the best to everyone who is starting this journey.”

I am a 51

“I am a 51 yr old female who has 'issues' with weight and fitness. I struggle to keep weight down and fitness up. Six weeks ago I moved into a workplace that requires me to sit at a computer console using headphones for phone and radio communications. Our shifts are busy and are between 10 and 14 hours long. The work can be so unrelenting that frequently meal breaks are nonexistant, and a trip to the bathroom is very infrequent. I found that I gained 3 kilos in 6 weeks and was lapsing into a state of pure sedentary blobiness! I am now on holidays for three weeks and have taken up the challenge of stepping. I am loving it and loving the feeling of having more energy!! When I go back to work I want to try and encourage my work colleagues to join me in a workplace group, and also see if we can work out ways of allowing short breaks to encourage activity in the workplace. cheers Jenny ”

I've been walking since

“I've been walking since May 2007 and the 2 millionth milestone step I took was during my son's wedding in Florida! Most of my walking takes place at the West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada [about 7000 steps there] Found this site thru my employer's health challenge competiton site [it was a webpage link] in May of 2007 and in November won the 'turkey lurkey challenge' for walking the most steps between the Canadian and American thanksgivings. Keep on stepping everyone & sharing your stories. You've been an inspiration to get out there and WALK. Shirl O, proud navy mom and now a MIL”

Hi All, I am

“Hi All, I am new to this, well not walking. I use to walk everywhere and rarely ever used the car. My health hasn't been the greatest and I would like to improve my fitness/health and social activity. My encouraging and wonderful doctor told me all about your site. I am determined to get going on this. I enjoy meeting people and I live in the Redland Shire. If you would like you can email me at ravendove4@gmail.com please feel welcome. Have a lovely day! Nat”

Hi my name is

“Hi my name is Jan and I have been walking for three weeks with an average steps per day now of 13,000. I need to lose 15k and I hope my friend Jenny reads this and takes up the challenge.”

Hi All,--My name is

“Hi All, My name is Steve, I am 47 y/o and 6'1” tall. I live in Henley Beach in South Australia. My story starts like most; a traumatic event that led to a love affair with my fridge and everything in it! In Oct 2002 I had serious injury at work that left me sitting behind a desk. At the same time our little boy was born by emergency C section 5 weeks early and weighing only 3 lb (1475gm). 13 weeks later he had open heart surgery to patch a large hole in his heart, successfully thank God! So in the past 5 years I slowly crept up from 80kg to 115kg and in April 2007 when my Doctor said my cholesterol was through the roof. I decided it was time to get off my ever increasing butt and get fit, for my families and my sake! I started by decreasing my fat intake and cutting back on the size of my portions at each meal and started doing weights at the gym 3 days/week. By September 2007 I had lost 5kg and it was then that I was invited to join the 10,000 steps “walk to Paris” program at work. This is where I was first introduced to the web site and I have not looked back since. I started out doing 7,500 steps/day and by the end of September I was doing 11,000 steps/day. That pedometer sure becomes addictive! I even joined in the City to Bay 12km walk and finished it despite having shin pain for 10km of it! In October it was National Ride to Work day so I got myself a bike and rode the 30km trip to work and home, I was knackered but proud of my achievement. Well it’s now November 2007 and I still go to weight sessions at the gym M, W & F, I ride my bike to work every Wed (30km) and to the hills and back every Sat (40km) and I still try for 10,000 walking steps per day. My cholesterol is back in the normal range and my gorgeous wife says I’m looking “Buff”. I am down to 95kg and feel great! My weight loss has inspired my Brother in Law to get back on his bike after 5 years to lose that “Beer Gut” and my Father in Law has started walking regularly to control his Diabetes(and yes, he is getting a pedometer for Xmas!). I never go to bed without entering my steps and extra activities for the day and always add “notes” in the log your steps page to remind myself of what those extra activities were. I have reached my first Million Milestone and am well on my way to my second. I have completed 3 I- Challenges and our walk to Paris team came second! 10,000 steps has given me my life back, it is an incredibly motivational concept that everyone should know about, so spread the word! Happy Stepping :) ”

Hi--I am in 'sunny'

“Hi I am in 'sunny' england and just to let you know that todays walk was the first of the season with snow! Wasn't keen to go out because the forecast was dire but fear of disappointing a 10 year old made me - glad I went - being in the elements (hot or cold) is an essential part of being alive.”

