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Announcer: This is CBS2 News, at 10:00
Kristyn: The godmothers of weight loss
Mark: Exactly. There's a little one on my shoulder going "Mark?"
Kristyn: You could call it the Big Brother diet. An interactive program
that makes sure you don't cheat. It's caught the attention of some local
doctors.
Walter: After all those holiday cookies, candies and eggnog, well we're
entering that time of year when some people resolve to take off some
unnecessary poundage.
Mai: Yeah and just in time for that always popular new year's resolution a
new diet from a Skokie-based company. As Kristyn Hartman learned, it's tech
based so it's tough to cheat.
Nutritionist: Are you feeling hungry? Do you feel...
Mark: No, mostly it's controlled.
Kristyn: You might call it the George Jetson approach to weight loss. Mark
Achler is Skype with the nutritionist.
Nutritionist: That's awesome.
Kristyn: It's part of "Retrofit" - a high tech way to trim down. Mark's
doing it.
Mark: For health reasons; for vanity reasons.
Kristyn: And over just two months, he has lost 13 pounds. But it's not just
by Skyping. As part of the program, Mark carries a Fitbit. It tracks:
Mark: Miles walked.
Kristyn: OK.
Mark: Calories burned.
Kristyn: That data gets beamed back to his team, including the nutritionist
and exercise specialist and a psychologist who might advise on how to make
better eating choices.
Robert: there is no smoke and mirrors. They know exactly what is going on
and there is a bit of honesty there, and accountability that's going to
guide people towards weight loss.
Kristyn: Is it like Big Brother Weight Loss?
Robert: Well, it's not exactly like Big Brother. Big Brother has this idea
that we're watching you all the time and, of course, we're not.
Kristyn: But if the numbers show something like your workouts need to be
more intense, they tell you. They also know your scale strides.
Mark: There's a scale that is hooked up to the Internet, and when I step on
the scale, my weight is automatically put up on the Internet.
Kristyn: Oh gosh, do you like that?
Mark: Well, there's no hiding.
Kristyn: So if you fall off the wagon, they guide you back on track. And
it's all one-on-one, right from your home. Your fairy godmothers of weight
loss.
Mark: Exactly. There's a little one on my shoulder going "Mark?"
Kristyn: So far, Retrofit says 21 of 22 trial clients have lost weight,
about a pound a week. The doctor says it's about cultivating good habits
that last a lifetime. Walter and Mai?
Mai: OK. Kristyn, now that you've gotten everybody fired up about this new
diet, everybody out there is probably wondering how much is this going to
cost them.
Kristyn: OK. The cost is $3,000 for the basic year plan. Health insurance
does not cover it, I am told, but it might qualify for some flex spending
in medical savings accounts.
Mai: Three thousand dollars, maybe you can just pay for a little one day
stay. Don't eat that! Thanks, Kristyn. Well, a Hollywood couple...