Gadgets To Help You Get Moving

Dr. Elizabeth Smoots wrote an article about using gadgets to help us get moving (The Herald: Tuesday, April 4, 2011).  In this particular instance she is talking about the lowly pedometer.  We all know what a pedometer is but the chances are pretty good that you don’t think it is sophisticated enough to do any good.

A pedometer is a tiny device that you can wear on your belt or waistband that records the movement of the hip with each step.  Over the course of the day it counts the number of steps that you take.  The thing that I have never been able to figure out is why two steps (one with the right and one with the left foot) is counted as one, seeing you wear the pedometer on one hip?  Can anyone help me out with this one?

Inactivity is killing us and is the third leading cause of death in the United States.  You would think that would scare more people but for some reason it does not.  Regardless of how long you plan to live, it is a fact that active people are healthier than those who are not.

The hope is that a simple gadget, like a pedometer, will motive people to move.  If you are actively doing something to improve your health you are, at the very least, making yourself more aware of activity level.  Researchers conclude, the author says, that wearing a pedometer is a simple and non-invasive way to signal you that you need to get moving. 

So, put on your pedometer and set it to zero.  You can forget that it is there, but by bedtime you will be able to tell whether you passed the test.  If you only took 5,000 steps you are quite sedentary.  For good health the CDC recommends setting your sights on doing 10,000 steps a day (that is really quite a lot and something to be proud of achieving).  Don’t give up if you find yourself at the lower end of that spectrum, but set a goal (a few steps more each day) and go for it.

It might help you get started if you think of this as a “walking program.”  Get the go ahead from your doctor. No, he/she is not going to tell you that exercise is bad for you, but getting that okay might serve as an incentive.   Next, determine your baseline but don’t let this discourage you.  The next step is to pick a personal goal (be sure it is something attainable) and go for it.  Keep a log and reward your accomplishments.

Think of a pedometer as incentive.  It won’t do anything for you per se, but it will provide motivation.  Most of us are very goal orientated, but often our goals are too lofty and impossible to achieve.  Although electronic gadgets are not necessary for walking, electronic monitoring devices such as step counters, pedometers, heart rate monitors etc. are helpful tools for goal setting and monitoring.

At the very least, when you put on a step counter you will get an idea of how active you are, probably less than you think.   The gadgets serve as reminders that maybe you should get your own cup of coffee or take the stairs instead of an elevator.  The good thing is they serve as a reminder as they hang from your belt, they aren’t a hassle, and they don’t require a big investment.  Pedometers range from very basic models to souped-up versions.  They all count steps, but some count calories, talk to you and monitor your pulse.

Comments

[Tom]

I can't sing the praises of pedometers highly enough, great bits of kit!

For any of you with smart phones out there, havea look at some of the fitness apps!

TOM

[Andy]

I bought an inexpensive pedometer and was disappointed, as it was not accurate. I signed up with a health coaching program through my employer; they provided a cheap pedometer that also did not provide good results. Perhaps a higher quality unit would give better results.

On advice from a colleague, a bought a Fitbit. This is a solid state pedometer (uses the same technology as a Wii controller). It accurately counts steps and wirelessly syncs to your computer and Fitbit.com. I am very pleased with this device, though it is expensive ($99).

I like that the device keeps me honest. There are days when I think I'm close to my 10,000 steps but the Fitbit tells me that I have only done half that; an extra evening walk is in order. The online community is also motivational; I'm currently participating in the Million Step Challenge. A group of us is attempting to walk 1,000,000 steps in 90 days.

I experimented with the Fitbit and noted that it counts every step, not just left foot or right. I suspect your results are due to using a lower quality pedometer like the ones I tried at first.