Pedometers,

don't step out without one.

Pedometers or a Step Counters is really a very simple devise that clips onto the belt. If you don't have a belt and you can't clip it to your waist band then try and clip it to your trousers or skirt.

Recently Stanford Medical School undertook the opportunity to analyze the success and progress of using one.

The researchers found this tool actually helps increase how much people walk.

Those involved in this study analyzed closely 26 different studies done over the years involving 2,767 people.

The results they found were quite simple.

Those who used a pedometer to create and track their walking goals walked at least 2,000 more steps than those who did not use one when walking towards a specific health goal.

The result is a simple testimony to the fact that using one can greatly affect your health for the good.

Go buy one! in fact they can be so cheap that in some instances you can even get a basic one for free.

Different pedometer manufacturers use differing methods to detect this motion.

The most basic and cheapest and sometimes they are FREE with a kids meal or given away with a breakfast cereal, use a simple ball bearing that rolls around in its case and as it moves from one side to the other it completes an electrical circuit which in turns send a signal to the on-board calculator and displays the number of steps taken.

This is the case with a simple step counter. The more sophisticated varieties of step counters or pedometer are not actually fitted around the waist but worn on the wrist.

This unit utilizes GPS satellites to track your movements. ( Who would have thought that the original 'Navistar' system used to keep the 'Star Wars' I.C.B.Missiles locked onto Russian Cities as they were moved around the States would one day be used to track individual personnel as they walked for pleasure?)

But have no fear no none is tracking you.

This devise is used solely for your own use and only you know where you have been but the beauty of these devices is that they will not only count your steps but they will display,

* Speed

* Distance

* Pace

*Time

* Chart your route as you walk or run and

* Point you back to your starting point

All this as well as acting as a virtual partner as you are alerted with a pace signal. When you have finished you can download all the data to a computer.

Pretty impressive

Pedometers will in addition count the estimated calories burned during your trip and include a clock, stopwatch and elapsed time and give a readout in either steps taken or distance covered.So give some thought to what you want, how serious you are in pursuit of your new 'happy pill' and how much you can afford.

If you are in any way concerned with your heart you might also want to consider wearing a Heart Monitor

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