iOS users have had the privilege of utilizing the UP fitness system for last several months, since its release in November, and now it seems that Android users will finally get the chance to strap on a Jawbone wristband and start tracking their health and fitness with this smartphone-compatible “lifestyle system” that follows their every move. Although there are plenty of apps out there designed to help you plan an exercise routine or a diet regimen in order to improve health and fitness, this comprehensive system does some of the heavy lifting for you by tracking how you sleep and move without requiring you to engage in tons of time-consuming data entry. And Android users irked that the app has no online component will now delight in access to the many wonderful features that their iOS counterpoints have already enjoyed for months.

So here’s how it works. Although the app itself is free to download, it won’t do you much good without the hardware, which comes in the form of an adjustable rubber wristband complete with a metallic “black box” that collects data pertaining to activity (or a lack thereof). The info is then transmitted to the application to populate charts that can give you all kinds of visibility on your habits. For example, it can track your activity by steps or distance, but it can also give you stats on the times of day that you had the greatest or least activity. You can also log workout activity manually in order to get an accurate count of calories burned (although even without this the tracker will estimate a number based on your movement patterns). But it goes much further.

You can also see data pertaining to sleep habits, including restlessness during sleep. And you can enter further information about hours slept and quality of sleep. Of course, you can also add pertinent dietary information about what you eat and drink throughout the day, even going so far as to scan barcodes and photograph meals. But what does all of this data do for you? A lot, as it turns out. For starters it offers you awareness of your habits, something that many of us would rather ignore. Think about it. When you’re responsible for entering all the data, you might get lazy or you might even cheat. When the tracker is on you at all times, picking up your activity level, you can’t hide what you’re doing.

Even better, though, is the fact that you can see comprehensive data about your own habits. For example, you may notice weight loss one week and weight gain the next. When referring back to your activity charts you might see that the week you lost weight was one where you had additional activity during the day, due to walking at lunch with coworkers, for example. Without the tracker you might not have realized the difference between one week and the next. In short, UP can provide you with the analytical data needed to help you stay on track with your health and fitness goals. Whether you’re looking to drop a few pounds, you’re interested in options in bariatrics for major weight loss, or you simply want to improve your overall health, this app for iOS and Android is one that can definitely get you to your goals. And with encouragement from the UP community, as well as a 24/7 data stream, you’re sure to get there a lot faster.