You Walkin’?

I’m almost persuaded to buy one of these things: 🙂

If the journey toward fitness begins with a single step, make sure it’s counted with a pedometer.

These little step-tracking gadgets now have a solid track record when it comes to motivating people to exercise. And their popularity is growing.

Inside this small-as-an-egg device are the keys to exercise success that have eluded far more complex and expensive fitness programs: accountability, goal-setting and being able to monitor progress. If the objective is to reach 10,000 steps in a day the recommended amount, seeing a tally of 4,000 steps at 3 p.m. is a wake-up call to start walking.

“When we ask people to start an exercise program, it’s important to have measurable, achievable goals, and adding this self-monitoring component is very critical,” says Simon Marshall, associate professor of exercise and nutritional science at San Diego State University. “We don’t know why exactly, but keeping a number, a prompt, in our consciousness on a regular basis is important, and that’s why pedometers are superior to other methods. It’s on you all the time.”

The fact that nothing has to be written down — no fitness diary needs to be kept, no information must be logged on a computer — makes pedometers easy to use day after day in various settings, none of which has to be a gym.

Perhaps better yet, the average cost is around $20.

[…]

Research confirms that monitoring daily steps helps people get the recommended amount of exercise, bolsters their cardiovascular system and often contributes to weight loss.

[…]

(But keep in mind, walking shouldn’t be the only exercise in the repertoire. Strength training for both the upper and lower body prevents muscle loss and helps stave off bone deterioration, both important as people age.)

Choosing a pedometer can be challenging, considering how many models are on the market. Some are equipped with accelerometers that record movement and intensity. Others tally weekly steps, have calorie counters and come with software to track progress. Some cellphones now come with a pedometer, but since the devices track steps by monitoring hip movement, they won’t work if left on a table or in a purse on the floor.

Many exercise physiologists and trainers generally recommend starting with a basic model that just counts steps and costs about $20. To ensure accuracy, count out from 20 to 50 steps a few times, checking the pedometer. If the count is within a few steps, it should be adequate. You can always upgrade later to a model with more bells and whistles.

Source: Pedometers can motivate users to get in step

Now go be healthy! 😀