Fitness Pal

I just wanted to make a little suggestion for those who may not read my weight loss blog--I have started on this program Iris referred me to called www.myfitnesspal.com and I highly recommend it for any of you who are looking to maintain/lose weight, or even just track your caloric intake/ burned calories. It's a great free site that is easy to use, and free! (I quit paying weight watchers and I like this free thing better---for my lifestyle right now anyway)

   It already has most foods and specific brand nutritional info so all you need to do is add foods to your food diary and their amounts, and the calories are calculated for you. And it has exercise on it too--even daily tasks that burn calories. You just put the intensity and time and it calculates your calories burned.
 
  It's great because according to your age, weight and height, and then how much you want to lose a week, it will allot you a number of calories you should consume a day. Here's my example:

I have been alloted 1470 calories a day, but I have been doing this workout pretty much daily:
20 min moderate exertion elliptical
15 min moderate stationary bike
20 min treadmill/stair (basically on varied incline)
which burns a total of ~530 calories.

Which raises my caloric limit for that day, to 2000. and sometimes I eat all those 500 calories, sometimes I don't. Usually I eat a total of 1700-1900. I wonder how long I will keep this workout regimen...I really like that I am getting healthier, my heartrate is coming down, and I go during everyone's nap time, or when John works days, at night after the babies are down. I haven't really lost weight yet--maybe a pound (just started 10 days ago--and my period probably doesn't help), but I know it's keeping me healthier and focused, and most importantly aware of exactly what my calories are, which foods have more calories and how much my exercise burns off. You can add options like tracking different stats like fiber, sodium, and various body measurements.

 I even got John to make a profile and it's easy for him to add foods on his phone at work etc. He has lost a few pounds! He got sick of getting bigger and bigger, especially with his work schedule and being sedentary all the time in the office. He may not have time for exercise yet, but adjusting his diet according to the calories they alloted him (2100) will help a lot. I started packing some healthy stuff in his lunch/dinner so that helps too. I am sure he will lose more than I will and quicker :)

   Anyway, most people I know are trying to lose weight, maintain, or get healthier. I think everyone could use this site and get a lot out of it. Try it! And there are so many supportive people on there--you have the option of making your diary public so people can look at each other's diet/exercise regimens. My name on there is prolifegirly. Everyone is so supportive of me on there---and it helps--even though they are all trying to get down to like 128...and I am aiming for like 155-160. :)

  My Christmas gift to you!