Using Pedometers To Get In Shape

Pedometers, although often simple in their design

, can be the perfect addition to your weight loss or physical fitness efforts and also can be an excellent motivational tool. We all know there are many benefits to exercising, especially walking. This can be a low-impact way of trying to better your health and ward off a host of illnesses, some of which can be rather serious such as diabetes or high blood pressure.

Walking your way to better health one step at a time can definitely be a lot more interesting when using a pedometer as it allows you to clearly see how far you have gone. You may want to keep track of your efforts from the very beginning using a small journal, notebook, or even a file on your computer that you can add to each day. Get into the habit of putting the pedometer on first thing in the morning and not taking it off until bedtime so you can have an accurate picture as to how many steps you are taking throughout your day.

Once you know how many average steps you're walking you can then increase that average by setting small goals for yourself. First record the number of steps you walk each day for a week. The next step would be to add all the daily step counts to arrive at a total, and then divide by 7 to come up with your baseline average. Then just try to increase that average by 10% or so each week.

Be creative and actively look for different ways to walk more each day. Whether it is parking farther away from your destination, walking the dog or using the stairs instead of elevators, you will often realize even more opportunities to increase the number of steps you are taking daily.

There are two basic kinds of pedometers to choose from, either piezoelectric or spring-loaded lever, with the former choice typically being more accurate than the latter. Although the piezoelectric type of pedometer often requires more batteries, the spring-loaded variety tends to wear out quicker and be less accurate over time.

Most pedometers will come equipped with a cover, which should be kept in place to keep from accidentally hitting the reset button. Having one that comes with a strap or safety leash of some sort can be a good idea to avoid any possible mishaps, like dropping the pedometer while out on a run or walk.

Some optional features to look for on pedometers include calorie counters, distance estimators and calculators, heart rate monitors and voice features. Some models are even more high tech and come with computer software for keeping track of your progress and setting attainable goals.

by: Darrin Tebbe

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