Member Stories

Hello everybody,--My name is

“Hello everybody, My name is Annesaar (this is a dificult name in your country) I'm 21 years old and I'm from the Netherlands. Just 2 days ago I started counting steps. That same day I found this site, which is great a great motivation for me. In the Netherlands there is almost no interest in couting steps, everybody thinks it will not work but reading all your stories makes me sure that is does work and that I hopefully will lose a lot of weight. I now weigh 97k and that's way to heavy. I am now busy with finding out how much I step normally and next week I will do my best to walk more so I will be at my goal fast. I wish everybody good luck with counting steps. Bye, Annesaar”

Annesaar the steps do

“Annesaar the steps do work, I have been counting steps and walking faithfully for 14 months now and I have lost 50 lbs so good luck on your stepping and I know you will reach your goal. Terry USA”

Great motivation to read

“Great motivation to read everyone's stories. I'm onto my 2nd million steps. First thing each morning I clip on the pedometer to record my steps. Average about 13,500 steps per day. Enjoy your walking everyone. Jen from Perth WA”

I have been entering

“I have been entering my steps for a few years now ... ever since I was searching for an example of behaviour change to demonstrate to students. This site offered different measures to build a single subject research design using multiple interventions. It was just so convenient and my goal was to increase exercise and improve levels of fitness as measured by: number of steps, changes in BMI, WHR, resting HR and I added blood pressure readings. Now I have been entering the daily log and updating my Health Assessment routinely for over 3 years. I am 30 kgs down on my original weight and able to enter fun runs, join group fitness classes everyday and swim a few kilometers several times a week. My dogs run and swim everyday. Needless to say, students in my professional interventions seminar have fun with all the graphs and tables. Some have followed my lead. The difference in zest and agility astounds me every day. I am back to running the City to Surf instead of being content to walk across the finish line. ”

Another amazing leap in

“Another amazing leap in steps by B-shift. WOW I mean you guys are just spectacular. You all seem to have the ability to walk an almost impossible amount of steps.”

I have been on

“I have been on the site now since July 2007! I dropped off for a while because I moved overseas. I am living in the UK at the moment! I love my pedometer its the only thing that keeps me motivated and I like competing with myself! I have found a few ways to add to the steps just little things, when I was in oz I would go to an AFL match and at half time I would walk around the whole oval. surprising how many steps that adds plus gives you something to do other than eat while waiting for the remainder of the game! I also spend a little longer in the supermarket looking at different food items and I always am surprised as to how many steps that clocks up! and one day on the weekend since I have been in the UK is I go somewhere different on the weekend and have a good walkabout it makes perfect sense on every level! anyone with any other ideas?”

Good job Admin. You

“Good job Admin. You guys are stepping up. Anytime you would like to come walk with C-shift, you have an open invite. It's always nice to walk with someone for extra motivation. Together, we can make the steps. Keep up the strong work. Jeff”

Where did B-shift come

“Where did B-shift come from? All of a sudden they were on the backs of C-Shift. I am glad that each team is being honost! They wouldn't lie would they? They look like each has been losing weight.”

Hi Jenn,--Not sure if

“Hi Jenn, Not sure if I fit your requirements but I too had a back injury (not surgery) 3 1/2 years ago after giving birth to my first (and only so far) child. I fractured several vertabre and herniated a few discs in the process (now have healed compression fractures and have lost some height and not to mention fitness, hence gained weight). I am really motivated to lose my stubborn baby kg's and aleviate some back pain. I'm manageing to average 10-11,000 steps per day but it is 2 1/2 years since completing rehab/physio. This is a fantastic site and I now find myself walking while watching TV instead of sitting around making my back worse. Good luck with everything - I'm happy to be a buddy if I suit your needs. Cheers M.Stehn”

Hello Everyone,--I am a

“Hello Everyone, I am a 21 y/o gal who is about 15 weeks post-op from a 3 level lumbar spinal fusion. I recently purchased a pedometer to start motivating me to push through the muscle pain and get active again. It is extremely disheartening to see my totals bouncing around 5000/day when prior to all of my spinal issues I was a long distance runner. Just looking for anyone who is recovering from some sort of surgery or medical condition to buddy up with...anybody out there? Happy stepping. ~ Jenn ”

TO ALL THE SUNNY

“TO ALL THE SUNNY STRIDERS - TAKE IT IN TURN TO MAN THE PHONES AND TAKE A BREAK AND WALK WITH A OFFICE FRIEND - THE QUEENSLAND TEAM MEMBERS ARE WALKING TO SOUTHBANK TODAY.. AND WE WILL ALL EXCEED 10,000 STEPS - ”

hi my name is

“hi my name is debbie mother of 5 and have been over weight nearly all my life. i had my last child 12 months ago and turning 40 next month made me think i had to do something about this weight problem so i can be active and have a longer healthy life with my children,so i started by changing me eating habits and adding exercise i brought a slimming magazine that lead me to this web site, what a great idea!. i am in to week 8 now and i have lost a total of 11kg just by walking and eating healthy choices, i already had a pedometer but now will use it with this site really looking forward to challenges to motivate me,as i am doing this on my own im so glad i found this site so good luck everyone i wish you all the best in our journey to happy and healthy lifesytle! kind regards debbie,vic ”

Jeff is my role

“Jeff is my role model! Go Jeff and the rest of C-Shift! you guys rock! Chief Hood”

Nearly 65, widowed recently

“Nearly 65, widowed recently and lacking focus, I decided to shift some weight. Somehow or other I found the 10,000 Steps site (wasn't looking for it, knew nothing about it) - must've been when I started searching for pedometer availabilities. Bought one, started walking seriously three days ago. The best past is... now I realise that if I keep this up, I really won't ever have to count anything again, or measure anything again, but will continue to lose weight (down from 107k mid-January to 98.3 today). Logging my activity on-line is a real motivator! M-R”

Hi! I have just

“Hi! I have just got a pedometer off the current issue of Slimming and Health magazine. I have suddenly found a new inspiration to loose weight. I am only 22 and weigh 98kgs, I don't look obese, but I do feel terrible about my body! I am challenged by this 10,000 step program, and want to prove to myself that I CAN do it and more! Good luck to me and everyone who is giving this a go!! xk8”

Good on you xk8!

