What is a pedometer and why should you buy one? How important is it and what are the benefits that you can get from it? Simply put, a pedometer is a device that counts the number of steps that you take throughout the day. It can be worn as a watch or on a clip attached to your hip. The device can also calculate the length of your stride and uses this information to estimate the total distance that you have walked in a day. The Omron digital pedometer is a good example of such a device.
One Omron model that you may find extremely useful and convenient to use is the HJ 112. This unit is so small that you can carry it in your pocket or purse. You don’t even have to keep checking it throughout the day. You can get started on your fitness efforts simply by going through the day as you normally would and then take note of the information on your pedometer at the end of the day. Check how many steps you took and how far you traveled for that day. If your results indicate that you need to increase your level of activity in order to keep fit, try to come up with ways of doing so without having to disrupt your normal routine.
Now, you might wonder how counting your steps and taking note of the distance that you travel each day will help in improving your overall fitness and health. The value of this activity lies in the fact that the amount of physical activity that you have in the course of a day is directly related to the number of calories that you burn, and the amount of calories you burn also has a direct relationship to the amount of excess weight that you lose. The Omron digital pedometer even goes beyond the basic functions of counting steps and calculating distance traveled. It also tells you exactly how many calories you have burned during the day.
A good way of taking advantage of the information you get from a pedometer is to get into some sort of competition with yourself. Each day, try to beat the record that you have set on the previous day and try to be more creative in finding ways to increase physical activity. You could start taking the stairs instead of the elevator or walking to the grocery store rather than taking your car. You could also park your car a little farther away from your workplace than usual so that you’ll have to walk a bit.
Whatever type of physical activity you decide to indulge in just to beat your personal record, you are sure to have fun in discovering new ways of increasing the number of steps that you take each day. Leading a more active lifestyle with the help of an Omron digital pedometer will definitely ensure that you burn those extra calories that would otherwise just get stored as fat. Weigh yourself after a month and you will be surprised at how much weight you’ve actually lost. Without even changing your normal routine, you can literally walk your way to better fitness and health.