| Most
of us have no cluea of how many steps we take in a day, but
there's good reason to find out. According to some estimates,
if you walked an extra 2,000 steps a day, you wouldn't gain
any weight. Some research even shows that walking an additional
10,000 steps a day could be just as effective for losing weight
as a formal exercise program.
To use a pedometer, you first measure your
average stride length and program it into the instrument,
which then registers every step you take by ticking off each
time your hip moves. For most people, a mile of walking is
equivalent to 2,000 to 2,500 steps. So ten thousand steps
roughly equal around four to five miles, depending on your
particular stride.
Wearing a pedometer doesn't just make you
aware of how many steps you're taking. It can also inspire
you to become more active. You get credit for every step you
take -- to your boss's office, to the ATM, around the supermarket
and through the playground.
Even the few steps you take from the living
room to the kitchen contribute to your daily total. As the
numbers mount, you may find yourself hopping off the bus a
stop or two early or parking at the far end of the lot just
to rack up some extra steps.
Almost all pedometers are quite reliable,
even the inexpensive models, so purchasing one doesn?t have
to break the bank. If you want to spend a little more, some
models also estimate the number of calories you burn.
Unfortunately, the calorie burn information
won't be especially accurate, since there are so many factors
involved that the gizmo can't account for. Still, for a rough
idea of what you're burning, a pedometer can be a useful and
motivating tool.
A pedometer keeps track of the number
of steps and distance to within 1% of the actual. It easily
clips on a belt or waistband to count the steps taken during
a day. Medical research has proven strenuous workouts are
not necessary to control weight, cholesterol, or blood pressure.
If structured workouts are not for you, then moderate exercise
is the better route for you to go.
Studies found accumulating approximately
10,000 steps each day meets established public health guidelines
for daily physical activity. Therefore, the goal when wearing
a pedometer is to walk 10,000 per day on most days of the
week and to constitute moderate physical. You get to keep
the pedometer for 3 weeks, along with a diary to track your
progress. During the first week, you do not change your routine
to see how many steps are averaged per day.
If the 10,000 steps per day are not
reached, then the second week you begin to find ways to add
steps to your day. By week three, you will be able to know
what changes are needed to maintain a moderately physically
active lifestyle. If you are trying to lose weight, it is
recommended to walk between 12,000-14,000 steps per day for
significant results.
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