Member Stories

Hello all,-

“Hello all, I am 45 years old. we started the 10000 step program on the mine I work on the 18th of October. We also started a Belly Blasters program 10 weeks ago since then along with the step program I have lost 12kg, but since starting back on the mine site in February I have lost 19kg. This program is great it gives you something to aim for. We have got 12 teams involved so we are all trying to outdo each other. Good luck everyone, stay positive and healthy. ”

Hi Walkers, I finally

“Hi Walkers, I finally decided to tell you all my story so far. I only joined 10,000 steps late July this year and found all the challenges a real motivator. Over a long period of time I had a real problem with my weight, and being at an age now of 55 years where it is crucial to be fit and healthy, with the help of my GP, Dietitian and 10,000 steps I am working very hard to achieve my goal weight of 65kg. I am only 161cm tall and my weight at present is about 102kg. Since March this year I have lost 13.1 kg. I have been overweight now for so many years, I just cant remember when it all started, so with my slow weight loss I can now see the real me, who has been waiting so long to come out of hiding. It will probably take me at least another year to achieve my goal, but I am count on loosing with the 10,000 steps challenges every month. I hope this story encourages other people who are trying to have a happy and healthy life. I have walked 3,311,193 steps so far this year. Happy Walking Suzanne”

Most of us here

“Most of us here at Home Hill Hospital Have enjoyed the challenge of 10,000 steps. Due to family and work commitments we really couldn't get too overly enthused. Except for the pedometers getting a few dunkings in the toilet bowl, one of our girls breaking her toe, doing nothing in particular, nothing very exciting to report. Cheers Lorraine”

I have been having

“I have been having problems with motivating myself to exercise since moving to a property about 50km from the nearest town. I felt a bit isolated and used the distance from the local gym as an excuse not to exercise I have put on about 8kg which is not good for me as I am only 154cm tall and I was feeling lousy every time I looked in the mirror. I found the pedometer in a magazine that I just bought and put it on straight away. Already today I have done 11966 steps and I feel that this is just the motivation I need to get my act together to lose my tummy and get healthy. Good luck to everyone else.... Sue ”

Natalie Miller Hello everybody

“Name: Natalie Miller Hello everybody, I nearly died a month ago due to a severe asthma attack, I was a heavy smoker. The doctors told me if I didn’t stop smoking I might not have a happy ending like this time, so I made the decision to quit smoking and have felt better for it. I work on a banana farm which keeps me fit, but since I have gotten out of hospital and have lost a lot of condition I haven’t been able to work much and have started eating to substitute smoking. I have put on 10kg. I’m now back at work full time and watching what I eat and increasing my steps per day I have lost 2kg and am confident I will be better than before. People know obesity is not healthy, but a lot of normal weight people like my self are also just as unhealthy in what they eat and do, I wish everyone the best in their goals and hope you all lead healthy and long lives, Nat.”

Hi, After a visit

“Hi, After a visit to the doctor's last November 2005, I was in desperate need to lose weight for my health. I started with a short walk then progressed to swimming and then aerobics (at home). Today some 12 months on I have dropped 22Kg's. All from that first short walk. It can seem hard to start but I found the easiest thing to do to get started was not to think about it and just 'do it'. I designed my day so that I gave myself time each day - and I am living proof it pays off. As for the Doctor, I went back the other day and told him what I had been up to in the past year. The doctor was very impressed and my blood pressure and Cholesterol was 'disgustingly healthy' to use his words. I encourage you to simply take it one day at a time and give yourself as long as it takes. That may be a year like me. Just 'do it'. Happy walking! ”