“Good on you xk8! I too have just signed up thanks to the current edition of Slimming & Health magazine. I always lose my motivation to get fit and lose weight but this time feels different. I feel so excited and pumped and love the challenge of the 10,000 steps - already passed my first challenge, now onto 12,000. Good luck to all. Cheers M.Stehn”

I first heard about

“I first heard about 10,000 stpes from my gym.They were running a competition to get members to buy pedometers then try to walk 600,000 steps in 6 weeks. I purchased a pedometer and when the gym competition was finished, wanted to continue logging my steps. So I joined 10,000 steps, wear the pedometer every day and have just reached my first million steps. It's fun and motivating to log your progress every day. Now I have set myself a goal of walking another million steps in less than 74 days, which was my first achievement. Enjoy walking it's fun, free and motivating.”

C-Shift rocks. Each and

“C-Shift rocks. Each and every one of you are my heroes. We are the role models of this district. Keep up the good fight. Proletarius no more. Until next time, keep the feet burning.”

Good morning everyone... I

“Good morning everyone... I just recently started tracking my steps, going on week 2. Feeling great about this. I am averaging around 10,000 steps per day. Wearing the pedometer has made me motivated to get back into shape. I hope all my co-workers will stick with it! Go Jeff! Good luck to you all. ”

Hi,I have had a

“Hi,I have had a pedometer for years, used it occasionally as a matter of interest. Found the 10,000 Steps site last week. I no longer drive to work (yeah sustainable transport), and get off 1 station earlier an extra 30 minutes walking. I am addicted to exercise but this has made me realise that the gym, pilates, swimming is great - WALKING is fantastic. We all lead very busy lives but walking is my time and if I have a healthy body, I have a healthy mind as well. The individual challenges add a little bit of fun to your daily tally. Everyone keep motivated for YOURSELF. Thanks again to the 10,000 step club. Judy - Diamond Creek”

I've been on the

“I've been on the program for almost a year and the protocol of entering my steps has kept me focused on getting moving. I've recorded my steps for every day and I guess my main motivator now is the Average Steps/Day. The million step thing is fun but you know where you are at when your average step figure rises or falls. I'm at 13,000 per day and want to plateau out somewhere near 15,000 -- which, of course, is a big ask. But you won't know what you can do unless you try...”

We had the 10,000

“We had the 10,000 Steps challenge at work last year. It was very motivating. This year Majella and I are 'walking buddies'. I am getting married in August and need a bit of motivation to get off my bum and keep active! Would love to lose some weight and feel a bit healthier by August, see how we go. Thanks Maj for the challenge, see how we go! Am off to Shorncliffe now for a walk...”

Well still wearing the

“Well still wearing the pedometer and while there have been a few days when I have dropped down, I have been walking almost every day for the past 5-6 weeks. Have dropped 3kg and feeling better already. Hopefully it will become a habit of a lifetime. Hope everyone is doing okay. Cheers K from Tassie”

I'm Karen, 38 from

“I'm Karen, 38 from Tasmania. 10 years ago I was diagnosed with an auto-immune disease that causes severe arthritis in every joint, organ problems, skin problems, tendon and muscle pain. Then 2 1/2 years ago, I had my gorgeous daughter, but due to high doses of cortisone, gained 38 kilos during and after the pregnancy. For quite a while I played the 'poor me' card, reasoning that I couldn't do any exercise, it was too painful, didn't have the time etc, etc. Finally, 5 months ago, after starting to experience shortness of breath after even the simpliest task, I decided that it was time to make a change. I joined Weight Watchers at Home program, and bought a pedometer. Walking is one of the few exercises I can do, so I recorded my steps for the first few days. I was averaging between 2000 - 3000 steps a day, which I knew was nowhere near enough. So I set myself a target of gradualling increasing my walking until I could confortably do 10,000 steps a day. So, 20 weeks/5 months on, I'm 13 kilos lighter and have lowered my BMI from 38 to 33, so far. I feel so much healthier. I take my daughter out in the pram for a walk every day, from 45 minutes to 1 1/2 hours. Then every night after she goes to bed, I get out my air walker and walk for a further 30 mins to hour and a half, depending on how I feel, and how many steps I need to pass 10,000 for the day. I still have another 25 kilos to lose to get to goal, but I'm confident I will get there. Slow and steady, as they say, wins the race! So, for anyone out there who has every excuse for not exercising, give it a go! It will change your life :) ”

2003 Colin & I

“2003 Colin & I decided a tree change was good. We now live 1km from the River Murray, 2005 we decided the only way to make money was to grow organic produce, 2008 we are now living with drought conditions and being supported by Centrelink. We are both very fit/healthy/active individuals. Colin has joined the Army Reserves, Training at Kapooka this very moment, I also tried, unfortunately with a history of back pain was rejected. We are both 54 years young. We live in an isolated location & 10,000 steps has been an online motivator for me. My main goal for 2008 is to become a Personal Trainer because this year, our first year certified Organic we have no produce. I am driven by the desire to make a difference to those around me and as a Personal Trainer, I might be able to encourage the small community of Cadell to walk. Being active all my life is the main contributing factor to my positive attitude. It's now time to put plan "B" into action. CHEERS FROM LEAH”