Using Pedometers to Increase Physical Activity

Pedometers always seemed like a trendy thing for people to use… they don’t actually do anything, right???

Actually, Pedometers do many things.

Pedometers are Motivational

Pedometers track how far you walk, so using a pedometer help show you what you need to increase your physical activity. Studies show people are supposed to take 10,000 steps per day, so using a pedometer shows you if you ht that (or not), and when your most active times a day are. Many provide online accounts to track your steps indefinitely and even send motivational reminders when you’re getting close to your goal.

Pedometers Get You Involved in Your Activity

Many pedometer manufacturers also provide communities where you can find friends and groups to walk with, compete with, and in general not feel alone in this quest for more steps.

Wii Fit U provides communities as well, and the Miiverse where you can  post updates and congregate with other gamers.

The Wii U Fit Meter syncs with the Wii Fit U game which uses your steps to track calories spent daily, activity per hour, and distance and height for use in Fit Challenges! (Hint – you can have multiple profiles in Wii Fit U so friends and family can all join in and compete!)

The Fitbit Zip I have used for over a year now.

The Fitbit Flex Wristband can be worn day and night and tracks sleeping habits as well!

Of course, your smartphone is also a Pedometer! Just install an app like MyTracks to map out your walk!

What using a Pedomter really does is first it gives you a baseline for what your current activity is

Next Steps:

1. Find the Pedometer that’s right for you – do you want to sync it with a game like Wii Fit U? Do you like the features of one website over another? Do you want to wear it around your wrist so you don’t lose it? Do any of your friends already have one?
2. Let it track your steps for a while to get a baseline of your normal routine (like a week)
3. Look at your history and figure out where you are really inactive. I found that on the weekends I get up in the morning, and then I don’t move from my computer for like two hours. Yikes! So I started getting up every now and then to do a lap around the house which helped a lot.
4. Find other ways to incorporate more steps –

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