Good on you Anna

“Good on you Anna for sharing Go Girl!! One Step after another,that's what my last 2 yrs have been about, and slow but significant progress, with achievable goals are the way to go. Im now a Div 2 Nurse for the last 2 weeks!!! I gave the smokes up a month ago. Yahooo!!! After a 26yr 30 a day habit. !!! There has been a lot of study over the last 2yrs Im a 163cm - 87kg Nurse with sore ankles and feet. As now Im walking a lot wrking 6 days a week. I thought Id try the challenge, because I walk at work, depending on the environment sometimes I don't walk enough to burn the KG's. So I need the motivation and the step goals to make sure I see some results. Becuase often all you want to do is sit down when you get home, and guess what there is where you sit for the next few hours. 16 kg's in 12 mnths is my next big STEP, See you on the JOURNEY!! ”

hi there,-i have recently

“hi there, i have recently finished work and am on 8 weeks paid holiday time. so far ive had 2 weeks. having all this time on my hands i swore i'd do something about my weight, but havent. i went to visit my dad in cairns and saw his ex wife, of whom is like a second mother to me... she told me she was scared about my future health and put me on to this site. ive just done a health assessment and im shocked and devastated. ive never weighed this much in my life. i have to find the motivation to keep to this. its so easy to be lazy. i want to have children though, and at 122kgs, i dont think its a wise idea. thats right. 122kgs. i've got to do this, and i have to do this now. Power on everyone, you only get one chance at life!”

Hi everyone.--After receiving my

“Hi everyone. After receiving my free step counter off my non energetic friend, i couldnt wait to get home to log onto the web site and start. I stopped smoking after 23 years and have been getting up early in the mornings and hitting the pavement for an hour.{beaches are lovely at 6am}. my 14 year old staffy loves to come with me. I will definately be wearing it everyday from now on and cant wait to see the results. Im a widow mother of three lovely girls and would love to loose about 7 kilo and abit more tummy. Heres hoping this will not only side track my mind from the smokes but also help me reach my goal weight. Look out two piece swim suit, this summer for sure..... ”

Wow - what amazing

“Wow - what amazing stories that everyone has shared. Today I bought WW and there it was a free pedometer. I put it right on and started. Not a bad effort I think that I started @ 1pm today and have done 8004 steps.. 5 weeks ago I started looking out for me - and my health to ensure that I am a fit and healthy mum for my 14 month old boy who has just started to walk - someone needs to keep up with him. In the last 5 weeks I have lost 6cm off my waist and 5.5kg. This is really great and an extra motivation - so 10,000steps here I come and I cannot wait for these I-Challenges to head south to Melbourne. Good Luck to everyone.... Lots of Love...”

Wow I'm so impressed

“Wow I'm so impressed and I too was a bit slow to start and move through the process. Initially it was scary to see how much I don't actually move, I work in an office and although I thought I moved around alot - I didn't, which also contributed to my lower back pain. I have found that after my evening meal even if I just hang the clothes on the lines, do the dishes or wash the floor how many calories I'm burning and how many MORE steps I'm achieving. I now cycle go to the gym and swim and do any sort of exercise I can. Like most my weight loss has been slow but I'm still hanging in there and staying positive. Thanks to everyone for your inspiration and a special thank you to those that struggle with an illness which inhibits us from our goals sometimes. HANG IN THERE. ”

This week I have

“This week I have chalked up 2,026,421 Steps. The major part of these steps have been done at work in the shunting yards of the Townsville area. Getting clost to ordering new boots… FLEMO”

Ana, -Your story is

“Ana, Your story is so inspiring! Thank you for sharing it with us who take our health and mobility for granted, it is a very humbling thing to learn of people who overcome illness. Well done to you!”

Hi Ana--What a great

“Hi Ana What a great inspiration you are. My step-sister is also has schizophrenia and struggles with her weight. Like all of us, she has trouble staying motivated, and at the moment is in a bit of a low patch. I am going to share your story with her, and hope that it inspires her as much as it has inspired me! Thanks you for sharing. Kerrie”

1,500,000 steps today... It

“1,500,000 steps today... It only took 4 months and 1 day.. Kathy Gold Coast”

Hi Ana--You go girl!!!

“Hi Ana You go girl!!! Congratulations on your achievements so far. Just to get to where you are is an inspiration to many others and now you have decided to make a change I bet you will surprise yourself with what you can achieve. Remember someone famous once said \"the longest journey starts with a single step\". Enjoy the journey and keep up posted on all the great things that are going to happen for you.”

