Pedometer

[Spot's Meow]

I've never used a pedometer but I've noticed that a lot of people at my work have been getting them lately as some part of weight loss plan. It works great for some people but for others it doesn't record properly.

I have no idea how many steps I take in a day but I'm sure it is way less than you. I would like to walk more but my schedule does not allow it. I imagine this is the case for many people. I work in a big city but live about 15 miles away so I have to drive in. And my two jobs are on opposite sides of town so I have to take the bus for that. So really the only walking I get to do is to the bus stops (usually a couple of blocks) and across campus when I'm at school. And even with driving and taking the bus I barely make it to my destinations on time, so walking is out of the question because it just eats up too much time.

Also, maybe I have had bad shoes all my life or my feet are too bony or something, but my feet always start hurting after a few short blocks. I don't feel at all tired from walking except for my feet, and I have to sit down to rest them. This is one reason I hate shopping, my feet start hurting after the first store.

 

[Gertch]

For the past year or so I've organized our software development team to use our morning and afternoon breaks to walk around the building and parking lot. Takes the full 15 minutes usually. We were interested in how many steps so someone brought in a pedometer. About 300/lap. Not a huge amount but okay considering programmers who rarely even get up from their chairs. (Good team building exercise also.)

 

[sidious618]

Also, maybe I have had bad shoes all my life or my feet are too bony or something, but my feet always start hurting after a few short blocks. I don't feel at all tired from walking except for my feet, and I have to sit down to rest them. This is one reason I hate shopping, my feet start hurting after the first store.

You should see a foot doctor.

 

[jkladis]

I was so ready to take the test to see if I was a pedophile.

FYI, I'm sure I'm not.

Pretty sure.

Pedometer?

 

[sidious618]

Chris Hansen is always great for a laugh.

 

[Garrovick]

I walk two miles a day just to go to lunch. Some days 3.5 miles. That doesn't include walking to friends, shopping, yard work and just sight seeing. Like yesterday's eight mile round trip to the lake. I use a 36 inch stride, standing tall and straight and some stomach and arm iso metrics.. I walk for muscle toning and aerobics. I don't think weight loss is envoked with just walking. Even though it might burn off some of those calories from lunch.

 

[The Master of Tarquin Hill]

Also, you have to do like 15,000 steps per day to get any significant effect on health/weight.

That's not true. I lost quite a bit of weight by walking 3 and 1/2 miles a day. Got me from 220 to 180. Now I'm at 150 but that's by doing 3 miles of jogging a day plus crunches and push ups.

As a general rule- it is true.

YMMV

 

[IndyJones]

I don't think weight loss is envoked with just walking. Even though it might burn off some of those calories from lunch.

And how does one lose weight other than expending more calories than one takes in?

And surgery...

 

[RoJoHen]

I don't think weight loss is envoked with just walking. Even though it might burn off some of those calories from lunch.

And how does one lose weight other than expending more calories than one takes in?

And surgery...

It really depends more on how much you're used to walking. I work at a restaurant. I am constantly walking. Between going behind the bar to waiting on my tables to going in the kitchen and occasionally going next door to the hotel for room service, I probably walk about 5 miles a day inside the restaurant! I've been doing this for 3 years, so my body is used to it. It would take a lot more than walking a lot for me to lose weight.

That said, if you spend most of your day sitting at a desk, a couple extra miles of walking every day might be enough to burn the calories you need to lose weight.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

I was so ready to take the test to see if I was a pedophile.

FYI, I'm sure I'm not.

Pretty sure.

Pedometer?

You guys kid, but sadly, a few years ago, McDonald's was giving away pedometers as part of a program to improve their image after Super Size Me. They called it a "Stepometer," because they were afraid that people would get the wrong idea from "pedometer."