Understanding Pedometers for Dummies

[magenta321]

Hmm. Well, I put my new pedometer on around five pm. I went for a walk, at dinner, took a few creative steps around the house and felt completely burnt out. Now mind you, I had already had my normal day, plus I went to the mall for 2.5 hours, and then I came home and excercised, something I never do. So I crashed -- hard. I took a nice nap for like two hours. Anyway, when I woke up, I took some more creative steps, and looked down at the old ped. I had stepped nearly 2000 steps since I put it on at five, and burnt 61 calories. Now, if in the time I wore my pedometer, I did 1/5th of my daily walking goal, shouldn't I have burnt 1/5th of my total daily calories that I should burn? So if I should be eating like 1000 cals, shouldn't I have burned around 200 calories? Hoping some of you stepping gurus will know.

OHMIGOD! I just looked down at my pedometer to see how much creative stepping I got in since I logged onto the computer only to find out it had reset itself!!!! I think I rested the laptop right on the reset button when I finally sat down! I could scream! Do you all do this sometimes?

This pedometer thing isn't making me feel as wonderful as I hoped. I am a little discouraged already. I am don't seem to be burning any calories (I would imagine I burn 60 calories in my sleep!) and it will be hard not to hit the gigantic reset button on this thing. Ho-hum.

[taurusmoon]

Don't even attempt to monitor calorie consumption through the use of a pedometer.

The pedometer only measures motion. It does not factor in intensity of exercise nor do most models consider your body weight.

Calorie consumption is very specific to each activity and the amount of energy expended is dependent on your weight. You could tap your toes or run up a mountain. Your pedometer doesn't know the difference. You might weigh 90 pounds or 400. Unless you specifically input that info, the pedometer has no way of knowing that and cannot accurately estimate your calorie expenditure.

If you really want to track calorie data try using fitday.com and input actual exercise data. Used in conjunction with your pedometer to measure distances, and a stopwatch to calculate your pace, the software on fitday should give you a more reasonable idea of where you stand calorically than what you're getting from your pedometer.


Sara

[AmyLEnsor]

If you want a general idea of how many calories you are burning, there are various calculators out there. Here is one:
http://thriveonline.oxygen.com/fitness/caloriecounter/

My treadmill tells me how many I burn (based on the weight I input) and while I keep track of it for comparison reasons, I've heard that those the machines calculations are just not very accurate.

One thing I read awhile ago was that studies showed that you actually burned more calories while walking than running (keeping your heart rate in the target zone as opposed to letting it go over). However another study showed that when you did the more strenuous exercise, your body continued to burn fat for a much longer time and you ended up burning more fat in the long run. It has to dip into the fat stores and replenish the glycogen stores. So this article was advising interval training where you do some strenuous exercise combined with slower intervals. So I think things like heart rate matter too for calorie burning and you can continue to burn even when you are at rest, depending on what you have done during the day.

[magenta321]

It has to dip into the fat stores and replenish the glycogen stores. So this article was advising interval training where you do some strenuous exercise combined with slower intervals. So I think things like heart rate matter too for calorie burning and you can continue to burn even when you are at rest, depending on what you have done during the day.

I read something regarding that tonight also. They suggested starting your walk first thing in the morning, before you've eaten anything. Then your stomach is empty, and your body has to dip into that stored fat.

Sounds like a good idea, but I can't seem to do anything in the morning -- even pee, without knowing my breakfast is in the toaster or microwave, and will be ready momentarily. I usually wake up feeling starved, despite my awful midnight snacks. I think my hunger pains are psychosomatic, but they are very annoying

[pluckyduck]

Honestly, I don't believe anything about specific calories burnt in relation to any exercise, other than believing that it takes more calories to chew celery than celery contains.

There are just too many variables and what the heck is a calorie anyway? (No, Lynne, resident scientist, I don't really need the definition of a calorie. )

The best diet and exercise plan to start with is to put less bad stuff in and put more activity out. Note, a slightly better defined diet plan and more measurable diet plan is recommended since my non measurable "less bad stuff" hasn't translated into much weight loss for me.

Margaret, no one here is going to tell you that stepping is going to lead to significant weight loss. Just like the cereal commercials that tell you the cereal is an "important part of a complete breakfast"...physical activity is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. Stepping is a fantabulouso way to increase your physical activity and have fun at the same time.

It won't make pounds melt off of you.

It can

* increase your self esteem as you see your numbers go up

* help shift your focus from the non healthy activities that might have been occupying your time

* and even lead you on to other activities that help shape your body or your mind.

Relax, have some fun, but don't look at that stupid calorie button.

Andrea

[cyndilouwhoo]

I read something regarding that tonight also. They suggested starting your walk first thing in the morning, before you've eaten anything. Then your stomach is empty, and your body has to dip into that stored fat.

I would go off topic for a moment to debunk this (hope it makes you feel better too Margaret)

Nutritionally it is very important to "break your fast" (get it? Breakfast? ) before starting to exercise.

Why, you ask?

Because you need to kick start your metabolism before getting rolling for the day. Eating in the morning "jump starts" your body into action. You are much more likely to burn fat if you have a little something to eat before going out on your morning walk.

Choose high fiber stuff--like whole wheat toast or Total Cereal; Wheaties are excellent too--ask Andrea . Chase it with a glass of juice and you will be good to go all morning.

Think of eating breakfast as "priming the pump".

OK, I now return you to your regularly scheduled thread.

Cyndi

Who notes that breakfast is your most important meal of the day.