We all know that lack of exercise can result in health problems such as heart disease
and high blood pressure and is a contributing factor in weight gain. Many of us start an exercise routine with a great deal of enthusiasm but lack the commitment to continue it for any length of time.
A simple way to increase the amount of exercise we get every day without having to pound a treadmill at the gym is to daily walk a little more and a pedometer can help you do this.
Pedometers are simple devices which count the steps you take and give you a readout of the distance you have walked. They can be used to increase the distance you walk each day by setting realistic goals for your daily step rate and slowly increasing the amount you walk every day.
Are pedometers effective at helping people to increase the amount of walking they do? Many trials have shown that they are. In studies reported by the Journal of American Medicine a 25% increase in physical activity was achieved by people using a pedometer to track their walking and setting goals that they strove for each day. This is a very good increase that will undoubtedly have an effect on their health and well being.
All those who participated in the trials and achieved an increase in their daily walking rate were much more likely to lose weight and lower their blood pressure than those who did not do this. One thing to note however is that the cholesterol and sugar levels of the participants was not affected.
It is important when using a pedometer to help increase your activity to set goals that are realistic and not to try to do too much too quickly. Use the pedometer for a few days to find out your usual step rate then add set a goal that is 10% higher than this. Once you achieve that number for a few days increase it by 10% again.
So using a pedometer to increase your daily physical activity can definitely help you to be more active without having to go to the gym or run around the park. Walking is easy for all of us to do, no matter our age, and it can have enormous benefits to increase the amount we do every day. We will feel fitter, be healthier and it can help to keep our weight within acceptable limits.
Pedometers are cheap to buy and easy to use. They are available for less than $20 although for a little more you can buy a more sophisticated one that will allow you to upload your step history to your computer so that you can track your progress over time.