2012 may be the year you have decided to start eating better and moving a little more.
Fortunately, that doesn’t have to mean spending thousands on a nutritionist or personal trainer, since many of us now rely on technology to help set our eating habits straight.
And, there are literally thousands of tools available for your iPhone, T-Mobile wireless smart phone, or other mobile device, to help with food tracking, calorie counting, and motivation, on your quest for a healthier body.
However, when it comes to choosing between these tools, the decision can be extremely overwhelming.
Best Weight Loss Apps
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That’s why I’ve put together this handy list of my five favorite smart phone apps for weight loss:
1. WeightWatchers (free for iPhone)
WeightWatchers is my favorite “lifestyle” eating plan.
I call it that because instead of telling you to cut down your daily calorie count, and swap certain foods for other foods blindly, WeightWatchers actually educates you on why you are eating certain foods, and it helps you understand how to eat a properly, balanced diet.
iPhone users can download the WeightWatchers app for tracking WW points on the go.
The app also features a 31,000 food database, detailed nutritional breakdowns for food, can track daily fitness and activities, and serves up a smorgasbord of healthy recipes.
2. DailyBurn (free for iPhone)
If you’re looking for an app with ingenious food-tracking functionality, then DailyBurn is the app for you.
Not only does it feature a jam-packed 350,000 food database, including foods from popular chain restaurants, and even organic and ethnic foods, DailyBurn also provides a complete nutritional breakdown for each food you’ll log (including calories, protein, fat, and carbohydrates).
You can also log food with the super convenient UPC barcode scanning app using your iPhone camera, which is handy while grocery shopping, if you’re unsure of which product is the healthiest for you.
3. Calorie Tracker By Livestrong ($2.99 for iPhone)
No food tracking app has anything on Livestrong’s Calorie Tracker, and its impressive 450,000 food database. And, why would Lance Armstrong be satisfied with anything less?
I use this app to analyze the foods I eat according to their caloric, fat, protein, sugar, fiber, and carbohydrate content.
I also enter the exercises I do daily according to time and distance (so I can enjoy a little dark chocolate every so often).
The Calorie Tracker app allows users to customize their caloric intake based on things like BMI goals, weight loss goals, etc.
And, it provides a daily look at your nutrition and activity program, providing a pie-chart overview, to help you stay on track with your fitness goals.
4. Diabetes Buddy Diet Tracker ($4.99 for iPhone)
If your doctor has suggested better management of your blood sugar levels, the Diabetes Buddy app could help you.
It tracks weight, the foods you consume, hydration levels, physical activity, glucose readings, and insulin injections, on a daily basis.
It also helps take the guesswork out of things like carbohydrate consumption, which can take a little getting used to when you are initially diagnosed with diabetes.
5. Lose It! (Free for iPhone)
Lose It! lets users create a personalized weight loss plan they can use anywhere.
The app provides daily and weekly progress reports, which help you stay focused on your weight loss goals.
For added motivation, this app rewards those who stay on track with rewards (or badges) to celebrate certain milestones (i.e. the first 5 or 10 pounds).
Do you use any weight loss apps? What’s your favorite?
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{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
We’ve been using MyFitnessPal (http://http://www.myfitnesspal.com). Free website/Android/iPhone/iPad apps. It’s been working great for me, my wife, and her sister. It’s got a good database for food and exercise (both strength and cardio). I’ve used LoseIt and LiveStrong as well. I don’t remember why I quit using LostIt, but LiveStrong does not have an Android app as far as I can tell, so that one is out for me now.
Hi Jeff, Thanks for sharing what has worked for you.
Thanks for that Jeff. I am downloading this now for my phone.
Sorry Melanie, I have been out of the loop for a few weeks. First I was gearing up for the return to Uni; then I got there last week and things were not going well; spent the 5 days in a muddled headspace which didn’t bide well for any real exercise. I probably lost weight because I kept forgetting to eat…now things appear to be back on a “great and intersting track” so I will endeavour to read and review more of your offerings…
I certainly am not using any “app” but I’m sure they are useful if that is how you like to do things…and I don’t have a fancy phone etc (looking into it though!)
I don’t use any either, Cathy, but I wouldn’t mind giving some of these a go.
Whew!’ another breakthrough for serious dieters out there.thanks for the share!
I need to get at least one diet app on my iPhone. At the moment the only health app I have is Fit Builder which is great for tracking your workouts but doesn’t have a diet tracker.
Before I do that I need to find some space to fit it though. My iPhones been full for months and clearing a bit of space on it has always been one of those tasks I put off.
Tom
lol sounds like a tough job!! :-)
I’ve lost 50 lbs in the past 6 months (234 down to 184). Exercising with Tony Horton’s Power 90 series was certainly a big reason, as was my Fitbit, but the biggest reason by far has been tracking all of my food, calories and nutrition via LoseIt.com and the LoseIt iPhone app. I absolutely couldn’t have done it without LoseIt.
Wow… that’s impressive Mitch. Really well done! Great to hear what has worked for you.
MyFitnessPal it’s the typical calorie counter and exercise tracker but you sync up w/ your friends and (if you want) can see each other’s logs and encourage one another. I use it everyday and make wiser choices b/c I know my girls are “watching” lol
That’s really cool that you can sync with friends. I’m sure that breads a little healthy competition? :)
I find my fitnesspal to work really well. It helped me lose at least 20 lbs. in 3 months, something I hadn’t ever really been able to do. It was the first fitness app I have used and the only one I have tried, but it never hurts to try out more apps. :)