Waist trimming tech: With many of us adopting healthier diets in the months that follow Christmas, it can often prove difficult to maintain our newly learned eating and exercise behaviours.
A recent survey from Hartleys shows that although an estimated 26 million people will start trying to lose weight, nine out of ten (87 per cent) will break their new healthy eating habits as soon as the 12th of January each year. In addition, figures from Statista show that, at present, over 219 million people use smartwatches to track their well-being worldwide as of 2023.
Whether you are looking to trim the pounds in a sustainable fashion or are simply looking to drink more water as part of a new regime, we took a look at some of the best gadgets to help keep your BMI (Body Mass Index) at bay.
MyFitnessPal
One of the best-known apps for weight loss is MyFitness Pal. With both free and subscription-based versions, it operates on both iOS and Android. Simply download and complete a questionnaire detailing your height, gender, current weight and daily activity levels. The app will then automatically calculate how many calories you should burn each day to shrink your waistline. Its super-savvy technology enables you to input everything you are eating and calculates calories in real-time. What’s more, you can connect it to a number of fitness trackers, including Garmin and Fitbit. You can even manually enter foods and scan them with your camera phone.
Couch to 5K
Seeing as exercise and diet go hand in hand; it would be a crime not to mention this clever running app that can make anyone break out in a sweat. Novice runners looking to pound the pavement as part of a fitness regime should check out Couch to 5K. The app, available on Android and iOS, asks you to input your details and designs a realistic plan to help you build your running competence until you can hit that 5k goal. It starts with a series of run-walk intervals, where a voice will tell you when to walk and when to speed things up. With a recent study showing 860,000 people in the UK used the app to do at least one run between the 1st of January and the 29th of December 2022, it remains one of the most popular home exercise apps worldwide.
Smart Weighing Scale
In terms of devices for keeping tabs on progress, avid dieters need to look no further than the smart weighing scale. One of the best-known on the market is Dr Trust Digital Smart Electronic Rechargeable Bluetooth Fitness Body Composition Monitor. This clever device tracks weight gain and loss and calculates body composition. With the aid of an app, users can analyze and track progress over time. Its two main attractions, however, are its body metrics capabilities (of which it has 18), which include BMI calculation, bone mass measurement, muscle, visceral and subcutaneous fat and more. It’s also USB rechargeable, making it more portable for tracking on the go.
Smart Water Bottle
Hydration and a healthier lifestyle go hand in hand. For those who have a hard time tracking how much water they consume daily, a smart water bottle is the way to go. One example of this is the battery-powered Hidrate Spark TAP Smart Water Bottle. Accompanied by an app, this smart device will help you set hydration goals and track the level of liquids consumed on any given day. It will also send you alerts to remind you to drink water when needed through glowing when you are due to drink.
Moreover, it allows you to connect with friends to reach your goals, compete in challenges, and even earn trophies. Although a tad pricey at nearly 65 euros for its smallest bottle, it’s a good on-the-go gadget. Its app also works on both iOS and Android.
The Nike+ Training Club app
If you’re looking to increase your exercise but can’t afford a personal trainer, look no further than the Nike+ Training Club App. Available in free and subscription-based versions, it offers over 200 guided workout videos for different levels, from beginners to intermediate. What’s really great about this app is that it offers four-week training programmes to increase fitness levels, build muscle and enhance body toning. The Nike+ Training Club app is free to download on both Android and iOS.
MyNetDiary
For those looking to increase their nutrition whilst dieting, MyNetDiary is a very useful tool. A scientifically proven platform to help people lose weight, it enables you to find a diet that suits you whilst setting realistic weight-loss targets. Enabling you to log your diet and activity through scanning barcodes is an impactful all-in-one solution to help shift those stubborn pounds. Simple to use, unlike similar platforms, it has no ads and provides access to a library of healthy recipes along with expert advice. It’s available to download on Android and iOS. It’s also compatible with fitness trackers such as Garmin, FitBit and more.
