I Walked 10,000 Steps Daily for 60 Days – Here Are My Real Results
By Eisa Khan | May 13, 2026
Reading time: 8 minutes
My Story: Why I did this?
I'm not doing any exercise at all in January 2026 I work in an office. My energy was low. My pants were tight. I knew that I wasn't going to follow a very strict workout plan. I decided to use something simple: 60 days of walking 10,000 steps a day.
I don't know a lot about fitness. I'm a regular guy who works at a desk. I wanted to see if walking can make a difference or not, that's as simple as it gets.
This article is my truthful findings and feedback – the good, the bad, and the things I would do differently.
Medical Disclaimer: This is not a doctor's or personal trainer's advice. This article is based on my own experience. Please talk to your doctor before beginning any exercise regime.
This Guide will cover:
The percent change of my body (with numbers)
- My weekly walk routine - copy it (1)
- I made 3 mistakes that you don't want to make.
- The answers to some frequently asked questions about walking.
My Starting Point (Day 1)
Before I started, I tracked my baseline for 3 days:
| Measurement | My Starting Number |
|---|---|
| Average daily steps | 3,200 steps |
| Body weight | 185 lbs |
| Waist circumference | 37 inches |
| Resting heart rate | 82 bpm |
| Sleep quality (self-rating 1-10) | 5/10 |
| Energy level (1-10) | 4/10 |
I was not in terrible shape. But I was not healthy either.
My 60-Day Walking Plan (Copy This)
Week 1-2: Building the Habit
| Day | Steps Goal | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 6,000 | 15 min morning + 15 min evening |
| Tuesday | 6,000 | Same schedule |
| Wednesday | 6,000 | Same schedule |
| Thursday | 6,000 | Same schedule |
| Friday | 6,000 | Same schedule |
| Saturday | 8,000 | One 30-min walk + daily steps |
| Sunday | 5,000 | Active rest (slow pace) |
What I learned in week 1: My feet hurt. I bought better walking shoes on day 4. Do not skip this.
Week 3-4: Increasing to 8,000 Steps
| Day | Steps Goal | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 7,000 | One 20-min walk + daily steps |
| Tuesday | 7,000 | Same schedule |
| Wednesday | 7,000 | Same schedule |
| Thursday | 8,000 | Added a 10-min after-lunch walk |
| Friday | 7,000 | Same schedule |
| Saturday | 10,000 | One 45-min walk |
| Sunday | 6,000 | Active rest |
What I learned in week 3: I started walking during phone calls. This was a game-changer. I added 2,000 steps without noticing.
Week 5-8: Maintaining 10,000 Steps
| Day | Steps Goal | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 10,000 | 20 min morning + 15 min lunch + 15 min evening |
| Tuesday | 10,000 | Same schedule |
| Wednesday | 10,000 | Same schedule |
| Thursday | 10,000 | Same schedule |
| Friday | 10,000 | Same schedule |
| Saturday | 12,000 | One 60-min walk (weekend) |
| Sunday | 8,000 | Active rest |
What I learned: Consistency is easier when you break it into chunks. 10,000 steps felt like a lot at first. After week 5, it felt normal.
My Results After 60 Days
Here is exactly what changed:
| Measurement | Day 1 | Day 60 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average daily steps | 3,200 | 9,800 | +6,600 steps |
| Body weight | 185 lbs | 176 lbs | -9 lbs |
| Waist circumference | 37 inches | 34.5 inches | -2.5 inches |
| Resting heart rate | 82 bpm | 72 bpm | -10 bpm |
| Sleep quality (1-10) | 5/10 | 7.5/10 | +2.5 |
| Energy level (1-10) | 4/10 | 7/10 | +3 |
| How I felt in my clothes | Tight | Comfortable | Big improvement |
The three mistakes I made (so you don't have to)
Mistake 1: Bad Shoes
The blow: Day 3 – arch problems. After five days I had blisters.
One thing I learned: Shoes that are meant for walking are important. I purchased a $60 pair of walking shoes not too expensive. The pain went away immediately.
My suggestion: Never walk 10,000 steps in flip flops or old shoes. Purchase well-fitting walking shoes.
Mistake 2: Walk too fast and too soon.
