Understanding What A Pedometer Is

By Henry Calhoun

A pedometer is more commonly known as a step counter and this device basically counts and keeps track of the steps a person takes by detecting movements from the person's hip. This is a great tool that can help those concerned with their physical fitness.

As equipment for people who want to keep up with their exercise, pedometers are worn on the belt to be able to record the number of steps that a person did for a particular day. The distance traveled can also be calculated by multiplying the recorded number of steps by the average length of a person's step. Since walking is always advocated as a good form of exercise to lose weight and to stay fit, these step counters are good motivators to keep a person from doing his daily dose of healthy activity.

Although it is possible that a pedometer can mistake certain bodily movements to be a step, like bending down or shaking hips, it is still encouraging and can motivate people to walk some more for their fitness. By just taking 10,000 steps each day, which is equivalent to a five mile walk, a high level of fitness can be maintained.

Nowadays, certain electronic gadgets, such as mobile phones and mp3 players, have pedometers in them. Thus, one can stay fit while listening to the latest music or keeping in touch with family members and friends. Furthermore, global positioning systems can now play a role in noting down the number of steps one has taken through the accurate measurement of the distance one has covered within a certain period.

Pedometers do not really shed unwanted fat from you unlike the claims of some diet pills. They are merely devices that have numbers, and these digits are the very reason on why people can lose weight through these. This is because the numbers recorded can actually motivate people to beat today's record tomorrow, thus increasing their activity level. Not only do they motivate people to lose weight, but the exercise taken thanks to the desire to hit a higher number can actually lower a person's body mass index and blood pressure.

The first goal should be to manage at least 10,000 steps, a number that was recommended by both the United Kingdom Department of Health and United States Surgeon General. That number is roughly the same as taking a brisk thirty minute walk. This is not a fixed amount, though. It can be adjusted according to age, but in general that universal target is a good guideline and a good reason to get walking and counting steps.

Pedometers are not also capable of measuring the intensity of people's steps. They cannot distinguish a light stroll from a time-beating dash. This can be addressed by chunking a number of steps for a certain period, like a thousand steps within ten minutes.

Confucius once said that a journey of thousand miles begins with a single step and this is so true. Staying healthy on the journey of life means to start by being healthy and pedometers can be a great aid in achieving the goal of a healthy way of life. - 30553

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