The 10,000 Steps Myth: A Guru-Approved Hoax

There’s a number you’ve likely heard a million times, thrown around by fitness gurus on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok – 10,000 steps. Apparently, this magical, round number is the holy grail of health. Every day, step up, reach 10,000, and poof, you're healthy, fit, and ready to conquer the world. This number has become gospel for many self-proclaimed fitness experts, often served with a side of unshakable confidence, claiming it’s the secret to everything from weight loss to longevity.

But here’s the thing: 10,000 steps? It’s arbitrary. Plain and simple.

Before we go on, let's just call it what it is: a marketing gimmick. And here's why.

Let’s break it down. If you’re walking up Mount Everest, well, 10,000 steps might leave you gasping for air and in need of a long nap, assuming you even make it to the top. But if you’re strolling around your house while watching Netflix, or taking the dog out for its third bathroom break of the day, guess what? Those same 10,000 steps will have about as much impact on your health as a tepid cup of coffee. None. Zilch. Zero. In fact, you'll probably burn more energy deciding what to eat for dinner than you will getting those steps in.

The crux of it: Step count is subjective. The quality of those steps varies wildly based on your environment, your purpose, and frankly, your enthusiasm. A "step" while climbing stairs or hiking up a mountain is a lot more physically demanding than, say, stepping across the kitchen to grab a snack. So how can one number apply universally to all of us?

The problem is that 10,000 steps has become a brand—and brands love consistency. It sounds neat, tidy, and digestible. It looks good on a watch, a chart, or an Instagram post. But just because something is marketable doesn't mean it’s meaningful or scientifically backed. In fact, there’s no substantial evidence that supports the claim that 10,000 steps is the perfect number for health. Why not 8,933 steps? Why not 12,499? If there’s science behind it, it’s buried deep in the rabbit hole, possibly just rounding up from something more reasonable, like 7,000 steps or even 4,000. It’s just a number pulled from a hat, sold to us with slick visuals and catchphrases.

We’ve gotten to the point where these gurus perpetuate the idea that hitting the 10,000 mark is the pinnacle of fitness. They even shun other forms of exercise, implying that without hitting this number, you're not “doing it right.” But here’s a thought: what if we stopped letting some guru with a questionable background dictate what’s healthy for us?

So let’s stop the madness, shall we? Let’s ditch the 10,000 steps, not because moving is bad—far from it—but because it’s about time we threw out the arbitrary number and put our energy into making meaningful, personalized health goals. The real power comes from a holistic approach. A routine that’s tailored to you—your fitness level, your goals, your life. Why settle for a random number when you can measure progress through better outcomes? Strength, flexibility, mental clarity, energy, and yes, a little bit of cardio in the right way, at the right time. That’s what real fitness looks like.

Don’t get trapped in the cookie-cutter world of “10,000 steps.” Look beyond the number, and take charge of your health in a way that works for you. Because at the end of the day, it’s not the number of steps that matters—it’s the quality of the steps you take toward becoming the healthiest version of yourself. And trust me, there’s no one-size-fits-all here.

So, forget the gurus, ditch the step counters, and stop pretending you’re in a race to hit some arbitrary mark. Focus on what actually moves the needle for your health. If that means 10,000 steps, great. If it means something else, even better. Your path to health should be real—clear—and most importantly, yours.