Using tech tools to motivate (Fitbit, Bodybugg, etc)

jhendricks123

I realized today that I actually need technology to lose weight. Okay, well I know I don't actually NEED it, but it has such a psychological impact and motivates me so much more than anything else I can think of. My only excuse for shelling out the money for fitness tech is that I'm an IT guy, and it's for my own health afterall... hehe.

First it was BodyBugg, then it was Runkeeper, then My Fitness Pal, and now it's the Fitbit Aria wifi scale. It seems like I really need some sort of gauge to keep me motivated to lose weight. It's kind of like trying to drive without looking at the speedometer... I'll almost always end up going over the limit unless I check my speed every minute or so.

Using technology to track my progress and monitor trends really helps me to keep going down the right path. If I have a graph showing a history of 2lbs/week loss and body fat going down or 1500 calories/day burned during exercise, I'm much less likely to be a couch potato and order pizza.

A year ago my wife tore some tendons/ligaments in her ankle while we were training for a half marathon. She just had surgery to repair the damage this summer but we've been inactive for a year now. Obviously I have no legitimate excuse, but it was really hard to keep motivated to run by myself and leave her at home. Unfortunately I've put on 60lbs since then.

Now at 270lbs, my latest toy is the Fitbit Aria wifi scale. I love the fact that I don't have to do anything but step on it, and my stats are recorded and immediately ready to view online. I used to have a complex spreadsheet to track the same info but it was a pain to remember the numbers from the scale, then go to the computer and enter them all and maintain the spreadsheet. Hopefully this constant reminder of my progress, and maintained use of MFP, will prevent me from feeding my food addiction and motivate me to keep active and get down to my goal weight.

What tech tools do you use to keep yourself motivated? I'm thinking about getting the Fitbit One since I don't have my bodybugg anymore (didn't like paying for membership).