FitBit's growing trend among fitness gurus is really a testament to the popularity of step counting. Do you track your daily movement? Do you count your steps to gauge your current activity level?

If you are striving for weight-loss, or perhaps working to maintain your weight, it's a good idea to monitor how physically active you are. A general idea can help you determine a workout plan and adjust your calorie intake to ensure an effective balance.

But does which means that you have to invest in a fancy pedometer to get the job done?

A Personal Preference

Plain and simple, step counting is really a personal preference. It isn't necessary to lose weight or maintain weight-loss, but it's definitely a tool in your toolbox if this sounds like your goal.

Think of it as being much like calorie logging. Some people make use of a journal to track their food intake and calorie consumption. The data helps them build healthy eating habits that meet their set goals.

But on the other hand, this game of numbers doesn't work for others. It may even worsen feelings of tension or become an obsession. The same holds true for pedometers and step counting.

Steps Create a Difference

Whether you track them or not, steps do count. Many experts recommend at least 10,000 steps a day, but even 5,000 – 6,000 steps can produce a difference for someone who otherwise leads a sedentary lifestyle.

If you go to estimate the amount of calories you burn per day, consider your general activity level. Would you walk to work or to the shop? Do you take walks where you live after dinner? Do you run a lot of errands on foot?

Small activities like these can be referred to as your ADL, or activities of daily living. They burn calories and expend energy, even if you don't mentally count them as exercise. The work adds up!

Pedometers Help You Make a Plan

The beauty about pedometers is the fact that they're easy, convenient and useful. Tracking each step you are taking one by one is practically impossible, but this savvy tool can be a game-changer.

Here's another popular question: what's your general level of activity? Referring to your pedometer can help you determine where you fit inside these categories:

• Sedentary
• Lightly active
• Moderately active
• Highly active
• Exceptionally active

Knowing this information can help you craft a weight management plan. If you're a heavily active person naturally, perhaps you don't really need to hit the gym for an hour each night in the evening.

Final Thoughts:

No, you don't need a pedometer to get rid of or maintain weight. You don't even need it to be healthy. However, it's an incredibly valuable tool that provides you an objective answer to the question, “How active are you really?”

You also don't have to invest in a fancy pedometer. Many stores, particularly those online, offer basic versions for a reasonable price. If you have a smart phone, you might even have one already like a built-in feature! So many options are open to you.