Do you use tools like My Fitness Pal, Fitbit, etc?

[Balance 8]

I'm 3 weeks post op and I'm trying to create a routine I can follow. I just downloaded the My Fitness Pal app and it seems pretty easy to keep track of what I'm eating. I want to make sure I am getting in enough Protein and I think I may be too light on my calories since I am excersizing. Yesterday I felt a bit light headed. What do you use to keep track of your food intake?

For exercise, I use my Apple watch. I was going to buy a Fitbit but it was $125 and I figured for $225 more I could get an Apple watch which does that and much more. I was upset to see on My Fitness Pal that I could have linked my exercise to a Fitbit but it had nothing for an Apple watch so I would need to enter that manually. My sister is on this WLS journey with me and has a Fitbit...it would have been nice to share progress. Any tips on ways I can use the Apple watch better? Any tips on best option for others looking to buy an exercise tracker?

Any other apps or tools that are helpful?

Thanks!

[shriner37 249]

I am using MyFitnessPal and it does connect with the Apple Watch. If you Google "Connect Apple Watch to MyFitnessPal" it will bring up an article on how to connect the watch app.

I think the MyFitnessPal website and app are about the best tool out there for nutrition tracking. I've tried other sites/apps and MFP seems to have about the best library of foods. Just need to read carefully to make sure you are picking the right item and unit of measure.

Before I bought the Apple Watch I already had a FitBit Charge HR. Being off work this past week I've worn both of them just to compare. The FitBit is the better fitness tracker since it was designed solely for that purpose, but of course doesn't have all of the other features of the Apple Watch.

I think the graphic views, details and reporting are better with the FitBit app since it is specifically designed for exercise tracking. It also monitors sleep if you want, which you can't do with the Apple Watch since it needs to be charged each night.

All of that being said, I'm generally happy with how the Apple Watch works with the MFP app.

Edited January 2, 2016 by shriner37

[higher 966]

I'm using MFP now. I used it a few years ago religiously and lost 30 lbs and once I committed to changing my lifestyle again I picked it back up. I had some iTunes gift cards so just sprang for the premium version. I find it very helpful for food and nutrient tracking!

[Inner Surfer Girl 12,015]

I use MyFitnessPal. It is great for tracking Protein and since my memory is lousy, I couldn't do this without an easy way to track my food. MyFitnessPal works for me.

I just got a Misfit Shine but am still waiting for a durable band so haven't started using it.

I am sure there are other apps. I have downloaded a Couch to 5K app but am not yet ready to start with it. I do 95% of my exercise in the pool.

[Madmax68 227]

I really like MyFitnessPal. I find I meet my Water and Protein goals much better when I am tracking. It was recommended by my surgeon's office and before surgery it really helped me realize where my extra calories were coming from. Since surgery, it has really helped me meet my nutrition goals.

I wanted a Fitbit, but like Inner Surfer Girl I do most of my exercising in the Water. I understand the fitbit is not yet compatible with water sports. Please let me know if I am wrong

[OutsideMatchInside 10,166]

I know a lot of people love MFP, but I am not a fan.

I have a fitbit and I use Lifesum to track my food because it allows for different types of diets and make suggestions off those diets for you. I follow a ketogenic diet and it has that built in.

Lifesum would would with your Apple Watch. https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/lifesum-healthier-living-better/id286906691?mt=8

You can use a Fitbit Flex in Water, that was one of the reasons I bought it.

If I ever live near another good quality gym with a pool I might look into a tracker just for swimming.

http://www.wareable.com/fitness-trackers/the-best-waterproof-fitness-trackers-796

Edited January 2, 2016 by OutsideMatchInside

[Inner Surfer Girl 12,015]

I got the Misfit Shine (branded by Speedo) as a Christmas gift because it is supposed to work for swimming. Apparently, the band that comes prepackaged is pretty flimsy so my sister also ordered me a sturdier band. When it comes in I'll be able to tell how well the tracker works in the pool.

I am looking forward to using it because I haven't been counting laps, just going by duration.

[Dub 10,065]

Myfitnesspal helped me a lot during the preop stage.

Now, I don't track my calories with an app because it's simply too easy to do from memory. Meals are small and easy to track.

I'm do like my FitBit One....keep it on my keychain.

[rnsamantha 352]

I love my Fitbit Charge HR and wear it daily. It's held up well over the last 4 months. All of my exercise is done at the gym, and I am mostly a treadmill, weights-based workout person, so it's ideal for me. I use couch to 5 K app as well, although now I've graduated to 5K, so it's basically just a timer. I use My Fitness Pal, although 6 months out I am not nearly as diligent about tracking and need to get back on board with this!

[Christine99 69]

I use the "S Health" app on my phone faithfully...I track my exercise activity and every meal faithfully.

It keeps me honest and I can assure that I am getting at least 75g of Protein a day

[VSGAnn2014 12,992]

I've used (and benefited tremendously from) My Fitness Pal, Fitbit (Flex and Charge HR), the S Health app on my mobile phone.

Today's health technology rocks.

I'm sure tomorrow's tech will rock even more.

[BigViffer 3,545]

I currently have found MyFitnessPal has the best breakdown of the things I am tracking. The only thing I really don't like about it is there is no data export. FitBit has a data export, but it is purposefully exported in a fashion that is not friendly for those of us that keep a detailed database or spreadsheet. So I have to go into MFP reports and manually scrap the data for what I want to track.

If I found another service or website that had kickass data export functionality I would jump on it in a heartbeat.

[Newme900 4]

@@Balance

Hello there! This is my very first post although I have been stalking the site for a while. I have been using BARITASTIC app. It tracks all kinds of nutrition (calories, Protein, carbs, sugar, Water, exercise, etc.). It's free and it has worked really well for me.

[lovemylukers 80]

I'm just started using MFP today, can someone please tell me if there is a way to scan in food and how you do it???

[WorkinOnMe 597]

I use both MFP and a Fitbit and when I walk outside I also use MapMyWalk to compare the distance and timing with my Fitbit.

MFP - love that I can scan foods to enter easily! However, don't like that it tells me I need 1200 calories to lose weight. (still at about 1000/day)

Fitbit - love that it tracks for me all day long, like the challenges & connection with friends /family as this helps me stay motivated. Don't like that the wrist ones don't register correctly ... went back to my zip instead.