What are your most useful weight loss tools?
retirehappy
Posts: 4,756 Member
I was just wondering what tools and tricks everyone uses to keep yourself of track, to keep motivated, or whatever, as long as it helps you with your weight loss journey.
I can think of few that seem to be must haves for me.
1) Smartphone with MyFitnessPal installed (and logging daily, doesn't work when I don't log!!!!)
2) My digital scale that measures in grams or ounces mode. Tells me what I am eating.
3) Apps that track my heart rate via my bluetooth heart rate monitor so I know I am getting more fit and keeping myself in the "zone". (One advantage of getting older you get in the zone and stay there more because it is lower than for the twentysomethings
4) Water bottle, my constant companion
5) Accurate measurement tools. Measuring spoons are not always correct. Make sure yours measure as they should. Most of the measuring cups are accurate, but check them to make sure they are.
Can't wait to see what others are doing.
I can think of few that seem to be must haves for me.
1) Smartphone with MyFitnessPal installed (and logging daily, doesn't work when I don't log!!!!)
2) My digital scale that measures in grams or ounces mode. Tells me what I am eating.
3) Apps that track my heart rate via my bluetooth heart rate monitor so I know I am getting more fit and keeping myself in the "zone". (One advantage of getting older you get in the zone and stay there more because it is lower than for the twentysomethings
4) Water bottle, my constant companion
5) Accurate measurement tools. Measuring spoons are not always correct. Make sure yours measure as they should. Most of the measuring cups are accurate, but check them to make sure they are.
Can't wait to see what others are doing.
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My scale...lets me see my weight
My clothes...how they're fitting measures progress
5# barbells for exercise
Small plate, small spoon to eat with0 -
My digital scale is absolutely my most essential tool. It allows me to measure portions with more precision and makes this whole adventure so much easier. Other than that, my Food Diary and my Exercise Diary. Writing down everything - EVERY LITTLE MORSEL - that I eat is so helpful. Writing down my exercise keeps me motivated to mix it up and try to challenge myself to do better.
The MFP community has been such a great support! Thanks to everyone that helps keep this site going.0 -
Mine are (not in order of importance)
1) My digital bathroom scale (although I always round up to the nearest pound)
2) My Fitbit zip - it keeps me moving more than I ever thought possible
3) My blender - I use protein shakes a LOT mostly due to laziness, and they make the shakes from blah to yummy (with some add-ons LOL)
4) My head. I'm training myself with messages as responses to bad habits. 'I don't eat candy'. 'I wait at least three hours between eating.' Actually works - mostly
5) The biggest one - MFP in all forms, and the wonderful folks who are working towards similar goals.
interesting forum topic - thank you for starting!
-ker0 -
Hi guys, of course MFP is key. I also have a Fitbit. Would love to add more friends from this group so please feel free.1
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ker95texas wrote: »My head. I'm training myself with messages as responses to bad habits.
Love this one, ker ... so true how important this is!0 -
MFP, Fitbit, exercise regime and my scale!1
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My community center membership. My pedometer. My smartphone and various smartphone apps like MapMyWalk, Instant Heart Rate, Samsung walking mate, hulu, play music ... MFP and all of you here!0
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Charlie,
Just downloaded MapMyWalk and connected it to MFP. It looks very promising. Does it work well for you?0 -
1. My iPad!!! With MFP of course. I use my phone too but not as much as my iPad.
2. Measuring spoons and cups. Contrary to most of the advice on MFP I found no problem with using these.
3. Kitchen scale. I used a mechanical scale and then bought myself a digital scale for maintenance. Um yeah....it is easier to use.
4. Bathroom scale. Once a week has just never kept me consistent so I weigh myself most days.
5. Runtastic helped but no longer seems to link to MFP.
6. FRIENDS. You/they are more than tools but the support I have received has been the biggest factor in weight loss. (Especially from DH)1 -
I like MapMyWalk, but some others find it less helpful. I like it because it takes into account inclines. Just remember that if walking and you need to stop. Stop completely until you can go again. That way the clock will stop, too, and resume when you do. I link it to MFP that way the walk is logged as soon as I save it. It also takes into account my current weight that way and I think we log stride in MapMyWalk, too. Makes a difference. Depending on the length of our legs depends on how many calories we burn in a mile. Two people, walk a mile in the same time. The short one (or rather shortest stride) will burn more calories.1
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grandmothercharlie wrote: »Depending on the length of our legs depends on how many calories we burn in a mile. Two people, walk a mile in the same time. The short one (or rather shortest stride) will burn more calories.
So true...
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grandmothercharlie wrote: »Depending on the length of our legs depends on how many calories we burn in a mile. Two people, walk a mile in the same time. The short one (or rather shortest stride) will burn more calories.
So true...
