Pedometer - warning

[hypotenuse]

Did you know that if, by some stupid twist of fate (and panties), you happen to wear your pedometer UPSIDE DOWN, it ceases to function until you untwist your panties, thereby returning it to an upright position?

Just thought you might want to know this.



Lynne

[taurusmoon]

Lynne,

Who got your panties in a bunch?

Seriously, I don't think any of the pedometers work in anything but a completely upright position. I've learned that I can't wear them on the waistband of my slacks because they flop around too much.

Sara
Who thinks Lynne should start reading documentation.

[hypotenuse]

Who needs stinking documentation anyhow...

:taurus:

Well, I'm wearing shorts. With no pockets, so this, that, and the other, all got tucked into the waistband on occasion. Don't know when it turned, but turn over it did. Now what was going to be a fairly decent day (for me) has turned into a crying jag.

And I was cleaning! And packing! And hanging up freakin laundry!

Lynne - who knows she somehow logged 8000 steps during that time. She just KNOWS it.

[taurusmoon]

Oh Lynne.

We're going to have to get you a pair of suspenders to keep your underwear up.

Sara

[Social14]

I'v always wondered if these things really work. Anyone who can help me with that?
~Wendy

[taurusmoon]

Hi Wendy,

Boy have you come to the right place. We had an entire thread dedicated to pedometers a little while back. You can find it here . Of course, as is usual around here the thread did sort of veer off topic, but there's enough good stuff in there to help you.

After you read through it, consider joining our Steppers Club. We find it very motivating. Some of us are well, you might say a little obsessed with it. See the top thread in this forum for details.

Sara

[pluckyduck]

Originally posted by Social14
I'v always wondered if these things really work. Anyone who can help me with that?
~Wendy

Step into my parlor, said the spider to the fly.

Yes. My pedometer works. Works quite well.

I should know because I test it obsessively to make sure I'm getting credit for every last step I take.

Think of watching the steps on your pedometer go up as equaling the pleasure of watching hits on an Epinion....no pennies, just a little teensy calorie burned. :thumbs:

Andrea
wondering if she got the spider quote right...ah, you know what she means

[conradd]

Originally posted by pluckyduck
I should know because I test it obsessively to make sure I'm getting credit for every last step I take.

ROFL, I do this too!!

Walking through the mall unobtrusively check pedometer count off 100 steps unobtrusively check pedometer breath sigh of relief check second pedometer that serves as back up in case the first one isn't counting accurately realize that people are giving you strange looks and stop to check out a window display unobtrusively check pedometer . . . and I just know that my actions are being mirrored a continent away.

Deb
who may be obsessed but keeps good company

[Social14]

Thanks for all the information! I will have to look into this more...and get enough money together for this device (as a college student, that could take a little longer as this is the time of year when you pay your bill)
~Wendy

[pluckyduck]

Pedometer reminder -

After reading about Lynne's shock over a pedometer that didn't register because it was *upside down* , I thought I'd just shoot everybody a friendly reminder.

Your pedometer will only count every step if

1) You have it ON. Wear it. Put it on the second you get up. (Sounds like a Sara vitamin nag! Hey, I'm a Jewish mother, too.) The little stumbly steps in the AM, count, and they add up and make you feel better which makes you want to get more.

2) It is close to your body. Underwear is the best. Other waistbands work for me, as long as they are close, but I know this because I * test every morning * to make sure my particular garment works with the pedometer attached to it.

3) The pedometer is level. I've got a reflex where I check, maybe 100 times a day to make sure the pedometer is straight.

4) The pedometer is in the right place on your body. I use the "pants crease" position that is recommended by the Digi-walker instructions. Hey, I hate reading instructions more than you do, trust me, but read the little booklet that comes with your pedometer

5) Test the pedometer occasionally. Count out 50 steps and make sure the pedometer reads 50 steps. If it's not registering properly, and you can't figure out what to do, come here and tell us. Chances are somebody here can help you.

Why? Why care so much about what the pedometer registers or doesn't register? Why care about capturing every single step throughout the day?

Because it's encouraging! The average American steps 3000 to 5000 steps a day. When you have your first day that reads 10,000 steps, dammit, you're twice as "good" as the average American!

