Exercise challenge: 10,000 steps per day for a full year

To expand on my case, it took me a couple of years to reach this as an average for the year. I've pretty much been achieving this for probably 5+ years now, which has had a massive impact on my well-being for my PTSD. I still get symptoms kick my arse though sometimes. I have accepted I have the lifetime form of this shit... it is what it is, but my exercise help me recover faster and I force myself out even when PTSD kicks my butt, thus I recover from symptoms in a day or two more often than not. There are times where PTSD kicks my arse for a week or two, but I force myself to walk every day because I know and recognise how much it helps me and maintain my PTSD.

So don't reach for the stars overnight. Meeting a 10k daily average steps for a year should be done the same as you handle your own PTSD... chip away it with the end goal being recovery to the best that can be achieved for your specific case.

Don't let aches and pains tell you that you can't achieve this. The old adage, "use it or lose it" really is applicable. If you're sore and have injuries, just walk and set achievable goals. As your body conditions, increase the goals, rinse and repeat. This applies to all ages. If you're 60 and claim you can't do it, then I will say nonsense. Do a 1km or 1 mile, whatever you work in, walk in the morning. Then do one at lunch, then evening, if you can't do long distance all at once. Get an indoor walk machine if needed, stick it in front of your TV and start walking with your favourite show on to keep you amused. You can buy walking machines pretty cheap, you don't need fancy. Again, there is a solution for all people if you have semi-able legs and better.
 
stick it in front of your TV and start walking with your favourite show on to keep you amused.
I have a whole list of TV series / movies to PURELY be watched in an elliptical. Because 9 minutes on an elliptical is brutal, but 50 or 120 whilst watching a show/movie I love? Wait?!? It’s over?!? Already?!?it’s not a 2nd wind (which is transcendental) but more like a 1.5 wind. Where boredom doesn’t exist. Stage right/left/idfk. I simply cannot watch ANY of those shows or movies doing zip/zero/nada/zilch. They’re inspiring. Energizing. Instrumental. Enervating. The next best thing to “bite me”. (I’ve got this.).

f*ck boredom.
 
So I think I've sort of slipped into this challenge now... Day 4 today... I made the target on the first two days and got close yesterday, but then the rain set in and couldn't get an evening walk with pooch in... I was over the 10,000 limit on the first two days tho and will try to get over it again today and then it averages out fine.

It's not quite as scary/ challenging as I first thought... Just pushing myself here and there to get that little bit of additional movement and exercise in, is enough to push me over the 10,000 mark, pretty much...
 
Had another challenging day, weather wise, which meant I had to do the bulk of my 10,000 steps indoors...

At first I thought "I can't do that...!" but then I cleared a path of about 25 steps and got into... pacing... A sort of meditative walking... I know there's some Buddhist meditations that involve moving around, so tried to get in that frame of mind... It was quite good cos I could be much more mindful of my body, focus much more on not slipping into dissociation...

I had the radio on, in the background and eventually a very danceable song came on and I had a lightbulb moment: "I bet my Fitbit can't tell the difference between a walked step and a DANCED step...!" And voila... now I have 2 indoor options for rainy days...

Very pleased with that... Cos yesterday, I had to catch up some of the steps I missed on Friday cos of rain and I was very annoyed at the idea of "having to" do more than 10,000 steps that day... So pacing and dancing are 2 good options for days when I can't walk outdoors...

So far, I'm on track... Day 5 today... I must make a mental note that the 22nd of May is my start (and hopefully end) date for this challenge...
 
Had another challenging day, weather wise, which meant I had to do the bulk of my 10,000 steps indoors..
The city I presently live in? Has over 320 rainy/overcast days a year, on average… with up to over 340 on middling/bad years. Every home I’ve had here? Has had an indoor recreational/gym space, in addition to outside sources of activity (in the mountains, up above the rain line; gyms; etc.).

If you’re somewhere with bad weather? There are ways to adapt, or succumb.

If you’re NOT somewhere with bad weather? This is why 365 challenges are brain dead retarded pieces of shit. So? Either adapt (if your climate sucks) or ACCOUNT by adding on extras.
 
Are you saying a 10000-steps-a-day challenge should be increased if the weather is nice?

I think any 365-day challenge is fantastic.
I’m saying that if it’s pouring rain? In most places, people will walk 10 feet from dry building to dry car to dry building, and back again. UNLESS there are alternatives. If you live somewhere rainy? You already know this. As it appears you do not? (Unless it’s the right/wrong season for inclement weather). You’ll need to get creative.
 
No, seriously rainy and tornadoey here.
For the overwheming majority, or “just” seasons?

Seasons ALSO need to be accounted for (ideally,) but “normal” is another thing.

Do you “ALWAYS” have good weather, or periodically have bad weather?

I think any 365-day challenge is fantastic.
So you’ve never caught a cold, or injured yourself, much less anything more serious? Cool! Weird as f*ck… but still cool. Zero stress on your immune system… ever, is kind of freaking amazing.
 
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