Gear

You don’t need the expensive gear. Walking (and running) will not require too much money for basic gear. Of course, you can always add some “extras” – just to “feel better” or to be more motivated.

So, you’ll need:

• walking/running shoes – must be comfortable;
• socks – the same;
• poles – if you decide to try Nordic Walking;
• a short and a T-Shirt (but not in cotton because it absorbs the sweat and your tee (or short) will quickly become heavy; if the temperature is not high enough, you’ll feel more cold than necessary;

• a motivational gadget – a pedometer. Try to buy one because it will motivate you more than anything;

• Draw a statistical grid (on paper or in Excel) and try to note every day the number of steps and the exercise time.

"Extras"

I discovered the benefits of training with heart zones (this will be explained later) and I bought a heart rate monitor (HRM). If you can find one (starting at $60) it will be very helpful in your workouts.

As my physical condition improved, I decided to buy a HRM with the GPS module to control my speed and position and to get the exact running distances.

Don’t forget. You want to lose weight and not to make a competition (for now) – so these gadgets are useful but you can live without them.