This ain't no party, this ain't no disco...

I need you to promise me that you won't have me committed for this one... I am attempting to clean up my eating habits right now...a week before Thanksgiving. I'd be the first to call myself a fool if it wasn't for one secret weapon: myfitnesspal. This glorious website takes all of the guess work out of getting in shape and is very simple to use. Trust me, I couldn't properly save word documents until college. Straight face. Anyway, the site includes many tools with which you can track your success, giving you the opportunity to set real goals and keep them. Here are some of my favorite features:

1. You can type in almost any brand name food item and a nutritional listing will appear. Generic items, like fruit or cheese, are also listed. Can't find what you're looking for? You can add the item to the database. This database is shared by all the members that use the site.

2. The program not only tells you how many calories you have consumed, but also other key players like carbs, sugar, and fat. That way, when you're thinking about eating that candy bar because you have calories left, you'll reconsider your sugar high.

3. The site starts by asking you some personal questions like how much you currently exercise, how much you weigh, gender, etc, and then will ask you how much you plan on exercising and how much weight you want to lose. It then calculates the amount of calories and exercise you will need daily to reach said goal. It will produce a goal date based on your promised exercise and average weight loss from people like yourself.

4. The exercise section allows you to input your exercise contribution and will then automatically add those precious calories back to your allotment. Be slightly wary of this section. I believe the calories burned that are listed are averages and may not correspond to your weight and height. To be safe, try and use machines that record your calories burned or find out how many calories your body type burns for specific exercises.

5. The best thing about this sight is the water icon. It reminds you that eight glasses a day keeps you healthy and offers a helpful visual to keep you on track. Something so simple as drinking water is sometimes forgotten; this little gem reminds me everyday. 

6. Although I have not used any, the site also lists tons of apps that can aid in your weight loss goals while on the go. 

I promise my next post will be about food, but for now, enjoy this little morsel.