Walking with a Pedometer

The phrase “every little bit counts,” is just as pertinent for exercise as that 10 cent coupon you sheepishly slide across the grocery counter. Most people imagine that calories only burn when using a fancy treadmill, elliptical trainer or running on a track. The truth is, something as simple as walking wakes up your heart, burns calories and may help you achieve your fitness or weight loss goals.

Walking, even little bouts between commercials or from your couch to the fridge (for an ice cold glass of water of course!), is good for you, and like another favorite saying goes “it all adds up.” If you would like to lose weight, burn more calories or simply make your life more active, a great place to begin (especially for those who are not yet ready for intense workouts) is with a walking goal. The first thing you need is a pair of comfortable walking shoes followed by an important piece of equipment called a pedometer.

If all you techno-phobes or penny pinchers are already backing away at the idea of an expensive new-fangled machine, have no worries. Pedometers are extremely easy to use and very very cheap. My pedometer cost me less than five dollars and only has three buttons. So what does a pedometer do? Its main job is to count the number of steps you take during a given period like a day or week. Almost all pedometers, even my cheap one, also measure the distance you walk. More expensive ones, and we’re only talking five or 10 extra dollars, can measure calories burned and differentiate between jogging, aerobic walking and normal walking. Most pedometers are small and square, smaller than a matchbook. They clip unobtrusively to the waistband of your pant and are easily hidden by a shirt or belt. Some of the newer models are programmed into wristwatches. As you walk, the machine reads your body’s movement and counts your steps. While the more advanced pedometers offer extra goodies and won’t empty your wallet, the cheap ones are just as usable.