Step Counter Pedometer

If you add just 2000 more steps a day to your regular activities, you may never gain another pound. So says research by Dr. James O. Hill of the Center for Human Nutrition at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. To lose weight, add in more steps.

Move More
Sedentary people in the USA generally move only 2000-3000 steps a day. Previous studies have shown that moving 6000 steps a day significantly reduces risk of death, and 8000-10,000 a day promotes weight loss.

How far is 2000 steps? It is about a mile. But the benefits for health and for weight management don’t depend on you walking a mile all at one time, but simply adding in more steps throughout the day.

Pedometers Count Steps
By wearing a pedometer all day, you are motivated to add in extra steps whenever you can. There are many little trips that can add up to a mile or two a day – parking further from the door of your destination, taking the stairs rather than the elevator, pace around as you talk on the telephone, take a marching-in-place minute once an hour.

“All in all, it is entertaining to ponder that such a seemingly insignificant gadget may be of practical importance in the war on obesity!” said Catrine Tudor-Locke, Ph.D., Department of Exercise and Wellness, Arizona State University in the conclusion of a report by the President’s Council of Physical Fitness and Sports, June, 2002.

Article Source: Wendy Bumgardner, About.com Guide

Technorati Tags: Pedometer Exercise, Pedometer Steps, Step Counter Pedometer, Step Pedometer

The essentials of a good fitness goal are:

• Realistic: The goal should be challenging, but realistically achievable. Don’t set you sights too low, but also don’t set yourself up for failure.

• Measurable: Your goal should be stated in a way that can be measured. How many miles a week? How many pounds or inches to lose? What 10K distance time? Finishing a marathon by what date?

• Dated: Set dates by which you will attain the goal and intermediate goals along the way.

• Written down: Your goal should be made concrete so you can review it.

• Track your progress: Keep your goal in sight and see what steps you are making towards attaining it.

• Celebrate success: Along the way when you reach new milestones, it is time to celebrate. And when you achieve your overall goals, don’t hold back – reward yourself.

Setting realistic and measurable goals: You will have to know how fit you are now and what is possible. For weight loss, do not set a goal of losing more than 1-2 pounds a week or 5-10 pounds a month, and plan for plateaus along the way. For increasing speed and distance, plan for increasing no more than 10-15% a week in order to prevent injury and allow muscles to repair and build. Visit our Fitness Toolbox for fitness analysis and our Weightloss Toolbox for calculators for basal metabolic rate, calorie burning, meal planning and more.

Dating Your Goals: One of the best ways to set a date in concrete is to apply it to a major walking event. If you want to be able to walk a certain distance or have a speed goal, find an upcoming walking event and register for it. Walking Event Calendarsand Marathon Calendars. Not only will this make the goal concrete, it will also reward you for attaining it, especially if you register for an event at a great destination you’ve been wanting to visit.

Article Source: Wendy Bumgardner, About.com Guide

Technorati Tags: Pedometer Exercise, Pedometer Steps, Step Counter Pedometer, Step Pedometer