Using your Pedometer

A pedometer counts the number of steps you take. You should wear a pedometer to help monitor your level of daily physical activity. You can wear the pedometer all day, putting it on when you first get up and record your steps at the end of the day.

Attach the pedometer to your belt or waistband right above your kneecap or about halfway between your side and middle of your body. Take care in attaching and removing the pedometer to prevent the clip from wearing out and breaking. Do not wear the pedometer on thick belts. Some people have found they can wear the pedometer on their underclothes. Make sure the pedometer is level to the ground and is not tilted to one side or the other. The pedometer will not give accurate counts if it is tilted.

Put your pedometer on first and reset the count. This will help you get an accurate step count. You can check your step count throughout the day to see how you are doing.

Do not wear your pedometer when swimming or bathing--water will damage the pedometer.

Be careful when going to the restroom. The pedometer can pop off your waistband and fall into the toilet bowl!

You may want to keep your pedometer and weekly exercise record on a bedside table, so you can put it on first thing in the morning and take it off last thing at night.

Double check your instructions on how to use your pedometer from time to time to make sure you have positioned it in the best way to get a good record of your steps.

Remember: You can wear your pedometer during gardening, car washing, skating, doing aerobics, dog walking, dancing, running, walking and throughout the day. You should not wear it during swimming or in the shower, and it will not accurately record you movement while riding a bicycle.