The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of a pedometer to increase physical activity in women 35-65 years of age that were not already enrolled in a formal exercise program. Fourteen women were recruited to participate in the six-week study. Each participant wore a Walk4Life pedometer (MLS 2100, Plainfield, IL) each day for the duration of the study and recorded daily step counts on the log provided to them. The first two weeks of the study determined baseline data. There was a moderate negative correlation (r=-0.597, p=.024) between BMI and two-week baseline averages for all participants indicating that high BMI values were associated with low mean stepsˇday-1. Participants with a higher BMI tended to be less active at baseline. For the remaining four weeks, the participants were randomly assigned to either an experimental (N=7) or control (N=7) group. The experimental group was given an individualized goal in stepsˇday-1 to achieve [a 20% increase from their baseline average step count (dropping high and low values) was prescribed] while the control group was advised to set their own goal. Repeated measures analysis of variance found a significant interaction effect [F(1,12)=3.56, p=.04] considering two-week baseline and four-week intervention mean stepsˇday-1 for both groups. Simple main effect tests found a significant increase [F(1,12)=12.86, p=.004] in step counts from the two-week baseline (7050 + 2245) to the four-week intervention (9118 + 1837) within the experimental group. There was no significant increase within the control group (9763 + 3104 vs. 10293 + 3165). Further analysis revealed that goal compliance within the experimental group steadily increased from week 3 to week 6, substantiated by a significant linear trend [F (1,6)=13.41, p=.01]. This study demonstrates the potential to increase daily physical activity in individuals with the use of pedometers. By the end of the six-week study, six out of seven participants in the experimental group were reaching their prescribed goal indicated by weekly mean stepsˇday-1. The results of this investigation show that the pedometer has the potential to be a useful tool not only to monitor physical activity but also to motivate an increase in physical activity when combined with specific, individual target values.