How Many Steps a Day Are You Taking? Jens Voigt Shares 5 Ways to Effortlessly Get More

Jens-Voigt-Running

There are a million ways to get in more steps, but let’s focus on a few that are easy to do.

First things first: To get your step count up you have to know how many steps a day you’re already taking (that’s where your Fitbit device comes in). Next, you simply have to take more steps—there’s no shortcut or smart way around it. Agreed? Here are my five favorite ways to sneak in steps throughout the day so that walking feels like less of a chore and more a part of your daily activity.

1. Get Your Family Involved
When it comes to fitness, teamwork can make the dream work. Whether that means running with your partner, getting your kids to walk a bit more, or convincing your parents to improve their heart health by racking up steps, getting your family involved is key to logging more steps. Get an activity tracker, like Fitbit Ace, for your kids, or gift your partner a Fitbit Ionic or Fitbit Versa; you’ll be surprised how quickly logging steps turns into friendly competition.

To make walking a part of your family’s routine, incorporate it into everyday activities. Instead of dropping your kids off in front of the school, park the car farther away and encourage everyone to get in extra steps. If you’re planning a date night, suggest walking to the venue instead of driving; you’ll get in steps while minimizing your carbon footprint.

2. Adopt A Pet
While you should always make sure you’re prepared for the responsibility of caring for a pet, adding a furry friend to your family could be a great way to get in extra steps. Caring for a dog means you’ll have to walk it, and that means you’ll get in extra steps and fresh air while chatting with other dog owners and having fun with your pup. My family has three dogs. I walk them after breakfast, in the afternoon when I pick up my daughters from school, and again at night. That helps me reach my daily goal of 10,000 steps.

3. Take The Stairs
I always say half jokingly that walking up the stairs gives me a firm butt but it’s also an easy way to get in more steps. The benefits add up quickly. Instead of taking the elevator on the way to your office, take the stairs. When you get off the train, forgo the escalator and take the stairs. The next time you stay in a hotel or walk-up building, take the stairs at least once on your trip.

4. Explore Your Neighborhood
Curiosity is key to exploration, and the more you explore the more steps you’ll get. If you’re a fairly new resident, take the opportunity to explore a mile radius in every direction of your home. At work, use your smartphone to find interesting places nearby to walk to on your lunch break. You’ll learn about your city and environment while taking in fresh air and racking up steps.

When I went to Australia for the Santos Tour Down Under, I walked up to the ANZAC World War II memorial. ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, which I would have never learned without walking there. When I went to Philadelphia, I walked up to the famous stairs from the Rocky movies only to realize that they removed the Rocky statue. While that was a disappointment for me as a tourist, it was still worth the walk. Once in Boston, I walked from my hotel to do the full Boston Tea Party experience. It was fantastic. I got fresh air and the chance to experience some street food along the way. The extra cab fare I saved was a bonus.

5. Get Outside
Walking is full of unforeseen surprises and encounters. While exploring one day, I came across a street musician who played the most heart-touching version of Beethoven’s “Für Elise”. It  was so unexpectedly wonderful that it almost brought tears to my eyes.

Another way I like to get in my steps while interacting with my environment is through geocaching. It’s a game of hide and seek which happens all over the world. People hide little objects and give you hints with some coordinates. You follow the hints and try to find the object. There’s a site where you can register for free and a log book to sign your name. It’s a fun adventure. My son Julian and I have already found over 1,000 caches. I’ve played in Australia, India, Canada, Chile, Brazil, and many locations throughout Europe. There is always a cache in walking distance no matter which city in the world you are in. That alone should give you a reason to walk from your hotel.

32 Comments   Join the Conversation

32 CommentsLeave a comment

  • Jens is the best. The “break a way king” for all times. His autographed photo (from his trip to Florida several years ago) inspires me every day as I get my bike out of the garage. Shut Up Legs!

  • Jens is the best! His autographed photo (from his trip to Florida a few years ago) inspires me as I take my bike out of the garage every day.
    Shut Up Legs!

  • I ride my bicycle often 11 miles 4 or 5 times a week. I put my FITB on my left sneaker. It does not show near the same mileage when I walk the same route. Why would this be?j
    S

    • Your fitbit registers steps, not rotations; they’re designed for walking, not biking. An odometer would track rotations accurately for the bike distance.

  • Jens Voight: one of the most likable guys in the pro peloton, who always gave it everything to support his marquee riders. “Shut up, body! Do what I tell you.”

  • How does my fitbit Alta track cycling? When I go for a bike ride, it doesn’t seem to record any steps.

  • Doing all that stuff already. My question is how to get “step” credit for riding my bike?

  • Well till this time I feel really disappointed with my Fitbit. I like raiding my bike but the Fitbit no work. Also one more thing, the Hartbit is no real with the hearth frequency. And btw is the third Fitbit I use. Thinking about that.

  • I always park in the farthest stall away from any entrance I’m going into for extra steps during the day!

  • When riding your bicycle, place your Fitbit on your ankle. I get credit for about 8,000 steps for every 10 miles. Tom McKinney, Panama City Beach, Florida

  • Hi! I am a bike rider and do 4 to six miles 3 days a week, but sad to say my fitbit does ,not register to bike rides???

  • I have fitbit charger 2 and set do set up for my weekly bike rides. The problem after a gruelling 45km to 50 km ride
    I dont even have 5000 steps out of the 10,000 daily set up .
    Any ways to set up to resolve this ?

  • As a cyclist, Jens is a hero of mine, so I am thrilled you have chosen him as an ambassador. Now I know I chose the right fitness tracker.

  • Yes, good ideas. Of course is biking were to be converted into steps, this wouldn’t be an issue. Or swimming for that matter. Yes, they count as exercise and as active minutes, steps no.

  • As a cyclist, I have found fitbit tracking more accurate by wearing it on my ankle. When cycling your arms are often not moving. I wear mine on my ankle all the time.

  • I once marched in the ANZAC day parade in Sydney, Austrailia while stationed on the USS LAKE ERIE CG-70. It’s a memory I’ll never forget. We didn’t have fitness trackers back then but I now walking in circles throughout my home to get in 10,000 – 12,000 steps a day. I do miss a few days but even on my worst days, I’m getting way more than the average 50-year-old American male.

  • I was really disappointed to learn by accident that my fitbit was giving me credit for steps on my riding lawnmower. Is there any way to stop that.other than taking it off. when mowing the lawn?

  • i was hoping this item would tell me how to get more step credit when cycling. It doesn’t seem to capture or convert the time and effort from cycling to step results. Makes my weekly totals lower, even though I am active. What am i missing?

    • I have the same question and frustration. If I change my ride/workout type to “walk” or “run” my Charge 2 will record steps, but if I change it to “cycle”, the step count vanishes – what’s up with that! So now I just leave it to “walk”. I tried strapping it to above my ankle and the workout records as “elliptical”, but steps are recorded. The accuracy of the steps accounting for the effort or energy expended is suspect, but at least some are recorded.

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