Problem: Once again, you’ve declared your fitness goals for the New Year, promising to eat healthier and to exercise more, so that you’ll have something to show for by the end of this year (hopefully a slimmer waistline). But you know that exercise DVDs and diet tricks don’t really work for you. 

 

Solution: Instead of setting your sight on big goals, focus on the basics. To lose weight, you need to burn off more calories than you consume. With the innovative BodyMedia Fit System ($179 for armband plus display, amazon.com) you’ll be able to tell how many calories you are consuming and expending daily. More than a pedometer, accelerometer or heart rate monitor, the armband—easily concealed under clothes—provides a read on your body, tracking everything from the number of steps you take, to how many calories you’ve burned and even how long you’ve slept. It also allows you to log the foods you eat, so you can get a better look at your calorie balance. Say hello to a slimmer you by the end of this year.