WOMAN you need to get some shoes!!!! (that is spoken in my mother's voice, mind you) yup put all the other gadgets out of you mind and get some good shoes!!!!

Mine is an Omron, but I have no idea if it's an Aussie company or not. I like it because it's the most accurate one I've tried.

It was $20 from the local chemist - several times now. They allegedly have a battery that can be changed, but the screw thingy is so teeny tiny, you'd need a microscopic screwdriver to change the thing, so it's easier to just buy a new one. I've tried several cheaper ones, but they've never been anywhere near as accurate.

And I love my pedo! If I walk anywhere without it, I feel as though those steps have been for nothing! I walked "around Australia" a few years back (over a few years) just to amuse myself. You can click the following if you want to see me on my way (in kilometres) :
From my old gym log

Alas, I don't walk with such enthusiasm anymore. But it's great to see others wearing their pedometers.

Ok, ok, Mom! Just as soon as I can figure out what I need!

I have tried several cheap pedometers over the years but found them useless for monitoring total steps over time. The problems I had were that they were to sensitive. They counted "steps" when I was in a car. They also had sloppy buttons that accidentally reset the device all the time.

After years of getting more and more immobile (due to inertia and a bad hip,) I decided to make yet another try. If there is any truth to the saying "sitting is the new smoking" (and I believe there is), then I seriously need to get my body moving before it is to late.

A month ago I invested in a Garmin Vivofit and I love it. It is essentially a pedometer but a very reliable one. It syncs with their site where I get all the statistics. It also has a dynamic and automatic goalsetting. It can work encouraging ie set goals that are achievable. It can also be challenging ie it increases your goals as you achieve them.

Another nice feature is that it monitors "not walking". If you sit still for more than an hour it will nudge you visibly on the display and you will have to move to make it go away.

I was very reluctant to buy this gadget as it sure is expensive. I am always on the hunt for THE THING that will solve my problems with weight and health. I go all into something and then crash and burn. What I have found so far (after a month) is that it has made me move again. I am slowly getting my walking confidence back as it is not about big chunks of hard excercise but rather about constant low intensity movement. This is super good for my hip.