A couple of years ago I stumbled upon one of the most helpful, fun, and totally free fitness resources I’ve ever found, and I’ve been using it ever since. Just in case you haven’t already discovered it (or something similar) for yourself, I thought I’d share a few details about MyFitnessPal.
MyFitnessPal enables you track anything and everything related to your fitness – weight, measurements, food and water intake, exercise, etc. – all in one place, and keep a historical record for future reference. Based on your current profile (height, weight, activity level, etc.) and goals, it works with you to determine the nutritional and fitness targets that will help you reach or maintain those goals, and adjusts the targets accordingly as your stats change.
MyFitnessPal is provided via web site and as an excellent app for all the most popular platforms. Everything you do is integrated through one login, so if you enter something on the app you’ll see it next time you log on to the web site, and vice versa.
In addition to fitness tracking, community support is a fantastic and extensive feature of MyFitnessPal and is available through friends, message boards, niche-specific groups, and individual blogs. It’s unbelievable to me just how much support and encouragement I’ve received from people who were once total strangers, and also how much information and perspective I’ve gained from certain posts and blogs!
The settings on MyFitnessPal allow you to make the resource as private or as public as you wish it to be. Whether you prefer to keep all of your information (weight, food diary, etc.) totally personal and private, or share some (or all) of your information and take advantage of the community support available, it’s all up to you.
MyFitnessPal isn’t just for people who wish to lose weight. I have several friends on the site who are already a healthy weight and are using the resources to stay that way. Others are bodybuilders or working towards fitness goals such as running a marathon. Really, it’s for anyone who wishes to be aware and intentional about their fitness.
I like MyFitnessPal so much that I actually switched over to it from Weight Watchers Online (which I’d been following previously with great success). I find that MyFitnessPal offers me a similar (if not actually better) experience… and did I mention that it’s free?! I only wish I’d found it sooner!
If you haven’t already discovered MyFitnessPal I encourage you to check it out and give it a try! (And if you decide to join up and wish to add me as a friend, my username is alphabetsalad.)
You are worth it!
Do you track your fitness with MyFitnessPal (or something else)?
Please share!
Twitter: gordonbryan
August 9, 2014
That’s interesting! When I finally got with the smartphone world, someone told me about myfitnesspal, but I have only used it to keep track of distances/times on things like walks and runs. I had no idea it did all the other stuff! That comes from hardly ever using the phone and using my laptop at home. Seems I still have a way to go to get with the fully mobile crowd – thanks for the prompt!
cheers, Gordon
The Great Gordino recently posted… ELO Cover Of The Day #1 – Telephone Line
Twitter: alphabetsalad
August 10, 2014
You’re most welcome – hope you enjoy discovering new features!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Today’s Gratitude List – Linkup No. 41
Sounds like a useful tool. Have to check it out.
Lily
Lily Leung recently posted… NO PRETTY WOMAN HERE
Twitter: alphabetsalad
August 10, 2014
Hope it works for you!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Today’s Gratitude List – Linkup No. 41
Twitter: RamblinGarden
August 9, 2014
I’ve been using the Weight Watchers online, including the iPhone app – well, subscribing to it – for almost two years now. I haven’t been using it very much lately, though – I find the tracking clumsy and their customer service is not the best. You are not the first Weight Watchers user I know who switched to My Fitness Pal. I didn’t know about all the things you could use it for, either. When I get my new iPhone in another month, I may check it out.
Alana recently posted… Sustainable Saturday – Bug Off!
Twitter: alphabetsalad
August 10, 2014
I am definitely impressed with the fact that MyFitnessPal is free, yet offers what I think of as a better experience than Weight Watchers did. Not often that this sort of thing happens!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Today’s Gratitude List – Linkup No. 41
Twitter: 1951
August 9, 2014
I’ll have to check it out.
Carol Cassara recently posted… Not the stuff of romance
Twitter: alphabetsalad
August 10, 2014
Hope you like it!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Today’s Gratitude List – Linkup No. 41
Twitter: millionmileblog
August 9, 2014
Glad to see you still working so hard. Keeping my fingers crossed I knownyou can do it!
