Wendy's story: Taking on my fifth stepping challenge

I absolutely love taking part in the One Million Step Challenge – this will be my 5th year doing the challenge, and I just can’t wait to get going. I first got involved a few years ago, and my motivation back then was my Mum, who had type 2 diabetes for a number of years – I saw firsthand the difficulties she had with managing her diabetes.

Then, totally by coincidence, I went to my doctor with symptoms of menopause and along with other investigations, I had my blood sugar levels checked. I was told that my sugar level was higher than normal, and I had prediabetes.

So, knowing what my Mum had gone through with her diabetes, I decided to do something about my situation, and I saw the One Million Step Challenge advertised on Facebook.

Getting started

So I thought, I’ll give that a go, and I will admit, at the beginning, I did have a few doubts about whether I could do the challenge. But I persevered, and I’ve always loved walking, even as a child, so it felt a very natural thing to do – that was my starting point, and it just progressed from there.

I felt inspired and realised that doing the step challenge wasn’t that difficult for me, and I soon found different ways of achieving my steps throughout the day. I don’t like being stuck indoors or sitting around, and after a while, I developed the ‘walking bug’ and was keen to do some walking at any opportunity.

I have a pedometer clipped on when I’m walking – that tracks my progress, and then I enter my daily step count manually. I’m old school, and that works for me.

Keeping up momentum

I’m always on the go and do a lot of walking up and down stairs in my job at a theatre in Newcastle. As part of the challenge, I started walking home, which is a good 4-mile distance, and I’d then walk a bit more when I got home. I began gradually and built up my steps as I wanted to avoid causing myself any injuries. I thought walking around 10,000 steps a day would work for me.

"I have lots of family support, and my Dad is just amazed that I can do all that walking. He tells everyone about my step challenge, and so I know he’s dead proud; they’re all very proud of me for doing it."

It's really important to remember that even though you’re trying to raise funds, it's also about taking part and raising awareness, and if you raise money too, that’s a bonus. You’re changing people's lives by taking part.

I have felt the benefits of walking, and I’ve been able to lose some weight. One year, I documented my weight at the beginning of the challenge and then halfway through, and then at the end, I was amazed by my transformation. I posted some before and after photos on Facebook – it was clear to see the difference walking had made, and I was quite proud of myself for achieving that.

My 5th challenge

This will be my 5th time taking part in the One Million Step Challenge, and it's my joy of walking that makes me come back each year, which has helped immensely with my general wellbeing and losing some weight has been a bonus for me and my health. The challenge gets me out of the house, and I’m able to enjoy the fresh air and meet people along the way. I also know that I’m raising awareness for a good cause, especially knowing what my Mum has gone through, as well as other family members who have diabetes too.

I turned 50 this year, a special year for me – I’ve gained more confidence, I have more energy, I sleep better, and I’ve made some really good friends, so I can't wait for the challenge to start.

Reaching my goals is an achievement for me and makes me feel really proud that I can do something like the One Million Step Challenge. My blood results are now normal, and I no longer have prediabetes. The steps challenge has given me the extra drive to do other things, and I feel a great sense of satisfaction. It’s especially nice to get that vote of confidence from the Facebook group with everyone saying well done and keep going, and so we all motivate each other.

My top tips

My top tip for anyone attempting the challenge, which might seem obvious, is to wear comfortable shoes, or your feet will really suffer. Also, do your steps at your pace - it's not a race, and it’s not about competing against anyone, so just take your time and go at a pace that works for you.

"Remember to have fun, be safe, but enjoy it and just set achievable goals around how many steps you can do in a day. Try not to push yourself too far too soon, or you could burn out."

Also, it really helps to get family and friends involved. One year, my husband and I went out walking in fancy dress to raise some money for the challenge. I was dressed as a Teddy bear, and he was Fred Flintstone. We certainly got people’s attention and raised awareness about diabetes. It was all good fun.

Don’t be afraid to ask for advice. The Facebook group is very supportive, so if you’re really struggling, reach out and ask for some help - they’re a really nice group of people.

Words of wisdom

I would say remember why you’re doing it. It's about taking part and raising awareness - raising funds too. But don’t be too hard on yourself as essentially, it's about highlighting the effects of diabetes and making more people aware of the condition.

Would you like to take on the One Million Step Challenge?

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