Happy Super Bowl Sunday all you Gadgeteers!
Many, if not all of us have at least one thing in common, no, not who we voted for president, but that would have been nice – don’cha think? Just kidding!
These days, the biggest commonality we all share is that we have our “Smart Phones” with us almost everywhere we go. And while some use them at inappropriate times, like texting when driving or dining with friends, most fail to use them at some of the most important times, like when dining with friends. Huh?
That’s right people, research has shown that those looking to lose weight, lost an average of eight pounds more than their non-techy counterparts when they did so using a Smart Phone app to track their daily caloric intake and expenditure.
The study, done by Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, broke participants down into two groups. Each participant received weekly calorie and activity goals based on their weight and activity level. And all were offered health education classes on nutrition, exercise and behavior modification two times a month for the fist six months and once a month for the rest of the year.
The control group recorded their data on paper while the experimental group used a mobile app to transmit theirs to a behavioral coach, who monitored the information and provided phone feedback for 15 minutes twice a month.
Not all subjects took advantage of the optional classes. However, those in the “Mobile App Group” who achieved 80 per cent attendance, lost 15 pounds and kept the weight off for a year. Those in the same group who did not, still lost an average of 8.6 pounds. Most interestingly, the participants in the control group (those without the app) who did attend the education sessions, lost no weight!
Now, as Fred will tell you, some phones are “smarter” than others. But I think this study proves that some phone users, at least for weight loss, are smarter than some of their counterparts too!
So, if my writings aren’t enough to keep you motivated or informed on what to do, as well as what not to do, when it comes to getting in shape, below is a list of some top rated Health and Fitness Apps to may provide the extra “umph” you are missing.
CardioTrainer, , FitnessBuilder, GymGoal ABC, C25K, NutritionTips and GoodFoodNearYou
Give one a try. You can always delete it if you don’t lose it.
Oh, and on this date in history, 1962, President Kennedy bans all trade with Cuba except for food and drugs.
