How (and why) to wear a pedometer
A CHEAP PERSONAL TRAINER
Losing weight is not as complicated as most people are made to believe. If you burn more calories than you eat, you lose weight. Studies have shown that the most powerful and effective way to burn more calories is by incorporating exercise into your daily routine. A PEDOMETER HELPS YOU DETERMINE HOW ACTIVE YOU REALLY ARE.
You do not have to get the expensive ones that calculate calories and distance and other expensive but worthless add-ons. It is just a rough estimate anyway and a waste of money. An easy way to figure it out is that an average person takes about 2000-2500 steps per mile. People with shorter legs are on the high end and taller people on on the low end.
Since you do not need the pedometer bells and whistles, focus on getting an ACCURATE pedometer.
Most people set the goal of 10,000 steps per day, but that is such an arbitrary number. A more effective goal is to increase the number of steps you take each week by 10%. If during the first week with your pedometer, you take 14,000 steps (2,000/day), try to take 15,400 the next week (2,200/day)
WHAT TO BUY?
The pedometer that provides the most accurate readings, but costs less than $20 is the Yamax SW-200 Digiwalker Pedometer. A cheaper, but fairly accurate alternative is the Sportline 330 pedometer.
Although a pedometer is a great addition to a general health and fitness strategy, don't get suckered into spending any more than $20 for one. The extra features aren't worth it.
