10000 STEPS IS EASY, 10000 CALORIES IS HARD

As the millions of 'fitbitters' around the country know - 10000 steps is the recommended target to shoot for each day. 10000 steps is estimated to be the equivalent of walking 5 miles.

It's not that attaining 10,000 steps per day is easy.  It is not.  Trying to 'burn' 10,000 calories in a day is nearly, but not quite, impossible.  Certainly, it is hard to argue against the fact that it is highly improbable.

Today I wanted to shine a spotlight on my dubious accomplishment on Friday when I spent 7 hours on an elliptical machine over the course of the day.  My fitbit recorded 'only' 45,774 steps. Those steps were not just walking around the neighborhood, or strolling through a mall: the steps on the elliptical machine were calculated by the fitbit to have burned 10,160 calories. As I have discussed many times before, I know that these numbers are likely wildly overestimated - but it is clear that I must have burned some large number of calories having spent 7 hours on an elliptical machine.

In contrast, back on October 1, 2015, all I did was hike up to the summit of Half Dome in Yosemite Park and back down again in one day.  The fitbit on that day recorded 54,101 steps - but 'only' recorded 7,212 calories burned.

And finally, on October 11, 2015, I walked nearly 40 miles over the course of the day... (26 miles Chicago Marathon route, with other miscellaneous walks that day that totaled nearly 40 miles) That day was my personal record for steps and calories burned. The fitbit recorded an astounding 75,029 steps and recorded a calorie burn of 10,891.

No matter how inflated the calorie burn recorded by the fitbit and/or elliptical machines are.... It is still some kind of accomplishment to end a day with an alleged burn of 10000+ calories.

My exercise on Saturday kept me far away from any elliptical machine.  Still, I did not exactly take a day off.  I took a long 10 mile walk.  I took a short break to pick up a snack in downtown Chicago. Then I walked 2 miles more to get home. Walking 12 miles at 4.5 miles per hour is excellent exercise.  In fact, it is my favorite exercise. I enjoy watching TV and/or Netflix movies while working on the elliptical machine - but nothing beats being outdoors in the sunshine.

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Your Food Diary For:

Saturday, March 12, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
2 Egg Omelette With Ham and Cheese	383	2	21	32	810	2
Kirkland - Pre-Cooked Bacon, 6 slices	240	0	18	18	1,050	0
Apple - Braeburn, 2 medium apple	142	38	0	1	0	29
	765	40	40	51	1,860	31
L U N C H
CHERRY VANILLA GRANOLA	240	40	7	5	60	15
Campbell's Manhattan Clam Chowder	480	72	12	20	3,200	12
Organic Fair Trade Dark Chocolate Baton	190	21	11	3	5	11
	910	133	30	28	3,265	38
D I N N E R
Grilled Brussel Sprouts, 1 cup	65	13	3	6	23	0
BLACK ANGUS TOP SIRLOIN	360	0	24	33	0	0
Baked Stuff Potatoes, 2 cooked	480	54	24	16	800	8
	905	67	51	55	823	8
S N A C K S
Organic Dark Chocolate Baton Espresso	400	38	26	6	10	26
	400	38	26	6	10	26
Totals	2,980	278	146	139	5,958	103
Your Daily Goal	4,066	508	135	204	2,300	152
Remaining	1,086	230	-11	64	-3,657	49
	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
	*You've earned 2,136 extra calories from exercise today

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Your Exercise Diary for:

Saturday, March 12, 2016

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
Walking, 4.5 mph, very, very brisk pace	133	1,938
Walking, 4.5 mph, very, very brisk pace	27	379
MFP iOS calorie adjustment	N/A	-181
Daily Total / Goal	161 / 30	2,136 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	1081 / 210	16,759 / 4,130

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total calories consumed 2980 calories

total calories burned (twelve miles walking) 2317 calories

total net 663 calories

. . . . . . . . . . .   

fitbit day 192

22765 steps  

. . . . . . . ....
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One thing that you can't see while working out indoors on an elliptical machine is a RHINO.  Oh sure, the GOP debate stages have been chock full of RINOS (Republicans in Name Only) but I prefer the real ones at the Lincoln Park Zoo.

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This lion at the Lincoln Park Zoo was enjoying the day while relaxing on a big rock. 

I enjoy working out on an elliptical machine, but you'd never see a lion working out indoors.