If you have arrived looking for one of the best pedometers on the market, we urge you to strongly consider the Accusplit AE170, which includes step counting technology licensed from Yamax. This has been consistently found to be the most accurate in studies and by reviewers.
If you are looking for a great fitness walking program, we urge you to start by checking out Drs. Roizen and Oz's You On A Walk audio program. You can listen while you are taking your thirty minute after dinner walk, and get the information and motivation you need to start a program of walking for health and weight loss purposes. If you haven't read You Staying Young, we highly recommend that as an overview of healthy lifestyle choices.
If you have arrived looking for a more rigirous fitness walking program, we have something for you. Nordic walking is a sport that uses modified ski poles to increase the fitness benefits of walking. It started as training for off season competitive Olympic cross country skiiers. Using ski poles allows you to walk with a more powerful stride, and for those with hip and knee arthritis, possibly less pain.
Ten million people around the world practice this past-time, to achieve their ten thousand steps per day. It started in Finland, and has spread through Northern Europe before starting to make it's way to other countries. Nordic walking can be practiced year round, and is said to burn more calories than walking without poles. It has become especially popular on American hiking trails among fitness enthusiasts.
Nordic walking uses shorter poles than are used for Nordic skiing, and the poles themselves are often made of lightweight aluminum or carbon, with a rubber tip. This isn't your father's walking stick, or alpenstock for that matter.
If Nordic walking sounds interesting to you, check out David Downer's Nordic Walking Step By Step program, which teaches the technique, how to pick equipment, and how to set up a program for yourself. For those of us who walk with our dogs, he includes a chapter on how to bring your dog along on your treks and hikes. It sells for $12.95, and you can choose to download it rather than have it sent to your home.
Don't forget that the best pedometers work well with Nordic Walking, and you can add this vigirous exercise to your total steps for the day, making sure you have an adequate activity level.
