What will your step count be today?
Knowing how many steps we take each day is one way to measure how active we really are. By building up the number of steps we take, we can all increase our physical activity without having to try too hard.
The Public Health Agency is encouraging people across Northern Ireland to think about the number of steps they take every day. By counting the number of steps you already take and setting yourself increasing targets, you can improve your health and wellbeing.
Step Challenge
Set Your Own Challenge – Download the campaign leaflet for details of how to calculate your current step count and set yourself a step challenge target. It also includes tips on how to fit more walking into your day.
Set up a Group Challenge – Work together as a group to support and motivate each other on a group step challenge. Groups may be run by a local voluntary or community organisation, a workplace, or simply among friends and family. Download the group challenge toolkit.
Track Your Steps
To start tracking your steps, you can use your smartphone. Just click on Safefood’s weight-mate app to find out more.
You can give the app permission to automatically take step data from your smartphone’s in-built tracker or several specified wearable fitness trackers (eg Fitbit). If you have a smartphone without an in-built step tracker, you can use a pedometer and manually input your step count into the weight-mate app.
*Remember to choose ‘Step challenge’ when you input your details on the weight-mate app.
Get Out Walking
Find a favourite or new walking route on WalkNI then use a step calculator to convert your miles to steps.
We’ve converted some of our favourite walks below to get you started:
| Walk Route | Distance | Steps |
| Botanic Gardens, Belfast | 0.8 miles | 1,689 |
| Lagan Towpath – Shaws Bridge to Lock Keepers Cottage, Belfast | 1 mile | 2,112 |
| Crawfordsburn Country Park Meadow Walk, Co. Down | 2 miles | 4,224 |
| Mussenden Temple and Downhill Demesne, Co. Derry~Londonderry | 2 miles | 4,224 |
| Murlough National Nature Reserve, Co. Down | 2.5 miles | 5,280 |
| Lough Fea, Co. Tyrone | 2.6 miles | 5,491 |
| Castlewellan Slievenaslat Trail, Co. Down | 2.7 miles | 5,700 |
| Craigavon Lakes, Co. Armagh | 3 miles | 6,336 |
| Divis Ridge Trail, Co. Antrim | 4.2 miles | 8,870 |
| Slieve Donard, Co. Down | 6 miles | 12,672 |
