Stop smoking. Watch what you eat. Exercise. Lose weight. I think there is no practicing doctor who hasn't given these four recommendations, and it's certainly due to their effectiveness, but those same doctors admit it's not easy at all. Any serious attempt to lose weight should be supervised by an expert eye, but if you're wondering what the Web can do to accompany you, here are five portals with apps, food data, and exercise guides.
I have found it appropriate to cite my... "condition" in some articles, and I guarantee I'm not exaggerating. Almost a decade of maintaining this position as a keyboard jockey has its consequences, and every doctor who has seen me has been blunt: The scale needs help.
The problem is that no one can start losing weight by magic. Some people have managed to transform themselves so that physical health became the main element of their daily lives, but those people are the exception, while the rest of us mortals need all the help we can get. It would be truly crazy of me to recommend any resource on the Web before talking to a professional, so first things first: Try to see a nutritionist (read dietitian or dietitian, as you prefer). Once you've done that, and you have a more solid idea of what follows, you can turn to any of these five portals to organize yourself better:
Calorie Count
Information on 250,000 foods, six million members, and mobile apps available on three different platforms is what Calorie Count offers. With a simple search you can find specific details about a food, including those dishes available (our mortal enemies) at the most famous fast-food chains.
MyFitnessPal
The MyFitnessPal platform has been with us for ten years, and by far it's one of the most media-covered, with coverage extending to radio and television. In February of this year, MyFitnessPal reported 80 million users, and that detail speaks to both its ease of use and its extensive resources. Whether it's counting calories or reporting exercises, MyFitnessPal is one of the main options out there.
Livestrong
After the Lance Armstrong doping scandal, many thought his foundation would bite the dust, but that never happened. After a long transformation, the Livestrong Foundation and its portal Livestrong.com continue to help millions of people improve their health, setting calorie goals, and suggesting different levels of intensity for exercises.
FitDay
One of the most important aspects to highlight about FitDay is the possibility of staying in contact with an online nutritionist, and with their help create a reasonable plan aimed at losing and maintaining weight, instead of "bouncing" as often happens with many quick diets. Several of FitDay's resources are limited to premium accounts, but it's an interesting option anyway.
Lose It!
Like the rest of the platforms on the Web, Lose It! is a portal that promises effectiveness when it comes to losing weight. Lose It! has a greater dependence on its smartphone app, and the free edition is limited to monitoring our weight, but if you don't want to feel bombarded by statistics, maybe this is what you need.
As a closing note, we must mention our recommended weight-loss apps, which put aside a little the "social network" profile of many sites, and allow us to keep information stored locally. One more thing: This is not a race. Too demanding goals can bring more problems than solutions, and as I said above... first the nutritionist. Good luck!
