Showing posts with label fitness app. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fitness app. Show all posts

17 Things I've Learned While Using My Fitness Pal

Today is my 16th day of tracking my exercise, meals and snacks using the My Fitness Pal app.

When the hubby mentioned it to me I thought it'd be fun to try. I'm always looking for ways to be healthier and it might be a good thing to learn more about portion control. Well, I've learned about portions and so much more.

Here's 17 insights and thoughts since I started using the app.
  1. Spices (such as ground cinnamon and garlic powder) do contain calories and should be logged.
  2. Choose portions based on your needs, not what a food package says you should eat.
  3. I feel guilty if I go over my daily allotment of calories and try to be better the next day.
  4. Having friends to "like" your health achievement updates on the app is wonderful!
  5. I've never eaten one portion of pasta in my life. I want a big bowl or none at all.
  6. Celery does indeed have calories, contrary to popular dieting myths.
  7. Olive oil is a healthy unsaturated fat but it's high in calories. Use it wisely.
  8. I don't get enough sodium, potassium, or protein most days. I'm working to improve that.
  9. I find myself snacking less since I have to be honest and log it.
  10. I make everything I put on my plate count and strive to eat more nutritionally balanced meals.
  11. I'm happy to see restaurant food and popular recipes are included in the food search feature.
  12. Why is peanut butter and cashew butter so high in calories?
  13. I love being able to track my daily vitamin and mineral consumption.
  14. I feel proud each time I log exercise or physical activities, like mowing the lawn.
  15. I can enjoy cake -- in moderation -- and still meet my daily health goals.
  16. Alcoholic beverages and cheese have more calories than I realized.
  17. A half cup portion is not very big. I've been eating too much of most foods.

Do you use My Fitness Pal? What feature or information has surprised you most since you started using it? Tell me in the comments below.

Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela Tague
Whole Foods Living

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I Eat Too Much Fruit and Not Enough Fat

Who knew. Apparently I eat too much fruit. And vegetables.

Last week I downloaded a fitness app on my cellphone and started tracking my food, exercise and water intake. In less than 48 hours several things became very clear.
  • You can eat too much produce.
  • Fruits and vegetables are high in carbohydrates.
  • I don't eat enough fat. (WHAT??)

So, as I begin this journey of really understanding my food, I'm completely blown away. Although I've had a healthy whole foods diet for several years, I never realized I'm not eating foods in healthy proportions. 

That means no more bowls of strawberries for lunch, I guess.

Has a health or fitness program helped guide your nutrition and health progress? I'm all ears! What did you learn? Why do you still use the program?

Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela Tague
Whole Foods Living