For busy people counting pedometer steps may be the best way to exercise and target walking for weight loss. The main reason for this is that when wearing a pedometer the process of exercising is automated. Each step taken is counted and once having established your base rate then to lose weight simply add extra steps into your daily routine.
As the aim is to increase the number of pedometer steps done daily over time small increases of up to 2,000 steps a day are required. For example if currently achieving 8,000 pedometer steps walking normally, now aim for 9,600 steps daily. Most times this will requires some sort of trial and error to determine how best to do this.
When I first started I was doing around 6,000 steps daily. My next goal was to move up to 8,000 pedometer steps daily. (I emphasise pedometer steps because other activity may be done which doesn’t register.)
Then I moved up to making 10,000 the daily target. At this stage I found that one of the best ways to ensure the total for daily pedometer steps was to take a dedicated walk.
Doing walking for weight loss has significant impact on the total pedometer steps and is one of my favourite ways to increase daily steps but it is of more benefit than that. The feel good factor from a long walk is to be enjoyed and over time this can become a form of stress relief or meditation.
As mentioned this is a method which counts pedometer steps and certain activities do not register correctly and will not be counted successfully. Initially this meant I did not do those things but over time as I gradually became more aware of how to get the best results with counting pedometer steps, weights, running, dancing, etc. are fun again.
Used consistently you will find the best way to make counting pedometer steps work for you. Weight loss is helped when counting calories as well. To make this easier, when you start simply eat the same. Then start cutting down around 100 calories daily as you increase your exercise. This could be one cappuccino, for instance. Each time your pedometer steps target increases to the next level, cut another 100 calories out.
Small Ways To Increase Pedometer Steps:
1. Walk once around the mall before eating or drinking.
2. Park further away from your destination than usual and walk to it.
3. Take several trips back to the car with groceries and other shopping instead of piling all purchases from different shops into a trolley.
4. Put away laundry or toys one at a time.
5. Choose the newspaper stand further away to buy magazines etc.
