Realize these benefits of walking and taking more steps by wearing a pedometer on a daily basis. Clip on your walking pedometer and start reaping the rewards.
The Pedometer: A Simple, Personal Trainer
Wearing a pedometer is one of the easiest things, anyone can do. Tracking steps walked throughout the day can be insightful and help you make healthier choices. When aiming for a step total goal for each day, pedometers can help keep track of steps walked and how many more are needed to reach the goal. It is a simple, personal trainer, pushing you to reach your fitness or weight loss goal.
Pedometers range from $2 to $40 and more for those with more advanced features. $10 can get you a good mid-priced pedometer with calculations for calories burned, total miles, steps total and a clock. You can find a pedometer online or in department and sporting goods stores. Clip it on and enjoy the benefits.
- Realize how much you walk during the day, at work. Even sedentary jobs can involve some movement. When wearing a pedometer, you can see how much activity your job does entail. If you see that the number of steps you are taking at work is low, try walking during breaks or lunchtime. Take the longest route to check the mail, use the restroom or visit another office. Volunteer to run errands. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Walk around the building when the weather is clear. Take this time to check out what is going on at your workplace, and meet new people. At home, you will see how many steps are involved while during household chores, like vacuuming, washing clothes or even washing dishes. All of those trips back and forth to the washer and dryer add up.
- Make the 10,000-step minimum by starting your day with a walk. Take the dog on an early morning walk or just walk around your home or neighborhood. By beginning your day with a walk, even a short one, it will make your day more positive and you’ll feel less pressure to meet your step total for that day. Do the same at night to reach your step total or go above and beyond. When you think you’re done walking for the day, take just a few more minutes and do some more! You’ll be amazed at how easy it is and how good you will feel.
- Wearing a pedometer helps you make “greener” choices. Making the effort to walk more during the day will result in more people walking to work, walking to do errands or walking to the store. Walking will become the preferred method of transportation. Driving a car won't rack up any steps for the day! A study conducted by the New England Journal of Medicine stated that walking five city blocks per day reduces the risk of heart disease. Up that amount to two miles per day and your chance of heart attack is reduced by 28% or more.
Copyright Aurae Beidler. Contact the author to obtain permission for republication.
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