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SALT LAKE CITY — It's easy to overindulge during the holidays, but thanks to a surge in popularity of wearable fitness technology those extra pounds don't have to be permanent.
According to BusinessBee, the wearable technologies industry shows great potential and is expected to be worth more than $8 billion by 2018. These five fitness trackers will help you stay strong through the rest of the season and get a jump start on those New Year's fitness resolutions.
Fitbit Charge HR: Most comprehensive
The Fitbit Charge HR can do it all: monitor your heart rate and sleep quality, track your workout intensity, and alert you when you've hit your daily distance goals. Because it offers continuous heart-rate tracking, this wearable tracker provides some of the most accurate data on overall activity and health. As a result, you can plan your fitness routine to match your current abilities. The Fitbit companion app also offers a calorie-tracking function to ensure you burn more calories than you take in during holiday festivities.
The Fitbit Charge HR has a comfortable fit, boasts a long battery life, and automatically syncs with designated devices. This handy wearable can help you get your holiday indulgences under control and start the new year off right for just $149.95.
Jawbone UP MOVE: Most motivating
If you're short on fitness inspiration, the colorful Jawbone UP MOVE is just what you need. This clip-on offers food tracking, activity monitoring and goal setting, but it's the Smart Coach feature that really stands out. Acting as an electronic personal trainer, Smart Coach learns your habits and adapts with you to develop a customized program to keep you on track. You can even enable regular alerts to remind you that it's time to get up and move — a particularly useful feature after big holiday meals.
Because the Jawbone UP MOVE is a clip-on, it's easy to take it with you everywhere you go and the $49.99 price tag makes this one of the more affordable fitness trackers out there.
Xiaomi Mi Band: Most budget-friendly
Extremely lightweight, the Xiaomi Mi Band fitness tracker is straightforward and easy to use. A military-grade sensor helps the wristband track your every move to calculate calories burned and the 30-day battery life is hard to beat. The Mi Band also lets you set daily exercise targets and gives you updates on your progress so you can step it up if you're running behind.
Mi Band comes with an app that lets you sync your progress, compare achievements with friends and store up to one year's worth of fitness data. The best part is that you can pick up the Mi Band for around $15, leaving you plenty of room in the budget for some last-minute holiday shopping.
Withings Pulse Ox: Most versatile
Whether you're running errands or hitting the hiking trails, the Withings Pulse Ox helps you set and achieve fitness goals based on a wide variety of data. This versatile tracker can record anything from step count and elevation gain to heart rate and blood oxygen level. Plus, you can access your data in real time on the device or translate it into charts and graphs using the Health Mate app on your smartphone or tablet.
If you like the idea of wearing your fitness tracker on your wrist, Pulse Ox comes with an adjustable wristband. However, you can also easily clip it onto your clothing or simply toss it into a pocket or purse. No matter how you choose to bring Pulse Ox with you, it can help you beat the holiday bulge. Add this tracker to your fitness arsenal for just $99.95.
Misfit Shine: Most fashionable
Thanks to the Misfit Shine, you don't have to sacrifice style for fitness. This elegant activity tracker can be customized with a variety of bands, or worn as a clip or necklace, making it the perfect complement to even your most festive ensemble.
With an amazing blend of form and function, Shine's illuminated face subtly displays your activity progress throughout the day. When combined with the Misfit app, the tracker turns all that data into easy-to-read stats and charts to help you stay focused on fitness all through the holiday bustle. The Misfit Shine won't break the bank either — this wearable is available starting at $49.99.
Make the holidays easier on yourself (and your waistline) by adding a wearable fitness tracker to your daily routine. Reminders to stay active and convenient calorie counters will help you keep off those extra pounds and set healthy habits for the year to come.
Have you ever used a fitness tracker? If so, tell us about your experience in the comment section.
