So some friends mentioned that they had the Fitbit app, and were friended with each other there, and mentioned that you didn’t need the actual device, just an iPhone. I’m hoping to get into better shape (I don’t particularly need to lose weight, though; my BMI has been holding pretty steady at 22.7 for a while now) and maybe reduce my cholesterol. So I downloaded it, and saw it came with a food log/calorie tracker. So I decided to try it out.
Man, my viewpoint towards food has changed as a result of that thing. I know that’s the point, but I’m honestly not sure who self conscious it should be making me, or what level is useful. Like, I find that I generally use 1300-1500 calories on an average day, and I generally consume about 1500-2000 (the latter only on a deliberate splurge day so far). Is that unhealthy? Should I be cutting down? How much effort should I be making? Is it “healthy” to be watching this thing every time I get a little hungry? I read someone opine that it’s natural and should be normal for people to feel a little bit hungry all the time.
Like I said, I know these answers would be really different if I were actively seeking to lose a significant amount of weight, but I’m not right now. Maybe it would be useful to just eat what I want, when I want, as I normally would, and just track that, to get a picture of my general eating habits? That might be useful…
If the app is making you all obsessive compulsive, I would advise you to get rid of it. If you are at a comfortable size for yourself and able to maintain it, what do you need it for?
That is pretty decent advice. I feel the same way about those work sponsored “X steps up the Matterhorn” things [I think Tinita was doing one that was walking from Paris to Rome or some such nonsense] based on how many steps your fitbit or whatever marks.
If you want to track your diet, or your steps for personal reasons, fine - I can see self-competition, can I get to 10 000 steps this week, can I maintain my diet [per nutritionist, not some random magazine/internet article about how many calories you should be eating and to follow whatever diet. I use a real certified trained nutritionist, not popular media and have for pushing 40 years, and for 30 of those years I managed to NOT need insulin.] I know someone who decided htey wanted ot run a half marathon after being a couch potato for most of her 40 years, She didn’t start by following magazines, she started by buying a treadmill and dedicated 1 hour a day to it. First day was 14 minutes walk, 1 minute try at jogging, alternating 14/1 for the hour. Next day she increased it by 1 minute until it was 14/5 x 3 for the hour. Next week it was 10 walk, 5 jog, increasing it by 1 minute, until after a bit she was actually jogging for the hour. Then she went back to the 14/1 but jogging/running until she was finally doing a solid hour of running at a comfortable pace. Definitely not magazine mandated, but she was comfortable and worked up at her own pace. She still only does half marathons, but she loves them and never felt pressured to do anything as it was done her own way.
DO what you feel comfortable doing, don’t let any app tell you what to do.
I think part of it for me is that I used to weigh 15 pounds less when I was younger (BMI 19 or so, according to the calculator), so I’m wondering if it’s something I should achieve again, if being that close to the upper end of BMI is bad. I used to weigh more (though still under overweight according to BMI), but reduced it by 8 pounds with some changes in eating habits. Plus there’s the rising cholesterol found in my last blood work up. Last I knew, it’s gone down since, but with my eating habits today under quarantine, who knows.
Basically, I’m trying to figure out if just following my current food instincts is harmful or not. I thought the app might help, but I can’t tell if the reactions to it are just me not wanting to make needed lifestyle changes or not.
Well, my cholesterol is back down as of my following appointment, which is good.
I’m still wondering if this app is doing me good. I’ve been keeping track of my weight, which has remained steady for the most part, but gone up somewhat this week (for reasons I can guess). But I’m still consistently registering more calories than I burn, so regularly that I’m wondering if keeping track (which is pretty tough for me, because I’m lousy at estimations) is doing me any good. I know I should be concerned about my diet and weight and all that, and awareness is key to that, but is it too much?