Walking has become quite a popular way to get fit and burn off some calories. Exercise is good for you, right?

Do you know how far you walk each time you head out the door?

I've been known to go for a long walk, then get in the car and try and retrace my steps, figuring out the total distance I walked via the car's odometer. (This was in the olden, pre-pedometer days!)

Trust me, a pedometer is much easier, is probably more accurate, and is really not too expensive.

Like anything else in life, you get what you pay for, though. There are some very inexpensive models you can buy (I'm talking $3 or $4), but for the most part these are inaccurate and a waste of time.

Here are a few tips compiled by members of the Weight Management practice group of the American Dietetic Association-- you might find these helpful if you decide to go pedometer-shopping: