Get Moving: FAQs
FAQs
I am a woman who wants to do muscle strengthening exercises, but my friend told me that it will give me big, bulky muscles. Is this true?
The hormone testosterone is needed to build large, bulky muscles. While commonly thought of as a male hormone, the fact is both men and women have testosterone, but men have considerably more. Thus, women do not have enough testosterone to build bulky muscles. Instead, they tend to build lean, long muscles that increase strength and metabolism (or how many calories you burn), protect bones and joints, and look more slender.
Should I workout even if I’m sick?
Generally, it is ok to workout if your symptoms are from the neck up (i.e., runny nose, sore throat, watery eyes). If symptoms are below the neck (coughing, fever, diarrhea) or you feel very tired, it’s best to wait until you feel better.
Taking time to rest and recover is necessary to get in shape and stay healthy. Make sure you get plenty of regular sleep, but know that you may need even more sleep when ill. Even when at your best, it’s smart to take at least one day off a week from your workout routine.
Can I lose weight without being active?
While it’s possible to lose weight by simply cutting back on calories, research shows the most effective way to maintain weight loss is to do both: be physically active AND keep calories in check. Physical activity increases the number of calories your body needs. The burning of calories through physical activity, combined with reducing the number of calories you eat, results in weight loss that can last over the long haul.
PEDOMETERS
Why wear a pedometer?
Pedometers are simple and fun to use! Wearing a pedometer not only provides a reality check on how active you are, it also serves as a measurable way to achieve your activity goals. It’s a way of getting immediate feedback.
Where should I wear the pedometer?
Pedometers should be placed/clipped snugly on the waistband of clothing as close to the hipbone as possible.
How accurate are pedometers?
No pedometer will be 100% accurate 100% of the time!
My pedometer isn’t working right. What should I do?
In many instances, problems with pedometers recording numbers accurately can be remedied by adjusting how the pedometer is positioned on the body. Here’s what we’ve heard: multiple layers of clothing over a pedometer could affect steps recorded if your tummy is pushing the pedometer out of it’s upright position, the number of steps may be affected If you’re experiencing any of the problems above, slide the pedometer to the side directly under your armpit.
I know my pedometer had a bad reading today—it registered only 400 steps. What do I report?
Don’t let this problem be a barrier for a successful completion of the challenge. You should record the number of steps you have in a day typical to the day with the bad reading. You are not cheating if you do this (as long as you enter a reasonable number based on the day).
What if my pedometer gets wet?
Pedometers have been known to survive a little water but it’s not recommended. One participant dove into a swimming pool and immediately remembered having the pedometer on her waistband. She set the pedometer on the ledge of a sunny window and it worked fine the next day! Another suggestion is to remove the battery and replace it with a new battery when the pedometer is dry. Don’t use a hairdryer or put it in the dryer!
Nothing shows up in the display of my pedometer. What’s wrong?
It could be broken especially if it got wet, got dropped or took a direct hit of some sort. A dead battery
could also be responsible for a blank display.
How many steps are in a mile?
About 2,000 steps walked will equal one mile. Stride lengths vary from person to person so it’s not the same for everyone. An average stride is somewhere between 2 and 3 feet in length.
How many calories are burned walking one mile?
That depends on the individual—height, weight, fitness level , whether your walking on flat or hilly ground, the temperature, etc. The average 150-pound person burns between 80 and 100 calories per mile.
For more great information on walking, visit www.thewalkingsite.com.
For answers to “Common Questions About Walking”, visit www.runnersworld.com
