Calories- Lost or Gained?

When it comes to New Year’s resolutions, year after year the No. 1 spot is most likely occupied by “lose weight.” Its persistence probably has something to do with the fact that most people have trouble actually succeeding.

There is a simple reason for this. Everyone understands they have to burn more calories than they take in, said John Jakicic, a professor at the University of Pittsburgh and a researcher in the field of exercise and long-term weight control. But “most people don’t know how many calories they burn a day,” he said. “They have no clue.”

Getting a clue or at least an accurate estimate  used to require a visit to a laboratory or the use of complex scientific equipment. Guess how often people took that approach?

Now though, there are simplified electronic monitors that are designed to accurately gauge physical activity and the calories burned, which is the silver bullet for weight loss. “There is a lot of evidence that shows they work,” Professor Jakicic said.

Some products in this area have fallen flat, like Jawbone’s Up, a wristband activity tracker that had so many technological problems that Jawbone is offering full refunds to dissatisfied customers. It is taking preorders for a new version.

How well a monitor works depends on how much it is used, which boils down to personal taste. Are you more likely to use one that offers games and challenges, one that just reports the numbers, or one that is inconspicuous?

Striiv is one such product. It may encourage even the most rooted sofa spud. Designed with the sedentary in mind, it is an ultra-simplified device that offers rewards and challenges to motivate users and keep them active.

The touch-screen device, about the size of a pack of Tic-Tacs, starts up with a jaunty song and a video with directions, though you hardly need them to operate it. Set-up is easy, and from there you wear it or carry it in a pocket to measure your steps when walking, running or climbing stairs. It was the one device tested that did not need to be synced with a computer.

Striiv has a number of ways to keep people engaged. It gives out trophies and points for accomplishments, like your record number of stairs climbed, and points can also be used to play MyLand, a game in which users build and explore an animated world. (Agencies)