Six of the best gadgets and gizmos on a theme. This week: Six of the best gadgets for Flab Fighting!

By Peter Jenkinson

Are you feeling guilty - or feeling for that extra belt hole - after overindulging this Christmas?

Well, don't fear. The process of shedding some weight can be fun, pain-free and an uplifting experience.

Check out this selection of fine devices that'll help spur you on and help maintain your motivation.

Foot forward - Ultra Mens - £65 from www.vivobarefoot.com/uk There's more science than you can imagine that backs the benefits of running. It's a growing trend and, of course, is a cheap hobby. There are 200,000 nerve endings in your foot and 70% of your brain's information for movement comes from the nerves on the soles of your feet, so treat them to these remarkable shoes which allow the foot to move naturally. Ideal on land and in water, the removable sock is puncture resistant and can be worn on its own or inside the dual-density outsole.

Personal assistant - Fitbit Zip Activity Tracker - £49.99 from www.currys.co.uk Not just a digital personal trainer, this smart gadget also includes a dietician, lifestyle coach and motivational guru to keep you on track. Clip it on your clothes and it'll log your daily regime and automatically upload this information to your private account. Here it can work out your BMI, set fitness goals and help manage your diet. All this can also be done on your iOS or Android smartphone using the dedicated app - there's really no excuse!

Stay inside - Nintendo Wii U & GamePad with Wii Fit Plus, Wii Balance Board, Zumba Fitness 2 & Sports Connection - £399 from www.currys.co.uk If the great outdoors is putting you off your stride and going to a gym fills you with dread, then perhaps this gaming package is your ideal training partner. Get up and have loads of fun with the two included games. Zumba Fitness 2 offers more than 20 dance styles to help get you into shape, while Sports Connection has six sports on offer. You can get the whole family involved too with Wii Fit Plus, which offers more than 60 customised exercises to help track your BMI and calorie count.

Step up - Withings Wi-Fi Body Scale - £119 from www.amazon.co.uk Forget the clunky scales of old and treat your bathroom to this high-tech, sleek set. Able to assess and record your weight, fat mass and BMI each time you step on, it'll beam the data to an app on your iPhone via Wi-Fi so you can track your results wherever you wander. You can synch your data with Google Health and share your progress on social networks. This machine is even compatible with online coaching applications such as DailyBurn and RunKeeper - superb stuff.

Watch out - Garmin Forerunner 610 - £270 from www.cotswoldoutdoor.com This is one serious piece of wristwear. The latest premium model from Garmin's fitness equipment collection is ideal for outdoorsy types. You can track your heart rate and other vital stats as you go, upload and analyse your information, check out your previous routes and compare your stats with other online runners. The watch will also act as your own personal competitor - and it offers a gentle vibration when you've achieved your target, so you can concentrate on the tough stuff.

Listen up - IT7s Headphones - £99 from www.tesco.com/direct Wires and weightlifting equipment are not the best of bedfellows, so unleash your music while you work with these Bluetooth-enabled numbers, which are designed to deliver top-notch sound for up to seven hours whatever your speed. With a built-in microphone, you can also make and receive calls.

App of the week: Shop Scan Save - free on iTunes and Google Play This new app delivers money-off vouchers straight into your smartphone, and it'll work at more than 24,500 outlets nationwide. You could save up to £250 a year on your grocery shopping - very smart indeed.