Thing 21 is a Free-For-All, meaning we get to choose whatever app we want to blog about. After very little consideration, I'm going with a "Health and Fitness" theme and choosing to blog about MyFitnessPal (MFP) (Apple and Android). Its a free app that is, hands down, the app I use most frequently, so it only seems right I include it here!
As I've mentioned before, I've lost a lot of weight, and a lot of that weight came off with the help of this app. Its essentially a calorie counting, diet tracking app. Create an account, input your information, select your goals, and MFP gives you a daily goal for your calories as well as macro and micronutrients (fat, protein, carbs, vitamins, minerals, etc). The database of foods includes literally millions of entries, so odds are if you're eating it, you can find it in the database and add it to your food diary for the day. It also has a barcode scanner so if you're eating something packaged you can scan the barcode and up will pop the food you're eating and its nutritional information. Making a recipe? Enter the ingredients and number of servings in the Recipe Builder and you'll have the full nutritional breakdown per serving that can be added directly to your diary. At the end of the day (or anytime, really), the diary lets you view your full nutritional breakdown for the day-did you go over your sodium or sugar goals? Get enough calcium or vitamin D? You'll know for sure using the breakdown tools.
It also has entries for exercise. Based on your gender, height and weight MFP estimates calories burned for a wide variety of physical activities-from gardening to basketball and running to snowshoeing and Brazillian Jiu Jitsu, if you move it, you can probably track it! And, if you have a fitbit, BodyMedia, Nike Fuel or any other variety of fitness/step tracker, it very likely also syncs with MFP.
Its a great, easy to use app that is constantly being updated and improved. It also has a .com version, so those without smartphones or those who just spend a lot of time on computers can use it. I should also mention it has settings for those looking to maintain their weight or gain weight as well, so its not just for dieters but also weight lifters and athletes. If you're looking to lose weight, or just get a better idea of what exactly you are eating and weather or not you're getting all the appropriate nutrients, this app is GREAT. I cannot recommend it enough because, as I said, its helped me lose, and keep off for over a year, 100+ pounds. As far as library applications, it could be combined with programming as an additional resource.
Ok, end of testimonial :) Sorry, I can't help but love MFP. Anyway, things are just about to wrap up! Stay tuned as I post the final two blog entries in the next day or two!
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