Counting calories
One of the key points for behavioral weight control programs is dietary self-monitoring. In a study conducted to investigate whether personal digital assistants would help in dietary self-monitoring, results show that using PDAs are comparabale to using traditional paper diaries for dietary self-monitoring during a weight loss program. More frequent monitoring, though, is correlated with weight loss in both methods.
This is where the ease of using a handheld calorie counter comes in. An example is the CalorieSmart handheld electronic calorie calculator and food diary which stores the nutritional information from over 35,000 food items. Dining out? Brand items are also at your finger tips. It also has the nutritional information from over 250 restaurants including your favorite fast food joint.Did you know that a cup of A Taste of Thai peanut noodles contain 300 calories? Or that a bacon double cheeseburger from Burger King has 540 calories (288 from fat)? Compare that to McDonalds double cheeseburger (460 calories, 207 from fat!). Nutritionists have put forward several steps for a successful weight loss program. This includes setting your goals and keeping a food and exercise diary to meet those goals. A food calorie counter will certainly go a long way to achieve your goals.
Not only do personal digital assistants perform well in keeping calories at bay, these can also help you in tracking your movements by counting calorie expenditure throughout the day. A study on how physical activity is promoted by using handheld computer technology reveal hand-held computers may be effective tools for increasing initial physical activity levels among underactive adults. In this study, 37 healthy, initially underactive adults 50 years or older participated. Physical activity levels were monitored twice per day, and the participants (n=19) received instructional session and a PDA program. In contrast, the controls (n=18) received standard, age-appropriate written physical activity educational materials. Participants using handheld PDAs reported significantly greater 8-week mean estimated caloric expenditure levels and minutes per week in increasing moderate intensity.
So consider using a handheld PDA to help you attain your goal.
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