There are those who diet in time for summer and then there is me who goes so late that I start when summer is over. This is not the first time I try it and I hope it is the last, but now I have the help of an application to make the process less boring.
I have tried a few apps in the past to monitor what I eat, but in most cases I have found that either they were too basic or they were too complex I felt like I was putting a rocket into orbit around the Earth instead of tracking what I eat and improving my diet. Now, I’m pretty happy with a veteran app: MyFitnessPal.
This app helps me count calories and eat better
How many calories are in what I just ate? I have no idea, but luckily there are dozens of apps out there. The best ones also help you figure out what those numbers mean and calculate how many calories you should consume
That’s exactly what MyFitnessPal does, which is a very old app: it was launched before Android existed, in 2005, and from 2015 to 2020, it was owned by Under Armour. One of the things I liked most about it is that Your initial setup is pretty spot on.with a few questions and information, and then you can get right to work. Or big, depending on how you look at it.
Another thing I like about MyFitnessPal is that It’s primarily a calorie counting app with a few extras.compared to other apps that throw so many features at you right from the start that they end up overwhelming me until I uninstall them and eat another hamburger seasoned with tears of defeat.
The interface is quite clear, with a control panel from which I can see the current status and Record meals quickly and easily. As with all calorie tracking apps, the hardest part is finding what you’re eating, but with the advantage that the database has 14 million foods. This is always the hardest part, but at least often you have the pleasant surprise of finding that what you’re looking for is actually within reach of your search.
The downside to counting calories is that the barcode scanner is a premium featuresomething that I confess I didn’t like very much, since my intention was not to subscribe until I had tested the application enough. The premium version costs around 49.99 dollars per year (with offer), although it offers a trial month that I reserve for later, to be able to try exclusive functions such as macro tracking or the aforementioned barcode scanner.
And the more I use MyFitnessPal, the more I dig into its menus to discover that does more than just record meals– You can record your recipes or connect many third-party apps to record exercises, steps and more. It is compatible with Fitbit, Garmin, Withings, Strava, Google Fit, Samsung Health, Health Connect and many more.
September has just started and with it also my umpteenth attempt to change my diet, but to maximize my chances of success I’m also trying Yazio
Yazio There is a recipes sectionwhich is very useful when you control what you eat, although as expected, to take full advantage of it it is necessary to go to the checkout and buy the Premium version. In this case it is 29.99 dollars per year (with offer), without trial period.
These apps made my job a lot easier record what I eat and be more aware of my diet, although the real test will be whether I can maintain the routine of recording every meal throughout the weeks. Fingers crossed.
This article discusses personal experiences with diet apps, but should not be considered medical advice. Always consult a doctor or nutritionist before starting a diet or making a major change in your diet. |
Cover photo | Photo by Brenda Godinez on Unsplash
In Xataka Android | Neither Nutriscore nor Yuca, my favorite tool to know if a food is healthy is Gemini