Does anyone use a pedometer?

[Peggy C.]

I bought one and just started using it yesterday. I thought I'd try and keep my activity level normal for about the next week and keep a diary of how far I've gone to establish a base line and then increase my distance from there. Does this sound like I'm on the right track? How far do you strive to go each day? How gradually do you build?

[donleyk]

Hi Peggy!

I was going to add that I was interested in one too. Thought about getting one for aerobics. I think it would be interesting to see.

Sounds like you are on the right track (har-har) to me. I'd increase it as you are ready for more. Sometimes we walk at lunch... 3 miles. That may be a bit much at first. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

[aggie94]

YES! I love my pedometer. Sounds like you're on the right track. When I started wearing mine, I kept a log at the end of the day of how many steps I walked, and then took the average over a week. During that time, I tried not to change anything about my daily activites - just did as usual.

The next few weeks, I'd try to add more walking into places that I could throughout the day - go out of my way to take the steps, pace around the house while I talked on the phone, etc. Then, I added in more formal exercise sessions a week to try to boost my daily steps to where I wanted them to be on average (which was around 12,500). I find that on days I don't exercise, I rarely can hit my goal, but even a half hour or 45 minutes of walking really makes a big difference. Oh, and so does going out with DH when he plays golf! I don't play, but just walking the course with him boosts my steps tremendously!

It's amazing how motivating seeing the little numbers throughout the day would keep me. I stopped scouring parking lots for close spaces because I knew the longer walk would give more steps. I stopped stopping at the mailbox on my way into the neighborhood after work because I knew if I walked back to the mailbox after I parked at the house, I'd get more steps. Stuff like that. Keeps ya moving!!

[Molli526]

You can also get a lot of steps in at Costco/ Sams. My friend and I once walked a little over a mile dinking around at Costco :o

[Peggy C.]

Thanks for the reassurance that I'm doing this the right way, I've only worn it the last 2 days and I seem to be averaging close to 11,000 steps. I might have added in a little extra activity, but not a whole bunch. I'll increase after keeping the log for atleast a week.

[Sara Emily]

Peggy, the "conventional wisdom" is that you aim for AT LEAST 10,000 steps per day, which is a rough equivalent of 5 miles. You are ALREADY exceeding that as you start, so you're doing GREAT!

Whatever your initial weekly average is should then be increased by 10% to gain the benefits accrued by increasing movement.

I used to wear mine ALL the time. Now, I take it by spells as a grand motivator, and enjoy using it immensely.

[Peggy C.]

Sara Emily, thanks for the 10% figure, I really didn't know exactly what would be a reasonable amount to increase it by, but now I'll use that guideline.

[GayeC]

My pedometer really helps me remember to keep moving. I have a desk job and the pedometer count reminds me to get up and take walks throughout the day. I am trying to get to 15,000 counts on most days of the week (don't always make it) because I want to lose about 8 pounds. I don't think that you need that much to get a health benefit. There is an article in one of the current Prevention spin-off magazines (the ones you can pick up in the grocery check out aisle) that describes a program for increasing your activity using a pedometer. I'll try to look it over to see if there is anything important that hasn't been mentioned here.

Gaye

[KelLeg]

I just got a pedometer and really like it. I wore it all day today from when I got out of bed until I went to bed (still have it on). I'm over 15,000 steps today! Yea! I'm really excited. I did do a step class today which helped (I think it was about 4,700 steps). Anyway, this is a fun toy!

[kima]

Just bumping this up! Are you all still using a pedometer? Are you happy with it? I'm thinking about getting one.

[Lynn B]

It is a fun toy, and I like mine. It's the second one I've had. The first one was kind of expensive, and never worked right. I took it back and complained, and the sales person said, "Buy the cheapest one, they work the best! The expensive ones are always coming back!" so I did, and she was right! Who knew?! :)

Lynn

[memartha]

Where do you get one? And how much are the "cheap" ones? TIA. Martha

[Luika]

This thread gives me incentive to get my pedometer out again!

It's interesting, most of you seem to be tracking steps -- I always tracked miles. Tracking steps sounds like a better way to meet a goal. More instant gratification!

[Peggy C.]

Maureen, sorry it took me so long to respond.

I don't wear it anymore, because I let a friend borrow it and she hasn't returned it. No big deal though.
I did like it when I was wearing it. It gave me solid info on what I was doing.

Memartha mine was only about $20-25 and I ordered it over the net, but I don't recall the brand name. I would think a sporting goods store would sell them.