Ever since I read that people who keep a food diary tend to be more successful at weight loss, I began carrying around a small notebook noting my caloric intake along with estimates of fat and protein content. But I recently discovered a number of online resources and tools that can make it easier to stick to a diet and fitness plan. Here are some links to a few websites that I recommend:
There are several good tools that can be found at My Food Diary. Membership on this site allows you to easily track your daily exercise and caloric intake. It also gives you access to a food database and forums that connect you to others who can keep you motivated. The site offers several calculators that are free to use:
- Learn your ideal weight, based on your frame size.
- Get an estimate of your body fat with this Body Mass Index (BMI) calculator.
- Determine your waist-to-hip ratio, which recent research has linked to the risk of heart attack, according to the site.
- To optimize your workouts at the gym, find your target heart rate using this calculator.
Of course, we burn calories no matter what we’re doing, so if you’re closely monitoring your own caloric status, you’ll want to use this free calorie counter and an activity calculator that’s offered on the AARP website. And if you need help staying on your diet while dining out, use this site to help you find a diet-friendly restaurant in your area.
SparkPeople is a site that offers lots of free online tools (once you’ve registered) including a food tracker, and customized meal plans. There are even free exercise videos, which can be especially helpful if you’re on the road a lot. I viewed (from the comfort of my desk chair) the 10-minute cardio kickboxing workout and it looked good.
Finally, Start Your Diet is another good resource for anyone who wants to track their daily weight, BMI and even water intake. You can also keep your food journal here with a basic, free membership.
Have you found a food-tracking website that works for you? I’d love to know about it.
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I find carrying the book easier, but then I stare at a computer all day and often want a break. Writing in a little journal in my purse makes it all easy.
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