On walking and pedometers......

Avatar for coldfingers
Community Leader
Registered: 04-30-2000
On walking and pedometers......
6
Fri, 08-20-2004 - 11:51am

Mary Frances started a poll on how many steps we take.  She also talked about pedometers.  I have been wearing one for serveral months now.  If you have not thought about one I want to share some of my thoughts and experiences. 


I first started wearing mine when I went for a walk.Walking  That was the only time.  It was suggested that I put it on when I get up and wear it till I go to bed.  I wasn't sure I saw the point....   Winky 2   But thought ok..... Well, I have learned a lot by wearing it.  Even on the days I 'think' I do a lot, (but don't walk....)  I don't usually have that many steps.  We all know that as diabetics we are supposed to be excercising.  I am NOT an excercising person.  I would really rather not!  Blushy 2  But there is something about wearing a pedometer that encourages me to go farther.  I guess I get 'greedy'!!  I want more steps.  I love seeing 10,000 steps at the end of the day!!!  And I have often!  I usually do a minimum of 5000.  Walking is an excercise that can be done about anywhere.... around the block, the local park, a mall Winky 2  Yep  Shopping 2  counts.  Many super Walmarts even have walking paths and a place to record how far you go..... I know ours does!!!  Believe it or not, every step counts!!!  AND on the days I forgot to wear it.... I was not as compelled to do those extra steps.  With out the pedometer, there is no 'proof' how little I really did move... 


I found an article/answer to a question...  here at iVillage that explains some of this....   http://www.ivillage.com/diet/experts/fitfriday/qas/0,,253495_634965,00.html  It is by.....  


 


Liz Neporent, M.A.

Liz Neporent, our Fit by Friday fitness guru, holds a master's degree in exercise physiology. Along with Suzanne Schlosberg, she co-authored Fitness for Dummies and Weight Training for Dummies. She also co-wrote Buns of Steel, Fitness Walking for Dummies and The Ultimate Body: 10 Perfect Workouts for Women.


 You can get pedometers about anywhere.  Sporting goods stores, discount places like Walmart and Target have them as well.  They come in difrerent price ranges with different bells and whistles.  ( I would suggest that you get one that does NOT shut off when you stop moving.... You want to keep track of every step all day long)  They also come in all price ranges.... from about $4 to into the $100's!!!  Mine came from a sporting goods store.  It had  a retail of about $28 and I paid around $20.  Mine also has a 'leash'.....  after loosing mine....  I understand why a leash is a good thing!  I have also found that with the leash I can keep it in the spot where it will register correctly.  (if they are not in the proper spot or move they can not count right)


If you have any questions about walking or using a pedometer... please ask!  I will try to answer or help you find one!!! 


Walking with a pedometer.... it's a GOOD thing!!!  Walking 2 

     Cheryl


     


 Carbs are NOT my friend!!!    Crying Into Tissue 

Photobucket
Avatar for cl_maryfrances40
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Sat, 08-21-2004 - 12:13am

Hi Cheryl,


Like you I have learned a lot about my "exercise". I thought I was getting in a lot of steps walking around my house when doing thing at home. Wrong! 500 isn't a lot of steps---all day! I forgot I had the pedometer on when I went to see the dietitian this week. She sure was impressed. Now I am supposed to write down how many steps as well as what I am eating! Ultimately I would like to hit the 10,000 mark but I haven't made 5,000 yet so that is my intermediary goal. I realize that you need to make sure you put the pedometer on over your hip bone for it to register all your steps. I tried clipping it to my pocket and I got no-where.


Congratulations on making the 10,000 steps. You get a Gold Medal also!

Mary Frances


cl-maryfrances40

Co-CL Diabetes Board


Avatar for cl_d_minnick
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Sat, 08-21-2004 - 3:00am

Thank you Cheryl for sharing that information with us all. I really want to get myself one since I am always so curious to know how many steps I take for real, but have a tough time deciding what ones are good or bad. So maybe you can help me in that department since you know what to look for in the way of features. I know I should have one to help me keep track of my steps better. I've wanted one for a while, but just seem to look and have no idea of what one or what features I need.


Congratulations to you on your 10,000 steps, which Mary Frances is so right with your deserving a big "Gold Medal" for doing so well with your walking. So keep doing it since it is working out well for you. Take care and have a great weekend!

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
Avatar for coldfingers
Community Leader
Registered: 04-30-2000
Sat, 08-21-2004 - 9:33am

Mary Frances I need to ask if you have checked to see if it is actually registering accurately... ok, well, close!

Photobucket
Avatar for coldfingers
Community Leader
Registered: 04-30-2000
Sat, 08-21-2004 - 9:49am

Denise, pedometers come in such wide ranges as you must know if you have been looking at them at all!

Photobucket
Avatar for cl_d_minnick
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Sun, 08-22-2004 - 3:02am

Thank you Cheryl for sharing that with me. I shall have to see if I can even find one like yours or not where I live. I know that I do not want one that shuts off when you stop moving since that does not at all help keep track of all the steps we take every day. Good thing you posted to Mary Frances about how to wear one and place it to keep it working accurately since I was going to ask you those very same questions since I've heard if they are not in the correct position or placed in a good spot they do not keep an accurate count of your steps, which I would prefer mine to be accurate.


Boy I should have had one today since we went to the mall to shop and made our rounds all the way around both floors, but I have no idea how many steps I even took and I know it was a lot since we also went from there to Toys R Us o look for something for a special toy for each of our boys. Lets just say I went around 2 times and even had to

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-22-2004
Sun, 08-22-2004 - 9:15am
Congratulations - I haven't made 10,000 yet, but I thought I'd share my story. Following breast cancer I put on a heap of weight and was very tired and unfit. Some-one jokingly said - get a dog. Because I work from home and am on the computer for a lot of hours, I told myself - nah - I don't have time to walk a dog! Then I realised what a stupid thing I had just said! So I got myself a gorgeous Beagle dog. Now I am 'forced' to take him for a walk or suffer from longing looks and devastated garden beds. I am lucky enough to live close to a beach where he can romp and I've found that a walk to the beach and back is 4,000 steps. Now that spring is about to arrive in Australia I hope to manage it twice a day. I am slowly getting stronger and Google is a great companion. On a more serious note, I do get a lot of leg pain from lactic acid - is this common in diabetics?