And the news is.........

The article titled, "Weight loss made easy withsmartphone apps" is about many of the different options out there for losing weight online.  The article points out a variety of apps including MyFitnesspal, Loseit, and the WeightWatchers apps.  According to the article, these new mobile diet and fitness apps are the new trend in diet/weight loss.  Not only do they make it easy for you to track your calories, they also track your exercise too.  Most importantly, they provide a "gym buddy" or "cyber partner" that is there along the way to help motivate you. 

One reason the article caught my eye is because of the first line.  It said, "Two active children keep 35- year old Melissa Lesch more than busy."   The reason this hit home is because I feel like my 16 year old son keeps my life pretty busy too!  Add in school and a full-time job and at times, I feel really stretched to the limit.  Even though life can keep me pretty busy, one thing I value and deem pretty important is my health!  So that is why MyFitnesspal appealed to me.

The second reason this article caught my attention is because I believe it is true that tracking your calories helps you to make better/healthier food choices throughout the day.  For example, Melissa Lesch, the mother mentioned earlier said, "Her daily meal diary keeps her motivated to stay on track."  This relates to my experience with MyFitnesspal thus far because I have been tracking my exercise and my food daily for the last week and a half.  I have found that it does in fact help me to monitor what I am eating and to make changes throughout the day as necessary. 

Most importantly, this article also relates to the "web culture" aspect of MyFitnesspal.  What exactly does that mean?  I mean that working out and eating right is much more enjoyable when you have a partner or buddy to work with.  MyFitnesspal links me with other people that can help me stay on track and who can help motivate me.  So far, I have made a few friends on MyFitnesspal.  We motivate each other by posting on each others' walls with positive sayings.  For example, "Good job" or "Way to go" is just a few examples of posts that were posted after I came in under my designated calorie count for the day.  I have also read blogs and nutritional tips from other MyFitnesspal members.