The pedometer is one of those little gadgets that you may come across and wonder what is the point of using one. They can actually come in handy for people looking to start exercising again by doing something basic such as walking. There are several benefits to using a pedometer.
Easy to use - Most pedometers are small and easy to use. You clip them onto your hip and you're set.
Makes walking a challenge - If you set a daily goal of how many steps you want to take, you can use a pedometer to track how close you are to reaching it. This makes walking more of a challenge as you try to meet your goal.
Affordable and useful - Most of them are fairly low-cost but even the higher end ones range around $40. The more expensive ones can calculate calories, miles, and typically have a clock. Other features can include a stopwatch, pulse check, and speed.
To get the most advantage of a pedometer, you should keep a written log of your progress and try to improve over time. Use them everywhere you walk including work and shopping. The average steps per day that I've been coming across is 10,000. 10,000 steps per day is said to burn 20% of your caloric intake from the day so it is a good goal to work with.
Now that the new year has begun (happy new year by the way!) many people will begin their fitness resolutions by figuring out a way to exercise again. When I found myself in that same position years ago, I started working out again using a treadmill. I didn't spend a fortune on one. You can find a good cheap treadmill in your local paper, Penny Saver, Craigslist, garage sales, etc. Fortunately, not only is it a good cardio machine, it is probably also one of the least used after people purchase them so they end up selling them just to make space.
That makes it a bargain for you because you can find good deals on a cheap treadmill instead of buying them brand new at a sporting goods store. I no longer have a treadmill anymore because I eventually joined a gym and used their machines. However, I still feel having one is a benefit if you want to get back into fitness.
Benefits of Owning a Treadmill
Convenience - You can jump on any time of day and get a workout. Put on your headphones or position one in front of a television and you can walk or run for 45 minutes without even noticing the time pass.
Walking is good - You don't have to necessarily use a treadmill to run on. Walking is a very good way to get exercise in. It's low impact and it's a natural movement. You can walk fast or slow by setting the pace on the machine.
Low risk of injury - If you walk at your own pace, there is a very low risk of actually injuring yourself while you're exercising.
Saves time and is efficient - You can walk for 30 minutes or try an interval workout (walking/sprinting) and get a great cardio workout in a small amount of time.
Having a treadmill got me back into fitness. First I started out using it at home but then I wanted to use more equipment so I joined a gym. From there I made exercise a part of my routine. Even though I no longer own one, I wouldn't mind finding another cheap treadmill to have it as a convenient option at home.
