Online & electronic tools

There are a lot of things to help you get fit and lose weight.  Here are the electronic and online tools I'm finding so far are helpful:

1. MyFitnessPal
This free website/app makes it easy to track daily exercise and food intake and provides a visual way to track progress.  I love that I can access it easily on my ipad or on the computer to add my info daily.  I keep using the word easy because that is what I need in an app or online tool.  If I need to type in every single thing I eat each time then I won't keep it up.  In this case it's very easy because the database already has an extensive list.  So far I've only had to type in a few keywords to include the food I've eaten.  I also like that it remembers what I've already put in so when I have the same breakfast I can just click on what I've put in for previous days and bingo, it's there again.  The other thing I love about MFP is it adds extra food calories to your daily amount when you put in exercise.  Definitely a motivator for me to exercise a bit each day.  Oh yeah, and did I mention it's free?

2. ipad mini
I was surprised with this fun new toy for Christmas and I'm finding it very useful in my fitness endeavour.  It's easy to use the MyFitnessPal app on here which means I can easily put in my food/exercise throughout the day.   But the best use is I can set it up on the treadmill and watch movies/tv shows on it while I walk.  Hey, if I'm going to be watching an old Columbo episode on youtube (yes, I like Peter Falk) I may as well be walking up an incline at the same time.

3. Online community
This is where the blog, facebook and other online communities come into play.  I know Weight Watchers has an online tool, but my spending money is limited and I decided I'd rather use it to sign up for tennis lessons.  Which is why I'm using this blog.  I remember from my WW days 9 years ago the accountability each week with checking in and talking to everyone was a big motivator.  I'm hoping this blog works just as well to make me accountable each week as I track my progress.