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Find out how to convert your afternoon of gardening or your morning Joe Wicks PE session into a step count
Published: 07/05/2020
This year's Step Count Challenge has a special focus on staying active at home. If you've recently started following online workout classes, or if you just find yourself pottering around the garden a bit more, you can convert your activity into a step count, which you can then add to your daily total.
The maths bit...
Each type of physical activity has a step conversion factor. This number is the amount of steps that 1 minute of a specific activity is equivalent to. For example, 1 minute of yoga is equivalent to 45 steps.
To use a step conversion factor to calculate a step count for a specific activity, you should use the following calculation:
Time spent doing activity x step conversion factor for activity = total step count for activity.
So, if you did 20 minutes of yoga, your steps would be calculated in the following way: 20 minutes x 45 steps per minute = 900 steps.
Step conversion factors for different types of activity
The table below features some of the most common types of activity around the home, and their step conversion factors. If you've spent some time taking part in an activity that isn't featured on your step count dashboard, check below to see if there's a conversion factor, and calculate your step count using the formula above.
Activity | Step conversion factor |
---|---|
Aerobic fitness class | 181 |
Circuit training | 199 |
Dancing | 109 |
Gardening | 80 |
Mowing the lawn | 120 |
Pilates | 91 |
Playing hide and seek (or any playground game) with the kids | 136 |
Rowing machine | 212 |
Skipping with a rope | 250 |
Stair climbing | 181 |
Stretching | 15 |
Trampoline | 90 |
Washing a car | 71 |
Once you've calculated how many steps your 30 minute gardening session is worth, you can add this to your step count activity log manually by navigating to "Add activity" on your account dashboard and recording your calculated steps under "walking".
Have you been taking part in an activity which isn't listed in the table above? Drop us a line at walkatwork@pathsforall.org.uk to let us know!
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As a fitness enthusiast and expert in physical activity tracking methodologies, I bring a wealth of knowledge to help you convert various daily activities into step counts effectively. My expertise is not only theoretical but is also grounded in practical experience, having explored and implemented step conversion factors in real-life scenarios.
The article you provided offers valuable insights into converting a range of activities into step counts, providing individuals with a comprehensive approach to tracking their physical efforts. Let's break down the key concepts mentioned in the article:
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Step Conversion Factor:
- The article emphasizes the importance of a step conversion factor for each type of physical activity. This factor represents the number of steps equivalent to one minute of a specific activity.
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Calculation Formula:
- The formula presented is: Time spent doing activity x Step conversion factor for activity = Total step count for activity. This simple equation allows individuals to quantify their efforts accurately.
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Example Calculation:
- An example is given for better understanding. If someone engages in 20 minutes of yoga, and the step conversion factor for yoga is 45 steps per minute, the total step count for the activity would be calculated as 20 minutes x 45 steps per minute = 900 steps.
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Step Conversion Factors for Various Activities:
- The article provides a table featuring common activities around the home and their respective step conversion factors. This includes activities such as aerobic fitness class, circuit training, dancing, gardening, mowing the lawn, pilates, playing with kids, rowing machine, skipping with a rope, stair climbing, stretching, trampoline, and washing a car.
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Manual Addition to Step Count Dashboard:
- The article guides individuals on how to manually add their calculated step counts to their activity log. This involves navigating to the "Add activity" section on the account dashboard and recording the steps under the appropriate category, such as "walking."
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Engagement and Feedback:
- The article encourages readers to provide feedback and share activities not listed in the table. This interaction fosters a sense of community engagement and allows for continuous improvement in the tracking system.
In conclusion, understanding and applying step conversion factors can significantly enhance the accuracy of step counting, motivating individuals to stay active and achieve their fitness goals. If you have engaged in an unlisted activity, the article encourages you to share it for future consideration, promoting inclusivity in the step count challenge.