I keep seeing those...I think they're called pedometers? The little things that count your steps while you walk...

Anyways...Have any of you used them? Do they really help you track your walking and keep you focused? Also, do they tell you how many miles you've walked? And how many miles should I start with anyways?

I believe they tell you how many steps you took. There's usually a book with them to tell you how many steps = a mile. And sure they work.

I don't know your activity level but if you can, start out with one mile a day. If thats to much, do 1/2 a mile. You have to be your own judge. If one mile is a breeze to you, than do 2.

If you enjoy a challenge, a pedometer can be a great tool. You can try to walk more tomorrow than you did today. Or more in September than you did in August.
Some folks just wear one for a few days (doing their normal routine) and then just work to increase their daily steps.
You can buy them as plain or fancy as you wish. Some have mileage counters, some just track steps. Leenie is right, they all come with instructions.
When my family doc was thinking that my heart rate was too fast and my blood pressure was rising, he suggested 20 minutes to start. I used to drive with the car odometer to see how far I'd gone

There's a great beginners walking program at thewalkingsite. I think it starts you at 15 minutes a day for a week, and then 20 and so on.

I started walking back in December when I quit smoking. I bought a pedometer as my 30-day reward. I really like it. I bought it at a drug store. It counts miles, steps, aerobic steps, calories burned, and has a clock. The brand is Omron. You can also buy simpler ones that just count distance or steps.

I found it to be fun and motivating, although supposedly they're not considered to be very accurate. You could test it though at a measured track like at a high school.

Dinah