Hi, I joined the

“Hi, I joined the 10,000 steps as part of a team from our work place in September. I have continued the challange by entering the Million Milestones and my individual challange, walking Nadi to Suva by Kings Road. I need to average 13,000 steps daily now and am just making it. My exercise is walking and I can not make my daily total unless I take a morning walk, the dog is making sure I do this. I walk as the sun comes up. The sea looks like glass. The sun sparkles on the boats and catches the flashes of colour on the birds wings. I feel grateful to be alive. L”

Hi-I am currently averaging

“Hi I am currently averaging a bit over 15,000 steps per day which is a combination of walking and cycling. A number of factors contribute to that number, I do not drive so cycling is my transport for shopping etc but the most enjoyable part of my walking is that I live near bush parkland. This morning I cycled the 5 km there and as has been the case every morning I am able to walk past kangaroos / wallabies as well as the native bushland. Further afield while walking I have watched lyrebirds putting on a show. Be able to experience the delights of these sightings makes the actual walking all that much easier.”

g'day to all,-

“g'day to all, I joined the 10,000 steps programme on the 27th October 07 and have been recording my steps every day and have averaged out at 7,725. I am quite puzzled at what some people are doing as fellow walkers on the same programme have been doing over 20,000 steps per day.! My best has been 14,680 and to do that I had to do my usual walk and be flat out all day.I find it very difficult to do the 10,000 every day.I have a very busy life. Retirement tends to do that to you.We live in a rural area where if one wants to go anywhere it is get in the car and drive otherwise it would take all day just to walk into the closest village to get the milk.! How do these people do so many steps per day. It makes me feel lazy and is very disheartening. I thank the 10.000 steps programme for getting me out there as I have been very slow recovering from 2 operations but am now feeling much better and I also have a torn ligament behind my knee that keeps playing up but I walk on regardless and have found out that I can not do the stretches required otherwise my knee balloons up and is quite stiff for a while.I have never let it stop me from doing things and it will never be operated on because we can not afford private health. Wish I knew how these other folk are gaining the steps they do a day, because as try as I might I can not get to that level.”

Hi, I think that

“Hi, I think that those people get those extremely high steps: a) through hard work; and/or b) extra activities such as a strenuous workout at the gym/swimming/aerobics, etc. Don't forget that those too can be added and equate to steps.”

Hi. My name is

“Hi. My name is Andrea and I joined 10,000 steps on Monday this week (5th November). I was diagnosed with Gale Stones in March this year and quickly realized I needed to do something about my eating habits. (not that you want to eat anything bad once the pain hits) I have always been over weight, as is most of my family. In March I weighed 138kg. So far this year I have lost 18kg through diet change alone and now weigh 120kg. I have never been a fan of exercise (of any discription) but the pedometer has given me goals. I love just watching it tick over. I'm only green but I hope 10,000 steps will help me get the rest of the weight off and change my life style. My average steps at pressent seems to be 5,000. I have 2 goals 1) get my average steps to 6 thousand 2) break 100kg mark Small goals I know but I have learned if I set them to high I give up to easily. I'll let you all know how I go Cheers Andrea Qld”

Hi all,-I have only

“Hi all, I have only recently joined your website after realizing I need a serious overhaul. Through lack of exercise and eating too many junk foods I had reached a shocking 142 kg for my height of 188cm. This along with a hernia I got from work made me realize that things had too change drastically! I am now averaging about 8,000 steps a day in my first week. I am also following the optislim diet and i'm feeling great just in my first week. I love getting out there and walking along the beach . I have now set myself the goal of joining the Royal Australian Navy in the future. ”