How to use phone apps to lose weight.
Resolutions for the New Year often center on losing weight. Thanks to smartphones, it’s easier than ever to shed some pounds. To learn about phone apps and their usefulness for people to get fit, the Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board sought out Erica Hechler, registered dietitian at the Florida Hospital Diabetes Institute’s New Day, New Weigh Weight Management Program. For a complete transcript go to OrlandoSentinel.com/Opinion.
Q: What challenges do people encounter as they set out to establish new habits and goals?
A: I find in working with clients that self-monitoring and accountability are key to achieving long-term success. Research shows that when people record their food intake and exercise, there is enhanced awareness surrounding identifying behaviors that lead to success or failure. We encourage clients to work with software applications or apps that can help them troubleshoot and identify areas in need of improvement. The results of these “real time” entries prove to be a valuable tool at our subsequent visits to help formulate a plan.
Q: What are some features that are important when one considers choosing an app?
A: We want people to find the information derived from it useful and we don’t want its use to feel like another chore or item on their “To Do” list. So, when reviewing an app and making recommendations for people, we ask ourselves the following: Does it take a lot of time to use? Is the design friendly and easy to use? Can it be personalized to meet individual goals? Does it give you useful information? Does it provide you with useful feedback to help you achieve your goals? Does it allow you to share the data with your health-care professional? Does it have an online community support component?
Q: What are some of your favorite food and nutrition apps that work well?
A: My “go-to” app for the nutrition component is MyFitnessPal. This app is very complete and has many useful tools to help clients become more aware of the foods they choose. Some of my favorite features include the ability to personalize my clients’ calorie and macronutrient goals to meet their individual needs. Clients are able to log their food intake and compare the results to the programmed goals for each meal and snack consumed. This allows for an increased awareness of the food chosen and helps identify behaviors that may be hindering success. Many clients love the program’s ability to quickly scan food into the database.
There is also an exercise feature and sections where one can integrate other apps and wearables for enhanced support and data tracking. The online community component is very useful for those needing extra support and motivation by others sharing the same journey.
We also use Calorie King. It is an app widely used by registered dietitians to help clients with their daily food choices. With its database containing more than 80,000 foods, one can find most any food. This app is especially helpful when dining out and trying to stay on track with the food plan.
Q: We hear menu planning and advanced meal preparation can be helpful for staying on track. Are there any apps that can help us with this?
A: Clients who meal plan tend to be more successful long term. There is an app called Pepperplate that is wonderful. Clients can import recipes from the web or enter their own recipes and keep an online recipe box. There is a section to create and plan menus and create detailed shopping lists.