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The LoseIt! App. is a handy dandy pocket dietitian! Well, not exactly. Obviously you get much better and personalized information with a real RD, but this app would be a great thing to try out for a week or so before your visit. This way, you’ll have a clearer picture of where you are at right now when you go for your session.

The app allows you to input specific foods eaten during the day, exercise done and calculates your calories, all based on you weight loss or gain goals. It is excellent to have on hand for those on the go but still concerned about their weight. Simply create an account with your weight, height and current goals and the app will do the rest!

Pros:

• Breaks each day down with a daily calorie budget, including food consume and exercise burned, to tell how many more calories today you can eat
  • Can get weekly averages, as well a nutrient analysis for each day and each weekly average
• Food log allows for food input, with specific, brand name and restaurant food options
  • Also have the option to input and customize specific food if you can’t find a comparable
• Exercise log very detailed, to include walking up stairs or carrying in groceries
  • Also allows for an input for customized workouts
• Calculates your goals and presents them in an easy to read and understandable fashion
• Ability to add pass-code lock if your iPod is often viewed by others
• Saves a log of My Foods for those you often eat to search through instead of entire database, as well as Previous Meals function if you often eat similar meals
• Has a motivator function and a connect with friends function to keep your spirits and interest level up
• Can input recipes you include in daily food log

Cons:

• Requires input of each food, including details of individual condiments and components of the meal
• Cannot transfer to metric units
• Takes time
• Can be a bad thing for those obsessed with tracking daily calories
• You can’t “track” at this level the rest of your life

So check it out, but don’t play too long. You don’t want to associate “tracking” positive behaviors (eating healthy and exercise) with negative ones (like the “need” to watch/input every single step you take and food you eat the rest of your life.) My advice is always use the technology as a tool in the short term to get some information, then focus on yourself and behavior changes that will help you live healthier. An RD can really help you with that — oh and if you have a condition from diabetes to high cholesterol to food allergies, the app just can’t do that (nor should it!)

Find an RD at www.eatright.org

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