Fitness expert debunks ‘made-up myth’ that taking 10,000 steps a day will keep you in shape – insists a simple 10-MINUTE routine is the best way to lose weight

A fitness expert has debunked the “myth of 10,000 steps a day” and said that you’re better off doing 10 minutes of resistance training to lose fat.

Andrea Marcellus, 51, of Los Angeles, is a health coach who specializes in “fitness for busy people.” She has over 100,000 followers on TikTok where she shares her weight loss tips.

In a recent videoshe argued that “doing 10 minutes of resistance work is better than 10,000 steps (walking) in 10 hours.”

“Have you been stressed every day trying to get your 10,000 steps?” she asked, insisting it’s not a fitness goal to worry about.

The health coach, who specializes in “fitness for busy people,” has more than 100,000 followers on the platform, where she shares her weight loss tips

‘This is about the 10,000 steps. It’s not really the best use of your time, and it’s all made up.”

Marcellus explained how the concept originated in Japan in 1965, when the Yamasa company released a pedometer called “manpo-kee,” which translates to “10,000 pedometer.”

The arbitrary figure has never been backed up by science, but today’s fitness trackers are set to a default goal of 10,000 steps, about five miles, even though that number may be an exaggeration.

Harvard Medical School found that on average taking 4,400 steps per day is enough to significantly lower the risk of death in women compared to just 2,700 steps per day.

“It takes a long time to get into your 10,000 steps,” Marcellus explained. “Doing a 10-minute resistance workout and standing more during the day will do a lot more for you than just taking 10,000 steps.

“To lose weight, especially belly fat that really bothers people, you really have to build muscle,” she continued.

“Even just 10 minutes a day of weight training or weight training…will have a greater impact on your overall health plus fat loss than walking alone.”

Marcellus clarified that people should still walk as much as possible, but it shouldn’t be their main focus when it comes to fitness.

Marcellus argued that ‘resistance work for 10 minutes is better than (walking) 10,000 steps in 10 hours’

“Yes, we want you to walk around, but please don’t confuse that with the kind of activity that will really move the needle for you when you’re trying to lose fat,” she said.

Marcellus’ video has been viewed more than 85,000 times and struck a chord with commenters struggling to take 10,000 steps a day

“In my world, with my clients, I talk about life activation. That’s just general standing, just trying to stand more. A standing desk can save your life,” she said.

“Yes, we want you to walk around, but please don’t confuse that with the kind of activity that will really move the needle for you when you’re trying to lose fat.”

“Basically, walk as much as you can, stand as much as you can in a day, and try to get at least 20 minutes of exercise and make 10 minutes of that resistance (workout) of some sort,” she concluded.

Marcellus’ video has been viewed more than 85,000 times and struck a chord with commenters struggling to hit 10,000 steps a day.

“I love this – 10,000 steps takes way too much time for most people, including me!” one person wrote.

“This seems much more manageable than 99% of the advice on this app,” someone else added.

“LOVED the freedom of the 10,000 step obsession that never really did much for me anyway,” shared another.