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@mayofeb2020

I used to take the number of steps very seriously but then I realized that mileage is more important. I am a petite 5'2 so it would take me more steps than a 6' tall person with a longer stride to walk a mile. I can only use steps to set my goal but in the end my goal is 2.5 to 3 miles a day.

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@mayofeb2020 Granted, a taller person will walk further with the same number of steps, but I have a hunch that the shorter person is exerting an equivalent amount of energy in each step as the taller person, so that is why steps matter. I used to walk the indoor track at my health club and people would pass me who didn't seem to be walking very fast and then I realized that each of their strides was much longer than mine - I am currently 5'2.5". The taller person is probably exerting more energy because they have a larger mass to move but that becomes relative.
The worst part about being short is that it takes far fewer calories to maintain a healthy weight. I envy my 5"10" daughter-in-law.
JK