Fitness Apps/Fit Bit Thingies

[nicolewi]

I really need to get my butt in gear. I have to lose my "baby weight" from 3 years ago and improve my overall fitness. I'd really like to go into summer in better shape.

I'm thinking of getting a Fit Bit or something and/or using some kind of app to keep me more accountable. It's very easy for me to lose track of/not realize how many calories I'm eating. Anything to recommend? Seems like most people use "My Fitness Pal," and you are supposed to enter what you eat on your phone? 

I am NOT very likely to get caught up in this and be passionately dedicated, so I need something easy.

[auroraloo]

I track everything on my fitbit. I have an alarm set for 8:00 every night to go in and track my food for the day.

[nicolewi]

auroraloo, which fitbit? Can I get an older/cheaper one or are the new ones a lot better?

[auroraloo]

I have an alta and I love it. I've had a zip before because I hated things on my wrist, then a flex. I got the alta because I can read my texts on it. I've been wearing it for years.

[penguingrrl]

I pair a Fitbit Alta with myfitness pal for food logging. The Fitbit seems to give me way too many calories per day to successfully lose, but this seems to work.

I actually log my dinner early in the day then build the rest of my menu for the day around what my calorie budget is and what else I need (meaning if dinner is pasta then lunch will be more protein heavy, etc). If I just logged after everything I would be way over my calorie budget.

Some days I move enough more that I have extra calories available at the end of the day and then I’ll add a snack after dinner, usually a fruit.

[auroraloo]

Jan 22, 2018 7:21:37 GMT -5 penguingrrl said:

I pair a Fitbit Alta with myfitness pal for food logging. The Fitbit seems to give me way too many calories per day to successfully lose, but this seems to work.

I actually log my dinner early in the day then build the rest of my menu for the day around what my calorie budget is and what else I need (meaning if dinner is pasta then lunch will be more protein heavy, etc). If I just logged after everything I would be way over my calorie budget.

Some days I move enough more that I have extra calories available at the end of the day and then I’ll add a snack after dinner, usually a fruit.

I log as much as I remember during the day. I don't count calories though. I focus on the health level of my meal. The 8:00 alarm is after I've eaten everything I'm going to for the day, so I fill in anything I've missed.      

[cjcouple]

I love my Fitbit Charge 2. Logging food through Apps is actually not bad at all. Initially it is more work but once "your" foods get in there it is easier to load later. I like to load my meals early. I pack breakfast/lunch for work everyday and meal plan dinners so I just load it all in early and add a snack as I have it. Plus there is a bar code scanner that auto loads nutrition info justr make sure you use correct servings.

[penguingrrl]

Jan 22, 2018 10:21:12 GMT -5 auroraloo said:

Jan 22, 2018 7:21:37 GMT -5 penguingrrl said:

I pair a Fitbit Alta with myfitness pal for food logging. The Fitbit seems to give me way too many calories per day to successfully lose, but this seems to work.

I actually log my dinner early in the day then build the rest of my menu for the day around what my calorie budget is and what else I need (meaning if dinner is pasta then lunch will be more protein heavy, etc). If I just logged after everything I would be way over my calorie budget.

Some days I move enough more that I have extra calories available at the end of the day and then I’ll add a snack after dinner, usually a fruit.

I log as much as I remember during the day. I don't count calories though. I focus on the health level of my meal. The 8:00 alarm is after I've eaten everything I'm going to for the day, so I fill in anything I've missed.      

Gotcha! I have a ridiculously huge appetite lol! When I’ve done that I’m 700+ calories over for the day. Usually all healthy foods, just way too much of them.