Put on Your Pedometer and Start Walking

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It's summertime and the living is supposed to be easy. It's a great time to start walking. Did you know that 2000 steps = 1 mile? If you don't have a pedometer, invest in one. It doesn't have to be fancy or expensive but I would advise one with an extra clip or strap. One of my friends had her pedometer clipped to her waistband and when she went to the restroom it came unclipped from her pants and fell into the toilet. The extra clip/strap would have saved it. Check out sporting goods stores, stores such as Target, or go online to digiwalker.com or accusplit.com.

Here's a tip to get an extra benefit from your walk. Slowly increase the number of steps you walk each day and gradually build up to at least 10,000 or 5 miles. Remember, this number includes every step you take so be sure and wear your pedometer. Add intervals to keep down the boredom factor. Intervals are also a great way to give your metabolism and calorie burn an extra push. Here's what you do. After you warm up and walk for a few minutes, add an interval or increase your intensity to where you push yourself hard for about two minutes. In other words, walk fast so that after two minutes you are ready to slow down again. Then recover to your usual pace. Do this several times during your walk.

Set up a walking schedule with friends to keep each other accountable and to make it fun.