Fit To Drop 2: Tagged? No, I’m just trying to be healthy

Time to explain my first foray into a scientific approach to grow fitter, not fatter.

Last time I tried to stave off the years, while plodding the roads in training for the 2009 London marathon, I used a Garmin gizmo that monitored the miles, my speed and my heart rate.

Now I want to take a whole-life approach. Keeping fit is about taking the stairs rather than the lift, or taking a half-hour walk to the station rather than driving.

First into the fray is a gizmo that has been strapped to my arm, waking and sleeping, for the past week. The Ki Fit slogan seemed to match what I want: “Ever wondered many calories you really burn during a workout? Or sitting in your car? Or even in your sleep? And the effect it has on your body?”

The sensor measures your movement, including counting your steps, plus temperature, sweat and how much heat you’re giving off. It even records how long you sleep.

Download it to your computer, where you can also enter exactly what your eating, and you see a graphic like the one above (including the scary “Calorie Balance” line that shows whether you end the day thinner or fatter).

I’ll be looking soon at my first seven days with the Ki Fit. One hint though, don’t wear the armband under a rain-soaked white shirt; I promise the old lady on the train that I haven’t been tagged and wasn’t on day release. Honest…

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