I Tried To Walk 10,000 Steps A Day For A Week And Lost 2kg

Did you really, Laila? Ya I did but I gained it all back the next week because I’m a potato.

Anyway. Jeremy and I had to walk 10,000 steps a day for a week because of a work thing. So we did. You can read the story on SAYS here.

But this is my story. Because this is my blog. Hah.

Average daily steps: 3,588

I was pretty nervous about taking on this challenge. Like all parents, my days are packed! 

I wake up at 6.30am to get my second son ready for school, then work at my desk for 8 hours, while trying to find time to express my milk for the baby twice a day. Once I’m home in the evening, the hubby and I take turns playing with the kids, helping with homework, getting dinner ready, and doing housework. 

I don’t even have time to sleep because the baby wakes up at least twice a night for nenen. How on earth was I gonna hit 10,000 steps a day?

DAY 1, Saturday: I failed miserably

Saturdays are our busiest days but only because the kids have all their extracurriculars. It’s mostly driving and not much walking, while the children do their sports.

DAY 2, Sunday: KL Bird Park. Fail again!

I MADE AN EFFORT. It was not even close to enough. I think I ended the day with 7,000 steps only. And I was frickin exhausted. Even did an ice cream run in the KL Bird Park just to get more steps in. Obviously can’t expect the kids to walk that many steps with me.

So yeah. Gotta do it on my own.

DAY 3, Monday: Every errand I could think of

Total steps: 10,812

I walked to the bank, the bookstore, the post office, and the grocery shop. Sweating like a pig.

DAY 4, Tuesday: I suck

Total steps: 9,380

I thought it would be super easy to hit the target just by shopping with Gowri. But we spent more time shopping than walking.

I thought I could go home early and bring the kids to the park but it started raining really heavily and that’s when I knew I messed up. I suck.

DAY 5, Wednesday: A desperate last-minute walk in the park

Total steps: 10,853

Ayub had a bad day. He was supposed to start his “internship” with Ninja Housewife but he had a shutdown instead. I had no time to walk.

So later that evening Mr Ninja looked after the kids while I walked over 6,000 steps around the park to hit my target. Tired.

DAY 6, Thursday: I walked to the office like a crazy person

Total steps: 12,117

I WALKED TO WORK! It took forever and it’s definitely not very safe and I’ll probably never do it again, but I did it!

DAY 7, Friday: I cheated

Total steps: 10,322 (Actual steps: 5,200+) 

It was Friday and I was exhausted. Work was work. Got home late. Bathed Aisha. Breastfed Ibrahim. It was night time.

Ayub and Sulaiman asked how many steps I got and I admitted it was only around 5,200. They were like wow you suck. So they took turns wearing the smartband and walked around the house until it hit 10,000. Hah.

DAY 8, Saturday: Park, Movie, Park

Total steps: 10,421

Brought Ibrahim for a walk in the park. Came back because Aisha woke up and screamed the whole house down when she realised I was gone.

Watched a movie at TGV Family-Friendly in Central i-City. Walked around the park again with Aisha and Ibrahim in the evening.

DAY 9, Sunday: Perdana Botanical Gardens

Total steps: 13,246

We woke up early for a walk around Perdana Botanical Gardens. So embarrassed to say this was my first time there… but OMG it is beautiful! The kids spent all their time at the playground with Mr Ninja, while baby and I walked two laps around the gardens. I hit 10,000 steps before noon owh yeah!

The extra 3,000 steps came later that evening when we did groceries 🙂

This post deserves an epilogue. This is the epilogue.

I realised that it’s totally possible to get some ‘me time’ (i.e. 10,000 steps a day), despite my busy schedule. It forced me to spend so much more time outdoors with my kids. On the one hand, it felt really nice to play and walk with them in the park. On the other hand, I felt really guilty for not spending more time outdoors with them before this. 

We specifically went to Perdana Botanical Gardens just to get my 10,000 steps and in the process discovered our new favourite place! After this challenge, I’m determined to continue walking outdoors with the kids every week.

It’s been a month since I did this challenge. Here’s what changed:

Abso-fuckin-lutely nothing. Gained back the 2kg. Didn’t bother counting steps. Hardly walked. Potato life.