Want to lose that couple of pounds you gained over the Holidays?

If you have an Iphone or Ipod Touch and you're trying to get back into shape, I recommend you download an application called Pedometer Free.

http://mobile.viaden.com/iphone-fitness-pedometer.html

Downloads can be done thru the App Store. So what is a Pedometer. Essentially, it is a device which detects if you have taken a step and counts it. And the Pedometer appliation does so much more. With a little calibration on your stride length, it can record the total distance you've travelled, the calories that you burned, the total time, speed and average speed. More features are available on the upgraded version but the free version has enough features for those wanting to burn those extra calories gained over lunch. And for more experienced runners, it can help track your training progress.

Calibrating

If you want accurate results, you need to calibrate the pedometer so that it stores your exact stride length. For walking, you can probably do with the stock stride length. However, running is a totally different matter because the stride length will probably be significantly longer than the walking stride. So this is what I do to calibrate. I normally do 5K sessions on the treadmill so I set the pedometer to count the total steps it takes me to complete a 5K run. After getting the step count, we need to do some light number crunching. In my case 5K takes me about 6100 steps give or take, and since the Pedometer records stride length in centimeters, a little conversion is required so 5 kilometers is 500,000 centimeters. Dividing 500,000 centimeters with my total step count of 6100 steps will give me my stride length, which in this case is about 82 centimers. Entering my stride length into the Pedometers profile and I can expect to see an accurate distance reading.

Sensitivity

Accurate readings will depend greatly on the sensitivity setting on the pedometer. Set it too low and it might not detect the step, set it too high and every body movement might be misconstrude as a step and you'd get overblown readings. This setting however is very subjective and will vary from one individual to the next. Personally, I have it about a third of the way to its maximum settings.

In Conclusion

I love this product because of its functionality and also because it's free. I hardly run without setting the pedometer on and for the most part it gives me an accurate reading. Really considering upgrading to the full version.

Alain Ariel Kyle Bendijo, VP Philippine Operations, Incoho Inc Philippines, MBA DLSU, Certified Six Sigma Greenbelt Alain Ariel Kyle Bendijo VP Philippine Operations Incoho Inc Philippines MBA DLSU Certified Six Sigma Greenbelt Alain Ariel Kyle Bendijo
Alain Ariel Kyle Bendijo, VP Philippine Operations, Incoho Inc Philippines, MBA DLSU, Certified Six Sigma Greenbelt Alain Ariel Kyle Bendijo VP Philippine Operations Incoho Inc Philippines MBA DLSU Certified Six Sigma Greenbelt Alain Ariel Kyle BendijoAlain Ariel Kyle Bendijo, VP Philippine Operations, Incoho Inc Philippines, MBA DLSU, Certified Six Sigma Greenbelt Alain Ariel Kyle Bendijo VP Philippine Operations Incoho Inc Philippines MBA DLSU Certified Six Sigma Greenbelt Alain Ariel Kyle Bendijo