How does a pedometer work, and how will it help me with my walking program?

--nylady6

Do you have any idea how many steps you take in a day? Most of us have no clue, but there's good reason to find out. According to some estimates, if you walked an extra 2,000 steps a day, you wouldn't gain any weight. Some research even shows that walking an additional 10,000 steps a day could be just as effective for losing weight as a formal exercise program.

Of course, it would be mighty distracting to go around counting your steps all day long. ("Wait, was I on 842 or 843?") That's where a pedometer -- a cell-phone-sized device that you clip onto your waistband -- comes in handy.

To use a pedometer, you first measure your average stride length and program it into the instrument, which then registers every step you take by ticking off each time your hip moves. For most people, a mile of walking is equivalent to 2,000 to 2,500 steps. So ten thousand steps roughly equal around four to five miles, depending on your particular stride.

Wearing a pedometer doesn't just make you aware of how many steps you're taking. It can also inspire you to become more active. You get credit for every step you take -- to your boss's office, to the ATM, around the supermarket and through the playground. Even the few steps you take from the living room to the kitchen contribute to your daily total. As the numbers mount, you may find yourself hopping off the bus a stop or two early or parking at the far end of the lot just to rack up some extra steps.

Almost all pedometers are quite reliable, even the inexpensive models, so purchasing one doesn?t have to break the bank. If you want to spend a little more, some models also estimate the number of calories you burn. Unfortunately, the calorie burn information won't be especially accurate, since there are so many factors involved that the gizmo can't account for. Still, for a rough idea of what you're burning, a pedometer can be a useful and motivating tool.