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Counting every step you take.

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Counting every step you take

Walking is the simplest form of exercise, and using a pedometer is a good way to get yourself to do it.

Almost everyone needs to get more exercise, and walking more may *be the easiest way to do it. You don't need lessons. Equipment? A good pair of shoes is about all that's required. Arthritic knees and hips certainly make it harder, but not impossible if you start gradually and wear shoes with plenty of cushioning. Official exercise guidelines say adults should get two-and-a-half hours of moderate-intensity exercise a week, and walking at a pace of 3 mph * a good clip but manageable by most * counts as moderate-intensity exercise.

But knowing all this doesn't necessarily make us walk more. Some exercise researchers say we're naturally sedentary creatures, evolved to be couch potatoes long before there were couches (or potatoes). Inactivity is often reinforced by living circumstances. There's been a lot of research lately into the health effects of "built environments," and studies have shown that people who live in suburbs and depend on cars to get around get less exercise than those who live in places with sidewalks and nearby shops.

Try a pedometer

If you're in a nonwalking inactivity rut, wearing a pedometer might be one of the least expensive and most effective ways to climb out of it. Compared with today's smart phones and iPods, pedometers are humble little devices that count the number of steps you take. More elaborate models tell the time, calculate how many calories you've burned (based on your weight), and keep daily step tallies over an entire week.

Research has shown that pedometers are...

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