Does that really mean you are a jock? No! But it can change your thinking about yourself -- it did for me! I went out and bought "active" socks. Symbolic because now I, of all people, am an active person!

Andrea
who bought two more pair of active socks yesterday!

[Redlass]

Test the pedometer??

You mean, there's a chance it isn't doing it right?

[pluckyduck]

Originally posted by Redlass


You mean, there's a chance it isn't doing it right?

Absolutely!

My Digiwalker has been 100% accurate for me. Sara found, when she wore two (or was it three) pedometers, that her Digiwalker was coming up a thousand or more steps short. I don't remember how (or if) she solved the problem.

Check out the FAQ's on the Digiwalker site.

Here's an excerpt:

Where do I wear it? The usual place is on a belt or waistband about 4 or maybe 5 inches to the left or right of the belly button. You might think of this as the crease line of your pants. Make sure that it is level and not tilted one way or the other. The picture above should help you. Note: If you have excess abdominal fat, you might need to place it at the side of your hip. We're exploring some other alternatives to wearing it at the waist, so if this is of concern to you contact me at teresa@digiwalker.com or call 816-353-1721

The Digiwalker site, as a whole, is a great resource, even if you haven't bought their particular brand of pedometer.



Andrea
who doesn't trust anybody or anything until he, she or it proves trustworthy! :p

[taurusmoon]

The problem with the DigiWalker has been with incidental steps, i.e. lifestyle steps. Steps accumulated during serious activity are accounted for just fine with almost no variance between it and the Omron (which I've calibrated on a measured course).

What I do now is use the Omron for my daily counts and add the Digiwalker if I want a display I can check on less conspicuously during a walk. I feel a little self conscious stopping on the trail to look at my underwear whenever I want to gauge how far I've gone. The DigiWalker has proven to work well clipped to the waistpack I wear to carry my CD player.


Sara

[Redlass]

I'll have to set aside some time to test then.

You know what problem I've been having, though? My pedometer keeps falling off. It's fine during straight walks or normal usage, but once I get to rehearsal where I have to faint, fall down, tackle people, etc., it keeps falling off.

[taurusmoon]

Bridgette,

Rig up a leash for it. The SportBrain came with a very simple tether that was nothing more than a circular thread that you looped through the clip and onto the belt carrier of your slacks (picture a ponytail holder).

The DigiWalker comes with something a little more elegant, a similar strap tied to an alligator clip. You can attach the clip to your waistband (of either slacks or underwear) and never have to worry about the pedometer getting lost.

I'll see if I can locate a photo. If not, I'll take one myself tonight and post it so that you can try to copy it.

Sara

[conradd]

I've been looking for a little clippie-thing, ever since I borrowed your extra pedometer in Michigan, Sara. I've lost two pedometers so far.

I checked the digiwalker website, but they don't feature a pic of the security strap on any of the models . . . although there is a brag that it's their "smartest invention". Maybe true, but I'd rather retrofit one of my SportLine pedometers.

If anyone has an idea where to obtain a small clip that can be attached to an elastic string (the other end of the string is attached to the pedometer, please share. I'm going to both a fabric and a hardware store this afternoon, so I'll be looking too.

Deb

[taurusmoon]

Radio Shack.

Ask for alligator clips.

Sara

[sylvanb]

[i]Originally posted by hypotenuse

it ceases to function until you untwist your panties

Um, I have to admit I don't know anything about pedometers, so I am really confused. Does this work if you are wearing it clipped to something other than your panties?

I dunno, sounds like magic to me...I don't trust anything about this

[taurusmoon]

Originally posted by sylvanb


Does this work if you are wearing it clipped to something other than your panties?

Yes. In fact, I read about a nudist colony that clips them to garter belts.

Your mileage may vary.


Sara

[taurusmoon]

Okay folks, time for show and tell.

Here is the strap as attached to the unit:




And here it is as clipped to a waistband:




Digiwalker sells these on their site for $5. The catch? Shipping costs an additional $5. I imagine that you can rig something like this up for yourself for less.


Sara

[taurusmoon]

Bump for Bridgette


Sara