To lose weight, it’s obvious that you have to burn more calories than you take in. But most people have no clue about how many calories are burned every day. Enter technology, with a wide selection of gadgets and free apps designed to gauge how many calories are burned by physical activity.
Depending on the features you want, there are scores of electronic monitors available at a broad range of prices. Some are flashy while others are inconspicuous. Some just stick to the numbers, others feature games intended to make weight loss more engaging and challenging. If you have a smartphone, a variety of diet and weight loss apps can be downloaded for free.
Calorie counting gadgets
The calorie counting device that’s right for you depends on how, and how much you plan to use it. The best approach may be to start with a gadget offering basic calorie counting features for less money. The New York Times recently reviewed some of the most common calorie counting gadgets and the entrylevel models include the Striiv and Fitbit Ultra.
Striiv
The Striiv, listed at $100, is simple, features a bunch of clever motivational gimmicks and doesn’t need to by synced to a computer. It awards points for fitness accomplishments and offers the opportunity to donate to three different charities by accumulating those points. For example, if you climb 60,000 stairs Striiv will make a donation to immunize a child against polio. But the Striiv only recognizes the motions of stair climbing, walking and running. If cycling or swimming is part of your fitness routine, you need another device.
Fitbit Ultra
The Fitbit Ultra, also $100, is about the size of a nail clipper, is also limited to measuring calories burned with walking, running or stair climbing. But the Ultra adds an altimeter to the stair climbing metric. The Ultra also tracks the amount and quality of your sleep—adequate sleep is important for weight loss. Social media features let you share and compare with other Ultra users and a food log measures calorie intake vs. calories burned, as well as percentages of fats, carbs and proteins.
Calorie counting apps
If you have a current smartphone, chances are you’ve already spent at least $100 on the device. So a free app may be the best way to investigate whether technology is a viable component of your diet and weight loss equation.
Calorie Counter
Calorie Counter by FatSecret is a free app available for both iPhone and Android. It’s functional, easy to use and calculates calories burned based on exercise and activity. It also calculates calories consumed based on major grocery store brands and fast food restaurant menus. It even has a barcode scanner and you can enter foods manually to obtain calorie counts. Once your food choices are entered, daily calorie feature helps you easily manage your caloric intake.
Meal Snap
If you feel like a big spender, you can try the Meal Snap app for just $2.99. Simply take a photo of your meal, add a descriptive caption and the app calculates the calories and nutritional facts. Meal Snap also keeps track of the nutritional quality and calorie counts of your diet over time. It also calculates estimated calories for each meal, as well as throughout the day.
There is accumulating evidence that calorie counting devices and diet apps do make a difference when it comes to managing your weight and hitting your nutritional goals. But keep in mind that unless you get tested in a laboratory with sophisticated scientific equipment, the calorie counts can only be an estimate.
Source: New York Times, Crazy Mikes Apps, Shape, Apple.com