Announcer: This is CBS2 News at 10:00.

Kristyn: The godfathers 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 Skyping 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 about $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...