How To Use A Pedometer
If you’re a fitness buff, one of the most important you must own is a pedometer. Also called a Tomish-meter or step counter, this portable electromechanical or electronic device works by counting every step a person takes by detecting hip motion. Pedometers are used by physical fitness enthusiasts and sportsmen originally, but now this handy device is a popular motivator and exercise measurer. If you want to own a pedometer, you must first know how to use it properly.
Choosing A Pedometer
Pedometers are just like other gadgets: they can come in different varieties, brands and sizes. They cost between $12 to $30, depending on their additional functions, and “bells and whistles”. If you want a discreet kind, you can get one that’s only as large as a 50-cent piece. If you want one with more advanced functions, you can get one that looks like a pager.
Pick a pedometer depending on how you’re planning to use it. If you only want to track how many steps you’ve taken, you should prefer the simple and smaller kind, but if you want one with more additional functions, opt for a fancier model. These digital pedometer models can even tell you the amount of calories you burned and how far yuo’ve walked. They’re more expensive, though.
How To Wear It
Attach the pedometer to your waistband, about halfway between your bellybutton and your side. Fix it to the waistband of your pants, firmly. If it’s inline with your knee, that’s good. Make sure the pedometer is always in a horizontal position, and parallel towards the ground.
To make sure the pedometer is in the right place, reset it to 0, then count off 25 steps manually. Check your pedometer. The number should show no fewer than 24 steps, and no more than 26. If it’s further off those numbers, move it to the right or left, then retry the test. The result should more accurately reflect the actual number of steps.
Determining How Far You’ve Walked
This is a good approximation you can use for your pedometer: 1,000 steps = 1/2 mile. This means, 2,000 steps is one mile, 4,000 steps is two miles and 10,000 steps is 5 miles.
A good idea to know if your pedometer is accurate is by walking around your local walking track. Most tracks have signs that indicate how many times around it equals a mile. Mark your starting or stopping point, then reset your pedometer to 0 before you begin walking.
Using Your Pedometer
First, you must set a goal for yourself, which you have to reach. When this goal is achieved, you should raise it again.
Set the length of your step. Find the button that shows how many miles you’ve walked. Most pedometers have a “30 inches” default setting. Reset this, until you get the length of your step.
Clip the pedometer onto your pants’ waistband firmly.
Start walking. Walk throughout the day. Go for a walk or a sprint. At the end of the day, check the pedometer. Most people should get at least 10,000 steps a day, but if you only did 5,000 to 7,000 that’s also fine.
Repeat the steps the following day, but this time, the goal should be higher.
Additional Pedometer Tips
Make it a habit to wear your pedometer daily. Keep a log of the number of steps you take everyday, for a week or two.
Try not to jump with your pedometer on, since this gives you an inaccurate reading. If you must do jumping exercises, take off your pedometer first.
Don’t allow other people to touch your pedometer. They can accidentally reset the mechanism when you’re not looking.
Don’t drop the gadget. It will break easily, especially if you bought an inexpensive kind.
If you’ve only started wear the pedometer, and you only use it when exercising, 3,000 is a good number to start with.
Pedometers only work great if you know how to use them properly. Whether you’re using this gadget for your workout or just to keep track of the calories you burn, remember the tips above. Put your pedometer to good use, and your body will certainly reap the benefits.