I have a pedometer, and I read that you should try to get 10,000 steps per day. My question is this: is it 10,000 steps all day long, or is it 10,000 extra steps?
I walk at lunch for ~45 minutes everyday, and that racks up 5500 steps, so far I am only counting those steps.

10,000 TOTAL, all day, counting everything.

Wow, thats all?
That is surprising to me, I'm sure I get more than that & have been in a plateau for almost a month.
Oh well, just have to increase the efforts I guess.
Thanks for the info.

I think the 10,000 steps is for people who arn't that active so that they can be active just in their daily routine. When I had a pedomitor, On a day of just going to work, no extra walking I did over 10,000 so, in order for me to lose weight I had to make sure I did over that. Your body getr used to what you do so if you always walk 10,000, staying there won't help you lose but if you are adding that walk in to make it 15,000, thats good. I set a goal for my self to always make sure I walked 18,000 if I wan't doing any more organized excersise. it worked as long as I was watching what I was eating.

jennie934 is right, the 10 000 steps is for weight control rather than loss. I do 10 000 a day + my exercise of choice, whether its my gym routine, swimming or an extra 5 000 steps. I vary it all the time to fit in with my gemini moods, lifestyle and what my day is doing. I love have the pedometer, it's so motivating. My dh got one too, so we have competitions of who does the most in a day!!! (I nearly always win, coz I have short legs so I have to do more steps than him to get the same distance!!!)

Can anyone suggest a good pedometer? I don't know if it's because I have big hips or what but any I have tried no matter where I put it always counts extra steps.

I have this problem too. Any suggestions?

This is a great place to go to learn more about walking

the walking site dot com remove the spaces between the words and add the dot

Same problem here.

Try increasing your speed...it burns more calories...

IMO - walking helps burn calories - but putting less calories in to start with will take the weight off faster. (This is my personal struggle as well...I'm really good at exercising...not so good at controlling calories as I would like.)