Found it milder down

“Found it milder down in Perth. But now as we approach Carnavon it's getting Hot. You don't realise just how hot the outback sun is until you're in it - day after day. And the thing is it's only going to get hotter the closer we get to Broome because that's really close to the equator. Anyway, I better get back to walking, because despite all the razza mattaz around the web and all, that is what this challenge is really about - walking! ”

It's now been

“Hi there It\'s now been nearly a month since I smoked and I\'m averaging nearly 16,000 steps a day. Very proud of myself (especially the non-smoking thing). The daylight saving is great because now I can walk the dog before and after work, so my average will just get bigger as my waist and chance of heart attack get smaller. ”

Can I congratulate Ana

“Can I congratulate Ana - 28 Ocotober 2006 - good work - keep going - you can do it! There is so much to see when on your walk - just keep smiling when you are stepping it out - you will enjoy it so much more.”

Hi there,-I just started

“Hi there, I just started yesterday, already 6000 steps. Wish me luck.. SP”

Hi to all the

“Hi to all the new starters.. Wow there certainly has been an increase in stories which is great. I have been doing 10000 since July 1 and I thoroughly suggest that you complete the health history. I do mine monthly as I am way too impatient to wait 3 months. So far I have lost 12 cm between hips and waist, but only 1 kg... And drastically reduced my cholesterol levels... So don\'t rely on those scales, get a tape measure and you will see the real difference. Good luck to all.. Kathy (Gold Coast)”

Hi. Sorry this is

“Hi. Sorry this is so long... I've only been logging my steps for just over a week and am working at slowly increasing my average steps per day. At the moment i'm averaging 4,629 steps per day with my maximum number of steps per day being just over 9,000. I have been suffering from schizophrenia and bipolar disorder since 1997, am extremely (morbidly) obese, and as well as suffering from a foot condition, have asthma which worsens on physical exertion and have "issues" with my lower back. Because of my illnesses I have been on medication that messed my body up, and have gone on crash diets to try and fix it up... resulting in me not eating for months at a time and purging if I even thought of eating. It's taken years for me to learn that this isn't healthy, but now I've come to that decision and decided that I wanted to make a stand against all the stuff that was snowballing from my lack of exercise and bad eating habits. I had heard of the 10,000 steps program through my sister and decided to get a pedometer to see how many steps I actually was doing a day. Originally I thought that I would easily do 10,000 steps a day with the activities that I was already doing so I got a nasty surprise when I realised how few steps I was taking. Since then I have tried to ensure that I was walking every day and have managed to beat my goal of 5,000 steps every day but two this week. Some of the extra activities that I've started doing as well as the walking include tae bo, swimming, and some cardio activities on another dvd. I'm also encouraging a friend of mine who wants to lose some weight for a wedding to join the program because that way we can help to motivate and inspire each other to meet our goals and hopefully exceed them. As yet there has been no change in my weight, size or physical/mental health... but I know this is still early days and I have committed myself for the long haul. Thank you to everyone who has shared their story. Your successes help inspire me on those days that I think I can't possibly take another step. Ana”

Hi everyone in stepping

“Hi everyone in stepping world. Wow I did not think I could make the 10000 steps but shocked myself totally. I found myself dusting off the old step aerobics video, and walking instead of driving to the local shop. The more I stepped the more active I became. Before starting on this I was a real slug in the bug, now after 2 weeks I feel healthier, have more energy and will certainly keep stepping. I found myself going swimming, doing more things with the kids and grandkids. Oh and moving house and cleaning 2 houses inside and out certainly made those steps add up. There were days when I just dropped from exhaustion, but each day I found it easier to do more and more activities. I will continue to step along as it does increase your energy limit which was something I greatly needed. ”

It was after my

“It was after my third hip replacement that I knew something had to change. Inspired by other personal fitness legends such as Grace Kelly and the legendary Herb Elliot I moved into a good space psychologically, prepared myself mentally, fitted a prosthesis to my left stub, and set off. I\'m now leading the workplace in personal fitness and hope to lead the workplace in the 10000 step challenge. If I can do it with only one real foot, anyone can!!”

Hi steppers, just a

“Hi steppers, just a short line to tell you that I didn’t realise Bowen was so beautiful. I have been doing the 10000 steps around different parts of Bowen and have seen beautiful scenery I had never seen before. I have also come across a few small dogs in my travels and man don’t they make your feet move a bit faster and also get the heart rate up. What a feeling. I am enjoying doing the steps and happy walking to you all.”