Omron HJ-720ITC Pocket Pedometer with Health Management Software

I cannot say enough good things about this particular Omron pedometer!! It has been unbelievably motivating! Plus, I have dropped mine at LEAST 100 times (guess I'm klutzy LOL) and it still works GREAT. It is unbelievably ACCURATE even after dropping it so many times. I believe in this product so much that I have given at LEAST 20 of them to various friends.In response to some of the negative reviews: I have used this pedometer DAILY at all times for almost 8 months. If your pedometer is not accurate, you must have received the rare dud and need to simply exchange yours. The clip is GREAT; however there is one pair of pants with rather thin material that I own where it tends to fall off. I just use the secondary clip with those pants. Every other outfit presents absolutely NO PROBLEM with the pedometer. Others have mentioned less expensive pedometers. Usually if you drop those, they are history, plus do not offer the capability to download daily step data, which I absolutely love.Likewise, I wear this pedometer every waking minute of every day and I get in at LEAST 10,000 steps (and usually much more) each and every day. The battery lasts for 6 MONTHS so I don't understand the review from the user who stated that he needed to replace his every 3 weeks. My friends and I have NOT found this to be the case.This pedometer has done more than anything else to bring about a lasting LIFESTYLE CHANGE for me.There have been so many reviews written about this product that this review will probably get lost in the shuffle, but I figure that if my review helps even ONE person - then it will have been worthwhile.I was a TOTAL "couch potato" for YEARS. Truly. I was lucky if I got in even 2000 -3000 steps a day because I frequently work from home plus I love old movies and reading....you know, really ACTIVE pastimes! LOL Yet I was also a person who FOR YEARS tried to work up to 10,000 steps and would try it for a few days and then fizzle out. I failed so many times, it isn't funny. That said, I have now walked 10,000 steps daily for almost 7 months...which is nothing short of MIRACULOUS for ME. So how did I do it?I turned this into a "game" and this game can be done with either another person or by yourself:1. The first 2 weeks I tried to walk an AVERAGE of 5,000 steps daily or 35,000 steps each week. (Or if you can't start out at 5,000 steps - then choose fewer steps. The thing is to START.) Each week that I adhered to an average of 5,000 steps, I rewarded myself with something. (If you are doing this with another person, you can have a sort of "contest" with the loser having to give the prize.)2. For weeks 3 and 4, I tried to AVERAGE 7,500 steps daily or 52,500 steps each week.3. For weeks 5,6,7,8, I tried to AVERAGE 10,000 steps daily or 70,000 steps each week.4. After that, I wanted CONSISTENCY in my life and so I aimed for AT LEAST 10,000 steps EACH AND EVERY DAY. Each week I rewarded myself so that now, it is "reward" enough that I reach these goals.5. When I first started walking 10,000 steps a day, it wasn't easy and so I would break it down so that I tried to get in at least about 4,000 - 5,000 steps in by noon.6. It gets REALLY hot in Arizona and often I ended up just walking in my house or in my yard! You DON'T have to walk at a scheduled time or outside at the park or on a treadmill. I have a treadmill and a gym and it really IS kinda boring to me. I would MUCH rather walk in the house or at the park, but it is strictly up to you. LOL And now, I always take the trash out the long way to the trash cans and always try to park really far from the store because I know that I will be getting in more steps.7. I also had a sheet of paper that I kept on the refrigerator that had my number of steps next to the date at first.8. One of the BEST tips for getting steps in: When I am on the phone paying bills or talking to ANYONE - I WALK. I am AMAZED at how many steps I can get in! Also, I used to get rather angry WAITING on the phone for customer service, but now I am walking anyway - so I feel as though I am killing 2 birds with 1 stone, so to speak! LOL9. There is an online web site that I found that is tailored strictly to this Pedometer and it is called walkingspree. com. I believe that it has a one-time fee of about $30 and you download your steps with the cable straight on to your page. I can honestly tell you that it has been the best $30 I have ever spent and I have paid for memberships for several of my friends. I have NO affiliation with this site, but I'm suggesting it because it has helped me so much. One thing that I love is that each day that you reach 10,000 steps, the calendar square turns red. If you don't reach 10,000 the square stays blue - so at a glance you can tell how faithful you have been with stepping.I know that may of you are going to be making New Year's Resolutions to walk more. FINALLY...THIS YEAR I will be making LOTS of resolutions as usual, but at least 10,000 steps won't be on the list...because I feel as though this is something that has become one of the best habits of my life. I wish everyone the very BEST of luck with this program.

I base this review in comparison to an earlier "pedometer" I had; my son did not want his iPod Nano (3rd Gen.?) anymore, a few years ago so he actually gave it to me (sweet - it was even one that he had gotten with his own money!). Anyhow, when this occurred, I checked through it and found there was a pedometer app on there. And this became my addiction; just had to have this pedometer everywhere I went and strive to get to 15,000 steps a day. I could just take my little charger/usb connector and connect it to the computer each night to charge and also download all of my steps to Nike.com. Loved it. Kept my motivation up to walk or run or just get those steps up every day. This was pretty much all I used the Nano for except to get good music on long car drives - lol!! (You can also get radio stations on it - very usefull little gadget.)Regardless, a few weeks ago it just died. Screen blank, no matter where I plugged it in, it would not work. I tried to reset it as I have many times before. No joy. I was not happy. In the few days I was not wearing it, I saw my motivation to walk or use my stairmaster drop. And, to top it off, I missed it and felt naked without it - lol!So I opted to search Amazon and found this one.This is a cool product, a little bulky for me; I am used to a thin counter that I'd just slip in my pocket each day. But I have both put this in my pocket and used the handy-dandy clip thing and that works. Do not want to put it in my purse because I do not have that with me at all times and I want to count my steps throughout the day, not just when I am exercising. I, again, saw my motivation to get moving step up and this is the important thing anyhow.On the software, I was expecting to be able to plug it into the computer and it would automatically download the software. This is not the case so I actually haven't taken the time to download it but it was not like the iPod Nano, where you plug it in and are instantly asked to connect to Nike.com, etc. so you can track our progress and steps but you actually have to find a website, etc. I haven't had the time to do so as of yet.Anyhow, it is good for motivating one to get moving, this is what I need.I do recommend it for anyone who does not always have an iPod Nano - LOL!Update (17 Jan 2013):Do not use this when you are shoveling snow!!! Had major snow-fall and was out shoveling and made the mistake of not putting this in a pocket; used the clip instead. When I was done, I noticed it was GONE. Went to search for it. No such luck in a foot and a half of snow.Anyhow, should have known better. Just be careful with the clip.Getting a less-expensive and smaller one now so I can put it comfortably in my pocket. Being relatively thin, when I wore this on the clip, or in my pocket, it stuck out... lol! Maybe it's for the better that I lost it.Update 7 March 2013:I found it!!! It was right next to my porch, buried in snow since I lost it on 17 Jan. And we've had several snow falls and extremely cold weather (0 - 32 F). And, being next to my porch, where we do not yet have the gutters installed, having just replaced our roof, as the snow was melting there was also a lot of water and frozen mix falling right on it. Well, the snow and ice FINALLY melted, and there it was! And, it still works!!! I just had to wash it off a little and it it's like it is brand new! So, if you lose it shoveling snow, and it is buried for a few months, it will still work. Now that's a quality product!I think I will find the lanyard that goes with it and hook it to my belt that way and with the clip. Then won't have to have it sticking out from pocket (bulky) and if the clip falls off, it will not be lost.