Love this. Average stride is 31". That is what all the generic charts go by. Mine is only 21". That is why pedometers or calculators that first ask for your stride are more accurate!0 -
Have to admit, I have got a bit fed up with relying on Apps to tell me what I am doing......so at the moment I am App Free and just using my trusty old Pedometer as a good guide to steps.....I really don't care to know how many calories I have burned ( as all devices tell me different things...) .... as long as my body gets rid of them!
Jean
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grandmothercharlie wrote: ». Makes a difference. Depending on the length of our legs depends on how many calories we burn in a mile. Two people, walk a mile in the same time. The short one (or rather shortest stride) will burn more calories.
I get that, I am 5'3 with shoes on
I live in Colorado and like that the altitude gains show in it. I did install it and I am loving it. Makes me want to go out and do a walk, sometimes two a day now. I live at slightly over 6000 ft most people can't breath well at that altitude and when I got into the mountains to hike, it can be easily 8K, and up to around 10K. I am getting used to the 8K but the 10K still makes me gasp for air. Next summer I will look back on this and laugh though, just have to train for the altitude.
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best tool is positive, accurate, and helpful feedback from the MFP friends. The encouragement is vital, and seeing others are accomplishing so much makes this journey to better fitness easier.0
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my attitude has the biggest bearing on how I do; MFP is awesome; my digital scale for food and my fat fanny (two separate scales); pacer app and my husband.0
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1 through 5 - logging all food and exercise
6 through n - all the encouragement received from you guys and other people on MFP
really helpful - a gym membership to exercise indoors and the social atmosphere encouraging you to work out.. I got a cheap one to Planet Fitness. DW gave me a second membership to a nicer gym in town.
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My Fitbit, digital scale, and my clothes!0
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Planning my food in advance helps me the most. I can enter what I'm planning to eat, if I'm over, I can tweak it before I eat it.0
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learntolive wrote: »Planning my food in advance helps me the most. I can enter what I'm planning to eat, if I'm over, I can tweak it before I eat it.
This is something that really helps me, too. I really prefer to plan in advance.0 -
Bump for the newbies
But I just had to edit this to add my newest tool the Fitbit Charge HR and linking it to not only MFP, but Walgreens and AARP sites as well. So nice to see those reminders that I am doing the right stuff, and the reward points are nice too.
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One important tool that has helped me in many areas of my life, and that I am beginning to apply to my weight release and physical healing, is the technique of tapping, also known as EFT. Today is the first day of a ten-day Worldwide Tapping Summit which is available online for free: http://www.thetappingsolution.com/ if you want to check it out.
I first was introduced to this technique by a therapist in working through some serious issues. It is easy and it is powerful. This particular online "summit" is run by Nick Ortner and Jessica Ortner and I really enjoy the way they present it. ~ Kathy0 -
Really interesting Kathy. Our health is within us, isn't it? I am feeling the same about meditation and Tai Chi.0
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Would anyone care to share exercise motivation tips, tricks, or stategies? Fact is, in cold weather I admit to avoiding daily walk and also admit to not really enjoying exercise videos/gym classes. Yet I know I need to do at least 30 minutes of something daily. Got a yoga mat and weights, resistence bands. Need a push0
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Would anyone care to share exercise motivation tips, tricks, or stategies? Fact is, in cold weather I admit to avoiding daily walk and also admit to not really enjoying exercise videos/gym classes. Yet I know I need to do at least 30 minutes of something daily. Got a yoga mat and weights, resistence bands. Need a push
Youtube. com is full of yoga workouts, hand weights, and bands training videos. I think you can find something to do on there. If you find some you like create your own private channel so you can go back to them whenever you need them.
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Ok. Thanks much!0
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@barmbord: Wish I had a magic pill. For me cardio is so much fun that going to the gym to walk the track and ride the stationary bike is easy. In fact, I took a sick day today for a cold and am thinking how I wish I could go workout. I think I will go to Tai Chi tonight as I the only student on Wednesday, but I probably should skip the gym. When the weather is nice, I walk a lot outdoors, too.
But, I hate strength training. My resistance bands hang on the back of my door at work and although I mean to, and I need to, I don't do them.0 -
Shoving you into March, Barmbord! :-) I find Sworkit is a good app, as it will send me a reminder to get a routine done, and all the routines are bodyweight. It links with MFP so you get an instant report once you're done.Would anyone care to share exercise motivation tips, tricks, or stategies? Fact is, in cold weather I admit to avoiding daily walk and also admit to not really enjoying exercise videos/gym classes. Yet I know I need to do at least 30 minutes of something daily. Got a yoga mat and weights, resistence bands. Need a push
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Barmbord, I do best if I get at least SOME of my exercise in during the morning ... this seems to motivate me to complete my goal later in the day. I most often fall short of my goal if I wait until later in the day when I am "just too tired." ~ Kathy0
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MFP has been my most useful tool so far but my recumbent bike and Jawbone come in second and third. My bike sits in front of a TV and whenever I'm bored I hop on the bike. I've lost 21 lbs since Dec 27 2014. So thankful I found MFP!0
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