With many of us trying to keep our new year's resolution this year, the question arises, will we actually be successful at it? One new invention could help with that, at least with certain resolutions.

A group of inventors at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and its hospital partner, The Nebraska Medical Center, have developed a new tool to help us reach our goals. The tool is called the A-Wrist-A-Trac.

A-Wrist-A-Trac is a lifestyle behavior modification system that utilizes wrist bracelets to track and promote healthy eating habits throughout the day. Based on the USDA food pyramid, the bracelets are color coded and available in either rustic fall or pastel spring colors. A user guide accompanies both sets.

Inventors Kathi Healey, Ph.D., Terry Munsinger, dietitian Jill Skrabel and Dottie Norgard initially developed the idea to help individuals lose weight through the establishment of healthier eating habits. They soon realized that the A-Wrist-A-Trac could be used to modify many other lifestyle behaviors. Additional versions are being developed for healthy eating habits for children and diabetic management.

"Behavior modification is hard work and practical techniques to aid in changing behavior on a daily basis are a key factor in making changes," said Dr. Healey, the primary inventor. "Studies have shown that if individuals track and/or monitor behaviors, they are more likely to succeed at modifying them.

"These bracelets are a very easy way to guide and monitor behaviors. It's simple once an action is performed; the color-coded bracelet is moved to the opposite wrist. It worked for me, I lost 8 pounds over 2 months and, even better, my diet was healthy."

A-Wrist-A-Trac products are currently being sold at the Clarkson Gift Shop. Additional release dates are in the works for spring 2009 for other locations in Nebraska and beyond. Demonstrations and sales of the A-Wrist-A-Trac will be held on the following days:

- Monday, January 12th, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., outside the Nebraska Cafe on the third floor of University Tower
- Wednesday January 14th at the Clarkson Gift Shop.

A-Wrist-A-Trac devices may also be ordered by sending an e-mail to unemed@unmc.edu.