Honesty

I have to say that honesty is a trait that a value highly. As much as I value it, there are times when it comes from the people close to you that it really stings.

Up until a month ago, I was logging regularly on MyFitnessPal. Some unexpected events occurred and my logging to a back seat. I have really struggled with getting back into the habit of logging everything that I eat and every exercise that I complete. But, I know that in order to be successful, I have to get back into what I was doing.

Yesterday, I happened to state (in front of my main supporter) that I couldn't get the numbers on the scale to go down. Their response, 'well you have been hitting the breads kind of hard'. Talk about an eye opener.

I will admit that I have let some of my old habits creep back into my life, which was never a good thing. Truth be told, I have been hitting the breads (and other carbs) very hard. To have someone actually mention that is what I was dong (from their observations alone) was pretty hurtful. It wasn't necessarily their comment that hurt me, it was the fact that their comment made me realize I was hurting my body by reverting to my old ways.

I tell myself time and time again that today is going to be the day that I begin working out again. Then their comes the main excuse,  'everything is picking up in the semester and I rarely have time to myself'. That alone should tell me that I have to make time for myself, no matter how much work I am buried under. Even if it is just 30 minutes a day, that is enough time to get in some type of exercise.

I downloaded a few apps from Zen Labs, LLC this past week and since they can be done indoors (the push-up trainer for example), I figured I would start there and then as the semester calms down (hopefully very very soon, a little over 1 month left!), I will be able to get back outside and start C25K over.

All of these ideas and plans sound great in my head and they are things that I want to do. I just hope I can start committing to what I blog about.

Final Thoughts: MyFitnessPal vs. LoseIt!

I have been losing MyFitnessPal since June 12, 2013 and in those two weeks, I have dropped 2 pounds. That is an amazing accomplishment for me since I was either gaining or maintaining a weight I didn't want to while on LoseIt!. I am not saying LoseIt! can not help accomplish your goals, I am saying that at the moment, it wasn't helping me achieve mine like I wanted it to.

Since these are my final thoughts of both, there are a few things that are worth comparing, essentially some last minute pros and cons. Ironically, what is a pro for MFP also serves as a con for LoseIt! and vice versa. 

Pros of MFP:

• You can log multiple days at a time. Therefore, I can log all of my meals for the week on one day versus having to wait for that day to actually come, like I would have to do on LoseIt.
• Gives you your projected (just an estimate) weight loss in 5 weeks view. 

Cons of MFP:

• Can only change your username once, so choose carefully!

These 3 pros and cons may not seem like much, but they are things that I search for. The only way that I can log multiple days on LoseIt! is to pay (upgrade to premium), but why should I have to pay for that? Luckily, MFP includes that. 

At this time, MFP is my choice and one that I was happy to make. MFP is working for me at the moment and I hope that it continues to do so in the future. As long as I keep logging, stay motivated and determined, I know that I will be successful. 

LoseIt! vs. MyFitnessPal Update

Last week I decided I would compare LoseIt! vs. MyFitnessPal to see which one was a better fit for me. Of course, one week is not going to be a huge determining factor in which one is better, so I will continue to compare both and give my final update next week.

This week I want to focus on what I have noticed (difference and similarities) between the two programs.

Layout
Both weight loss programs operate online and through an app. The homepage for LoseIt! has a simple layout with everything in an easily identifiable location. Information such as your daily totals, weight progress, activities, meal breakdown, etc. are all on the home page. (Image shows only half of homepage)

MyFitnessPal (MFP) runs adds on their home page, which I don't like, but it doesn't kill me to go on there. The homepage for MFP gives your daily summary, diet tools, news feed, weight loss progress, etc. (Image shows only half of homepage and to protect the identities of those on MFP, their names and pictures have been crossed out)

Mobile App

The mobile app for LoseIt! also has a simple interface. When you first bring the app up it brings you to your daily log, similar to the homepage on the website. MFP just released their update to mobile app yesterday (and trust me, it is much better than what they were working with before) which has made everything even more simple. You are taken right to your summary (essentially a mini website homepage) but the design is more user friendly. 

Food Database

When it comes to logging "brand name" foods into LoseIt!, you have the option of choosing between supermarket foods or restaurant foods. Supermarket foods are based on names (example - 100 calorie, Birds Eye, Lean Cuisine, etc.). Whereas restaurant foods are broken down by restaurant name (example - Arby's, Bojangles', Chick-Fil-A, etc.). 

When it comes to logging "brand name" foods in MFP, you have to literally type the name of the restaurant or supermarket food to get results. 

Luckily both LoseIt! and MFP have barcode scanners which makes scanning non-restaurant foods much easier. 

Calorie Allotment

At this stage in my journey LoseIt! is allowing me 1783 calories, while MFP is allowing me 1780. A deficit of 3 calories doesn't seem like much of a difference, but at the end of the week, one program is giving me 21 additional calories. 

Your calorie allotment is based on the information that you put into the database (it may be your age, height, current weight, goal weight, the pounds you want to lose per week, etc.). Everything is calculated for you, the only thing you have to do is log your foods and exercise.

Weight Loss

I had been stuck in a rut, and gained a little, while using LoseIt!. When I switched to using MFP I lost a pound in my first week! I don't know if that should be attributed to MFP, clean eating, exercise or all three; but what I do know is that I was pleased with what I saw and hope to see it again. 

Support System

Both programs have great support systems, known as communities. You have the chance to connect with so many people who are going through the same things that you are going through. 

Both have groups that you can join, which offer additional support. There are challenges on LoseIt! and MFP (you have to search through groups on MFP) and MFP gives you the option of creating a blog on their site!

Initial Thoughts

Right now, I am really enjoying MFP and once I have used it for another week, I will be able to give my final thoughts on which program I like the best and which one really works for me. 

If there is something I didn't cover in this review that you would like to know about, let me know and I will jump right on it!

LoseIt! vs. MyFitnessPal

I successfully used LoseIt! last year to drop 30 pounds. Then, unfortunately, I successfully gained it back when I stopped using LoseIt! because I thought I had everything under control. Yesterday, I decided to check out MyFitnessPal (MFP) for the first time in about 6 months.

For the next few days I will focus solely on MFP (while still logging on LoseIt! as well). If you follow me on Twitter, you will notice that updates based on my day (ex., finishing under my calorie budget & exercising) will appear on my feed from MFP (note: LoseIt! will do the same thing if your Twitter account is enabled). These updates are yet another way to keep me focused on the goal that I am trying to reach.

Aside from minor details, I will be looking to see which calorie counter gives me more calories per day, how large their food database is, user friendliness, calories per food, calorie deficit at the end of the day, etc. Ultimately, I am looking to see which counter helps me drop the highest amount of weight per week. Both LoseIt! and MFP state that my goal is to drop 2 pounds per week. Lately, based on my performance, I have been struggling to lose a few ounces much less pounds, so I figured I would switch up what I was doing a little.

Through this process I am in no way trying to persuade anyone who is reading this to switch from one of these counters to the other. This is simply an experiment that I want to conduct to see which one works better for me. I have heard phenomenal reviews about both and after my success on one, I want to see if  will be successful on the other.