Weight/exercise/diet tracking website?

[cael]

Do any of you guys use one of these sites? Spark people, weight chart, or anything else? (those are just the 2 I was discussing with a coworker) I'm wondering what other options there are. I'd like one with the option of keeping a food diary, because I think seeing what I actually eat would really help me. Any suggestions?

[thyme4change]

My fitness pal is another one.

I use Fat Secret because it has a free app for my phone. I felt the phone option was the best because I could track my food wherever I was - home, work, travel, etc.

[azphx1972]

www.fitday.com/

It works for some people.

[Deleted]

I admire people who take the time to keep track of all of that. It would drive me nuts.

[The J]

When I was more obsessive about my food a number of years ago, I used fitday, though I had actually purchased the software at the time -- the website was slow for my tastes, and smartphones didn't really exist back then. It was really good -- I had a number of custom food entries, which were very easy to create, particularly since I was measuring EVERYTHING at the time.

That would be my biggest hesitation right now -- I'm not really measuring, so I'm not going to have an accurate calorie count.

[thyme4change]

I think it is helpful if your calorie count is out of whack and you can't make judgement calls well. It probably helps to count the calories until new habits are formed and you can trust that you will naturally make decent decisions. It might take 3 months, it might take a year - but once you are in a good routine, you probably don't need to keep it up - unless you start to stray again.

[cael]

Thanks for the suggestions guys, I'll check all those out! I don't want to do a food diary so much for the calorie count, but just to record what I eat so that if I start getting off track, I can see it on paper (so to speak). Calorie counting might be tough for me, I don't pay much attention to serving sizes usually.

[Deleted]

I use Spark People....

Weight loss is 80% nutrition. Tracking those calories really helps!

[The J]

Mar 31, 2011 12:07:58 GMT -5 cael said:

Thanks for the suggestions guys, I'll check all those out! I don't want to do a food diary so much for the calorie count, but just to record what I eat so that if I start getting off track, I can see it on paper (so to speak). Calorie counting might be tough for me, I don't pay much attention to serving sizes usually.

Personally, I think portion size is more important -- it's not an issue if you eat ice cream several times a week; it is an issue if you eat giant bowls of ice cream several times a week. So even if you're tracking what you eat, you need some idea of the quantity for it to be meaningful.

[Sum Dum Gai]

I use bodyspace on bodybuilding.com to track my weight and workouts. I think it has a diet tracker thing on there somewhere, but I don't use it so have no idea whether or not it's any good. I'm getting addicted to the green thumbs up thing you get when you enter a workout with a new personal best in it. It's a little sad how much I look forward to a computer telling me I'm doing a good job.

[Deleted]

LOL. I have a virtual trainer on my wii workout and I very much want and look forward to her approval. It's a good thing she doesn't know Dr.Pig.

[Deleted]

LOL MM! I bet you get more encouraging with every glass.

[cael]

Mar 31, 2011 12:33:53 GMT -5 The J said:

Mar 31, 2011 12:07:58 GMT -5 cael said:

Thanks for the suggestions guys, I'll check all those out! I don't want to do a food diary so much for the calorie count, but just to record what I eat so that if I start getting off track, I can see it on paper (so to speak). Calorie counting might be tough for me, I don't pay much attention to serving sizes usually.

Personally, I think portion size is more important -- it's not an issue if you eat ice cream several times a week; it is an issue if you eat giant bowls of ice cream several times a week. So even if you're tracking what you eat, you need some idea of the quantity for it to be meaningful.

Oh, yeah. I am very conscious of my portion sizes and always make a concerted effort not to over-eat, which is difficult for me. I just think measuring out serving sizes might make me insane!

[cael]

Speaking of health and diets and losing weight and overeating, can I tell you all about the amazing buffalo chicken calzone I just ate half of?

[thyme4change]

Better than eating the whole thing!

[cael]

That's what I said! And since I've been eating really healthy controlled portions all week, I'm so full now I won't want any food the entire rest of the night. And DF won't kill me for eating his dinner, lol.