Member Stories

Hi my name is

“Hi my name is Jayne, and I turn 48 next week. I had my 2nd child at 44 years of age and have found it difficult to lose the weight and to get fit enough to keep up with 2 very active children. I work as a nurse in a coronary intensive care ward, and all too often see young people in thier 30's who have had coronary's and had to change their lifestyles. It was enough to motivate me to change my lifestyle, as I want to be around for my beautiful children. I am lucky enough to live in a beautiful part of the world, and I go for my walks as often as i can on the beach.(I see whales and dolphins, koalas and goannas). It is my time, and not only is it great physically but it is relaxing and I know my stress levels are reduced greatly. I do have one problem, and that is to do 12 hour shifts and if I have a ventilated patient I do as little as 100 steps for a day, and with family committments I am unable to do any extra on that particular day. My average steps are 9,816 which is made up on the days I don't work. Has anyone got any ideas to help me increase my steps? Love to hear from you. Jayne”

Since starting the 10000

“Since starting the 10000 steps home page i have loved being able to see just how many steps i do each day and i love trying to beat it everyday. I find extra ways to add more steps or physical activity in the smallest ways. In the morning instead of putting on the tv i put on my fav dance cd and find myself dancing through breakfast to the bathroom and then out the door. Who said this couldn't be fun?? ”

Well May should have

“Well May should have been a good month being my birth month and all, but fate stepped in, my dad has cancer, I lost my stepper and my motivation in there somewhere. I hope that June can be a turn around both for dad and me!!!! Well all, here is to health, life and the future!!!! Keep on stepping!!!! Kath”

GO SARAH !!! You

“GO SARAH !!! You make me feel like going out there and walking up a storm right now! (George)”

Hi, my name is

“Hi, my name is Sarah and I have decided that enough is enough! I am here to make permanent changes to my lifestyle and I am combining the 10,000 step challenge with a health eating program from Weight Watchers. I have twenty kilos to lose and I am determined to move the weight by this Christmas. I have set myself a goal of no less than 10,000 steps a day and I am intent on remaining committed to myself and my goal. Come rain, hail or shine I will be pounding the pavement (or treadmill) and I look forward to this virtual journey with the rest of you. ”

Well when I first

“Well when I first started walking I wasn't at all excited about it, getting up in the mornings and eating healthy, but once one of my friends started to do it I was happy to do it with someone and I just love it. I do it every morning and I just enjoy waking up and going for a walk it makes my day feel relaxed and I just love going to work as soon as I finish!”

Hello to an amazing

“Hello to an amazing number of happy steppers. I'm a mother of 4 teens in rural NSW and got my pedometer last week. I'm currently off work caring for my terminally ill brother in his final stages of life. Walking keeps me looking forward and not dwelling on illness and fit to care. The pedometer has spurred me on to stay active all day not retreat to bed when I feel overwhelmed. Housework adds steadily to the total, so there's a reason to keep doing it all day!”

Hello to everyone!

“Hello to everyone! I joined this wonderful site about 3 weeks ago along with my 3 children. I wanted to encourage and teach them life long healthy habits and this has been a great motivator for us all as we track our steps & activities! Being in Canada, we are starting to enjoy the spring/summer weather and I look forward to many outdoor adventures this year!”

Hello fellow steppers!-I arrived

“Hello fellow steppers! I arrived here from NZ 3 weeks ago (don't hold that against me - I'm originally from Scotland!!) to join my partner who has been working here for just over a year. I left my job after teaching for 20 years, my 2 daughters and 4 grandchildren, my other family members and all my wonderful friends. On Sunday I found out about this programme after visiting the Botanical Gardens. I got a pedometer on Tuesday and off I went yesterday. I did an amazing 10788 steps (mainly because I got very lost!!) I feel I now have some new "friends" already after reading others' stories. What a great programme this is. Regards Jacqueline”

Hi fellow steppers-I joined

“Hi fellow steppers I joined the 10,000 step challenge seven weeks ago when I sold the car to force me to walk. I am loving the exercise, have saved money, have met people on the train, have read five books, have lost more weight than 12 months at the gym and generally feel a whole lot better. Kate... Blue Mountains ”

I started counting my

“I started counting my steps in August 2007. I was feeling down dealing with my husbands health problems (cancer twice in 12mths.) Not only did I start feeling much better but I lost weight as well. My husband got well and for some reason I stopped wearing my pedometer. Today is my first day back. Thanks to all who share their stories, you are what have inspired me to get back on track. Jean ”

I am 21 and

“I am 21 and today is day 24 of walking for me with my pedometor. So far not counting today's steps I have walked 225,608 steps. It says I am averaging 16,115 steps a day ... I do walk a bit but I'm pretty sure I wasn't doing 10,000 a day... I am going to try and beat each weeks steps even if it's by only ONE step :) My mum is my walking buddy she only started here 2 days ago. Lisa”

Wow Steve, you are

“Wow Steve, you are an inspiration. I will try to build my steps up more as I am only averageing 11,000 at this stage. I really need to monitor my food/calory intake too - at this stage I have just been focusing on the steps, but will add the calorie count to the mix and try to up the amount of steps every day. You are your own 'Biggest Loser' - you should write in and share your story to Slimming and Health magazine - they (and readers) would love to read it. Cheers M Stehn (Michelle)”

Wow Steve - your

“Wow Steve - your story is simply amazing, thanks for sharing it. Did you alter your food intake or diet in any way? Hope I can follow your example. Cheers M. Stehn”

Hi M.Sten.-Yes diet intake

“Hi M.Sten. Yes diet intake is around a strict 1650-1850 calories, 28,000 steps = around a burn of 1600 calories and my body functions takes care of the rest, making my intake on average minus 200-400 calories per day = weight loss. Try walking for 75 minutes see how many steps you make in that time, then push yourself a bit more each time. 10,000 steps can be done in that time. Good luck hope this info helps. Ps. My age is 48 yrs old and feeling fantastic. Cheers Steve.”

Hi fellow steppers, my

“Hi fellow steppers, my name is Steve and I found this site in October 2007. In October I weighed in at 112kg and couldn't walk more than 50 meters. Started logging steps with my pedometer and increased my steps very quickly. Started at 4,500 steps, it has been now 6 months and now stepping around average of 28,000 steps and now weigh in at 88kg, who needs Biggest Loser when I have walked off almost as much weight as they have for the same amount of time. My girlfreind now calls me skinny man. By using this site and the motivation of being unsatisfied with myself has changed my life for good. This site, focus and sheer detemination proves that goals can be achieved if you really want it. 6 months, 88kg, 5 million steps = wow. If I can do this, anyone can. Good luck with your goals, keep stepping. Steve.”

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”