We all know that exercise is necessary to stay fit and healthy but many of us either hate going to the gym or really don’t have the time. One way to get the exercise you need is to make sure that you walk more every day. You don’t have to pound away on a treadmill! Walking can help you stay fit as it’s good for the heart, lungs and muscles. A great way to increase how far you walk every day is to monitor the number of steps you take with a pedometer.
These small units track your steps and you can set a goal to walk every day and easily monitor your progress. Some pedometers also give a readout of calories burned although not all pedometers are accurate in this respect. Pedometers are very accurate in counting steps, much more so than in the past, so if you were disappointed with a pedometer that you used years ago you will be pleasantly surprised by how much they have improved.
Many of the units available today do not even have to be worn at the hip or on your belt as previously but can be placed in a pocket or even in your purse. This makes them much more convenient to take to work or, indeed, anywhere you are going.
Do pedometers really help to increase the amount of daily exercise?
The Journal of American Medicine has reported on a number of trials to test just this. In 26 trials all those who took part increased their daily activity to a certain extent. The average increase was 25% which is a good increase and will have an excellent effect on the health of those participants. The best way to use a pedometer is to set yourself realistic goals. Use the pedometer for a few days to get a baseline of your usual daily activity then slowly increase this to around 6000 steps.
There are a number of ways to easily increase your daily step rate. Some simple ones, that will really make a difference are to use the stairs instead of the elevator, get out at lunchtime and take a short walk, perhaps eating your lunch in a nearby park, instead of sitting at your desk. park at a distance to your destination and walking. I’m sure you can think of many more to suit your lifestyle!
Checking your pedometer throughout the day can give you an incentive to push yourself just that little bit more.
Which models can be placed in a pocket or purse?
One of the most popular pedometers that can be used this way is the Omron HJ-720ITC Pocket Pedometer which also keeps a history of your daily steps and can be used with your PC to track your progress over months. There are also many more from under $10. Check out some more at Pedometers for Sale.