Rena McDaniel recently posted… BELTERRA CROWN JEWEL OF INDIANA…MUST BE CUBIC ZIRCONIA
Twitter: alphabetsalad
August 10, 2014
Thanks, Rena! 🙂
Laurel Regan recently posted… Today’s Gratitude List – Linkup No. 41
Twitter: Texasebeth
August 9, 2014
I use my WW app to track my daily points but my FitBit flex to track my steps. The FitBit does it automatically for me though. Lately I have started tracking my water intake as well.
I tell people all the time to try different apps to find what works for them. That is the key to any thing health related!
Elizabeth recently posted… I’m Officially a Gator!
Twitter: alphabetsalad
August 10, 2014
I totally agree, Elizabeth! What works for one might not for someone else. All that’s really important is that we do SOMETHING!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Today’s Gratitude List – Linkup No. 41
Hey Laurel
As a health nut, I have heard of Fitness Pal, but – honestly – didn’t know that it offered such a gamut of features to maintain (and encourage) a healthy lifestyle.
Rock on, lady.
Much love
Kitto
PS: My favorite site is http://www.sparkpeople.com/ -> feel free to check it out, dear #HUGSS
Twitter: alphabetsalad
August 10, 2014
I was a member of SparkPeople many years ago – it’s a great site! Thanks!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Today’s Gratitude List – Linkup No. 41
Twitter: beloome
August 10, 2014
Definitely worth checking out. Thanks for sharing, Laurel!
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Twitter: alphabetsalad
August 10, 2014
You’re welcome! 🙂
Laurel Regan recently posted… Today’s Gratitude List – Linkup No. 41
Twitter: kohleyedme
August 10, 2014
Thanks for sharing this inf, Laurel! It’s worth checking out! 🙂
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Twitter: alphabetsalad
August 10, 2014
You’re welcome! 🙂
Laurel Regan recently posted… Today’s Gratitude List – Linkup No. 41
it looks wonderful … I am off to explore it’s features.
Rajlakshmi recently posted… 3D Quilling Elephant
Twitter: alphabetsalad
August 10, 2014
Hope you like it!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Today’s Gratitude List – Linkup No. 41
I am all with you on this one Laurel- I am also so hooked on myfitnesspal – a great tool:-) Njoy:-)
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Twitter: alphabetsalad
August 10, 2014
It really is!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Today’s Gratitude List – Linkup No. 41
Twitter: nabanita21
August 10, 2014
I’ll have to check it out..You know I’ve not been taking care of myself from the fitness aspect..
nabanita recently posted… The Weekend Roundup
Twitter: alphabetsalad
August 10, 2014
Hope this is helpful for you!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Today’s Gratitude List – Linkup No. 41
Twitter: geekgirlusa
August 10, 2014
I have used MyFitnessPal for years. Love it!
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Twitter: alphabetsalad
August 10, 2014
It’s a terrific site!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Today’s Gratitude List – Linkup No. 41
Twitter: FitArmadillo
August 10, 2014
I’m a personal trainer and many of my clients who don’t opt for custom meal plans use MyFitnessPlan. I think it’s a great tool, however, you do need to be careful if you are setting a weight loss goal. The custom weight loss option can have you eating too few calories and cause you to mess up your metabolism in the process. Ideally, you only want to have a 250-500 calorie deficit a day (250 is very easy for the body to adjust to, 500 is more ambitious) and a goal of 2lbs a week max. Women should never eat fewer than 1200 calories and men never fewer than 1500. Otherwise, you wont be able to have permanent weight loss. However, if you keep those points in mind, it can be a wonderful tool!
Catherine recently posted… The 3 Keys for Healthy Weight Loss and Common Mistakes to Avoid
Twitter: alphabetsalad
August 12, 2014
Very wise words! MFP doesn’t allow you the option of setting a goal to lose more than 2 lbs per week, which is good. Plus, you get a warning if you finish the day with less than 1200 calories. People will still do what they want, I suppose, but at least those safeguards are in place!
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Twitter: FitArmadillo
August 12, 2014
Oh! That’s good to know. I was playing around with it recently and it let me set a custom goal of 1000 calories, but I didn’t actually log everything. I’ll have to play with it more and see what happens if I actually log only 1000 with a 1000 cal custom goal. Glad they have a few safeguards in place. Many don’t!
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Twitter: alphabetsalad
August 12, 2014
I’d be interested to hear what happens – hopefully the warning kicks in!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Review & Giveaway: ActiFry 2in1 from T-fal Canada
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