This is what I did: For week 2, I attempted to walk at a "power walking" pace for all 30 minutes of my walk. I have hurt shins for 3 days.
The lesson I acquired: Take it slow. Even if your lungs feel OK, your joints and tendons need to get used to it.
My suggestion: During the initial 2 weeks if you walk at a comfortable pace. Speed up slowly.
Mistake 3: Not Drinking Enough Water:
The lesson: Not being aware of the amount of water being lost. I became tired and got a headache by week 2.
The lesson I learned: The 10,000 steps do burn more water than one thinks. I began to bring a water bottle to the gym.I began bringing a water bottle to the gym.
My suggestion: Consume 16 oz of water prior to walk. Drink additional 16 oz after.
My Weekly Walking Routine (What Actually Worked)
Here is the routine I settled on after 60 days. You can copy it exactly:
Weekday Routine (Monday-Friday)
| Time | Activity | Steps Added |
|---|---|---|
| 7:00 AM | 15 min walk before breakfast | ~1,500 steps |
| 12:30 PM | 15 min walk after lunch | ~1,500 steps |
| 3:00 PM | 5 min walk (phone call break) | ~500 steps |
| 6:30 PM | 20 min walk after work | ~2,000 steps |
| Rest of day | Daily activities (shopping, cooking, etc.) | ~4,500 steps |
| Total | ~10,000 steps |
Weekend Routine (Saturday)
| Time | Activity | Steps Added |
|---|---|---|
| 9:00 AM | 45 min walk (long, slow pace) | ~4,500 steps |
| Rest of day | Daily activities | ~5,500 steps |
Total | ~10,000 steps |
What I would change if I had to do it again
If I repeated this experiment, I would make 3 changes:
Include 2 days of strength training. I did lose weight, but I did lose some muscle. I decreased my number of push-ups from 15 to 12.
Track my food for 1 week. I didn't change my diet: I didn't keep track of it. Do I think I didn't have as much or as often?
Make weekly progress pictures. This is because I only took pictures before and after. The small changes would be visible in Weekly Photos.
Common questions (From My Own Confusion)
Q: Do I have to take 10,000 steps every day?
A: No. Each week, I walked 6 days out of the 7. Sunday was a rest day (5,000-6,000 steps). That worked fine.
A: 10,000 steps take 100 minutes.
For me, 10,000 steps per day equated to a moderate walking speed (3 mph) and was approximately 90 minutes of walking per day. But I chopped it up and I made 15 minute chunks, 20 minute chunks.
Is 10,000 steps a day enough to lose weight without diet?
A: I did. I lost 9 lbs in 60 days. However, I was eating a normal diet. 3000 calories a day of junk food is no walk in the park.
If you can't walk outside, what can you do?
When it rained I walked into the house. I walked around my living room when I was on the phone. I did walk laps one time at a nearby mall. Not as much fun but still works.
Q: So which of the two exercise, walking or running, is better?
A: Running burns more calories per minute to lose weight. However, running is also responsible for more injuries. Walking has a more soothing effect on your joints. The most effective workout is the one you can do regularly.
Final Summary
The following is an overview of the lessons I've learned and can share with you.
- Walking 10,000 steps a day isn't too hard to do.
- Divide up the day into 3-4 short walks
- I am beginning to walk today and will deal with a diet later on.
- Proper shoes are crucial. Purchase $50-60 worth of good walking shoes.
- Walk slowly, daily, rather than hard, once a week.
- My resting heart rate got lower by 10 beats per minute. Your heart is getting stronger even when you are doing the "easy" exercise
- The bottom line: For me, 10,000 steps a day did the trick. It is easy to use, cost less and no risk. If you are not used to exercising at all, start here.
Gym membership is not necessary. Special equipment is not required. All you have to do is put on shoes and spend 90 minutes throughout the day.
Try it for 30 days. Track your steps. See what happens. You may be surprised at what you find out.
About the Author
Eisa Khan is an ordinary guy who applies fitness concepts to himself. He is not a doctor or personal trainer. He talks about his successes (and failures) so you don't have to guess. You can contact him via the Contact Page.
Sources and Further Reading
American Heart Association: "Walking for Heart Health"
Harvard Medical School: "10,000 Steps – Science or Myth?".
My own step tracker log (60 days data)
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