A
pedometer counts your steps by sensing your movement -I find it really handy when
walking; freeing me up to really enjoy my walk, look at trees, listen to music…
simply not being bugged by how many steps I am taking.
I
bought my first pedometer about 3 years ago; it was a waste of money. It was
really fragile and annoyingly difficult and complicated to use. Suffice it to
say I learnt what I wanted in a pedometer. Advertised bells and whistles do not
mean the pedometer will be efficient.
So,
when buying your walking partner, what do you look for?
By
far the most important feature is the simple
steps counter – this counts steps you have taken in the course of your
walk. I find those that calculate steps per minute really redundant (for me) –
as I want to see the actually tally per time.
An
inbuilt clock and alarm system is a
handy tool in your pedometer. I find it handy on weekend walks when I tend to
wander off. I don’t wear a watch, so to know the time I just look down at my
waist (where my Pedometer is strapped) and I know. For the alarm, this is what
wakes me up reminding me to get my big behind off my bed and work out! Comes in
handy especially when I am away from home and don’t have access to my regular
alarm clock.
This
is actually where I stop. As long as the pedometer has these two systems and
they are easy to use and access I AM FINE. I am not an overly technologically
savvy, and like to keep it simple.
However,
there are other things a nifty pedometer could do for you. It’s all a matter of
what you want and how much you are willing to spend. Some pedometers can:
·
Calculate body fat
·
Calculate distance walked (in your
specified matric – miles or kilometers)
·
Sync with computers to allow users
upload and track progress
·
Calculate your heart rate while you
are on the move.
·
Double as a stop watch, if you want
to time your walks/runs
I
personally don’t think you need to break the bank to get an excellent and
durable walking partner; if you have a plan on what you want from your walks as
well as what you need/want to track I am sure you will not end up like me
spending tons of money for something I ended up chucking away.
And
while we are on the subject, allow me share (again) the amazing infographic
(smile) on steps…
Don’t be shy… share
DROPIT4LIFE on Facebook, Twitter & LinkedIn!
Don’t forget, you can get
weekly updates sent straight to your email if you type in your email address in
the space provided on the right, and click ‘submit’!
Don’t forget to check your
email and activate your
subscription!
