| It has been my experience, as well as that of my | | | | so that you can really track improvement in |
| friends who are runners, that staying motivated | | | | distance travelled, speed, time and weight loss. |
| and dedicated to a running, walking or exercise | | | | Having everything written down will also allow you |
| program can be very difficult. One of the ways I | | | | to quickly determine if you are starting to "slack |
| try to stay motivated is by reading. | | | | off". The Ultimate Workout Log by Suzanne |
| I have found over the years that reading about | | | | Schlosberg is one that I bought a couple of years |
| recent achievements by other people has helped | | | | ago. There are number of different fitness logs |
| to provide me with the incentive to keep plugging | | | | available for both runners and walkers. |
| away at my own running program. I have | | | | Pedometer Walking and Exercise Books for Kids |
| discovered that biographies about people who | | | | Every day we are bombarded with statistics |
| have achieved amazing feats and autobiographies | | | | telling us how over weight the general population |
| and memoirs by them, have kept me inspired | | | | is becoming. This is true for kids as well as for |
| over the years. Four come immediately to mind, | | | | adults. Kids today are spending more time on their |
| Sir Ranulph Fiennes - Mad, Bad and Dangerous to | | | | computers, watching TV and eating junk food |
| Know. If you want a gripping read about one of | | | | than ever before. If you have children and want |
| the world's greatest adventurers read this book. | | | | them to get motivated about exercise, there are |
| He has practically done it all, including hiking to both | | | | a few books available that target just that. |
| poles, running seven marathons in seven days on | | | | Pedometer use allows kids to create challenges |
| seven continents, lost fingers to frostbite the list | | | | when they walk and run. Just like adults they are |
| goes on. When I feel lazy I pick up one of his | | | | able to use a pedometer or pedometer watch to |
| books and then feel ashamed of myself. The | | | | track their progress and stay motivated. One |
| other three I can think of off the top of my head | | | | recommended book is Walk the Walk: A Kids |
| are What I Talk About When I Talk About | | | | Book of Pedometer Challenges by Pete O. Meter. |
| Running by Haruki Murakami, On Foot Through | | | | There is also at least one book available which |
| Africa by Ffyona Campbell and Lance: The Making | | | | extols the use of pedometers in schools in helping |
| of the World's Greatest Champion by John | | | | to foster a positive attitude towards fitness. |
| Wilcockson. I find these books and many more | | | | Kids of course can also use log books and they |
| inspiring, I read them for enjoyment and to keep | | | | are also a great way to keep kids motivated |
| me motivated. | | | | about exercise. Carol Goodrow has produced one |
| As well as thrilling and interesting adventure type | | | | called Happy Feet, Healthy Food: Your Child's First |
| books and biographies, I also recommend buying a | | | | journal of Exercise and Health. |
| pedometer walking book. There are a few books | | | | I think that whatever the type of exercise you |
| available on pedometer walking, walking for fun | | | | are involved in the importance of keeping track is |
| and fitness, the science of step counting, running, | | | | paramount for lasting success. One can rarely go |
| etc. You might ask why would I need a book to | | | | wrong by looking to see what professional |
| do something that is so basic? Along with a | | | | athletes do on a day to day basis. If there is a |
| pedometer or pedometer watch and the type of | | | | particular athlete whose career you follow, try to |
| books mentioned above, these books are another | | | | find out even in general terms what they do to |
| great weapon in your fitness arsenal. They will | | | | stay fit. While few of us can aspire to the level of |
| provide you with all kinds of advice about your | | | | fitness and commitment they have achieved, we |
| walking or running program, ways to stay | | | | can certainly look to them for inspiration. |
| motivated and weight loss. Pedometer Walking: | | | | Professional athletes, especially runners, triathletes |
| Stepping Your Way To Health by Mark Fenton | | | | and cyclists are usually very focused on keeping |
| and David R. Bassett Jr. I found particularly useful. | | | | track of all their fitness related statistics ( or they |
| I also subscribe to a couple of running magazines. | | | | have someone who does it for them ). Taking a |
| A log book is another great way to stay | | | | page ( no pun intended ) out of their books and |
| motivated and is an inexpensive add on to your | | | | using some of the equipment they use can only |
| pedometer or pedometer watch. It allows you to | | | | help us in our quest for fitness, weight loss and |
| record all the information from your pedometer | | | | health. |