For version 1.1, besides fixing any obvious bugs, I plan on doing the following:
I use the application to obviously track what I eat, what exercise I do, and how much liquid (water) I drink each day.
In the morning when I go to work, since I have my breakfast, lunch and any snacks with me, I usually add those entries all at once. This helps in planning now, what to have for dinner since I know how much I will have left.
Anything extra’s I have during the day (who hasn’t been at an office where someone brings in something to share) get added in too.
I use the charts to see any patterns, such as I tend to consume more on the weekends than during the week. I also noticed that on weeks when I ate more, but still within my budget, I tend to lose more.
Case in point, eating too much you gain weight. Eating too little, you don’t lose as much weight.
I’d love to hear in the comments how you use Track It!. Maybe you use it in a way I didn’t envision, but may be helpful to others and we can improve the app together.
My motivation for creating Track It! stems from a long history of trying to lose weight and keep it off. Gaining weight is easy! Too easy! Yet losing it, keeping it off, and staying motivated are much much harder.
I started in my 20‘s, after moving out on my own and gaining considerable weight, with Herbal Life. It was the typical liquid diet, shake for breakfast and lunch and a sensible dinner. It worked. Yea!
I started exercising a lot and managed to keep my weight down to a reasonable level.
I started weight lifting and gained a lot of muscle mass. That was cool because I got to eat more! But what happens when you stop lifting and still continue to east like you are. You gain weight!
So, on to Atkins. Enjoyed it for awhile, I’m a big meat eater. Lost some weight on it, but really missed my pasta (I’m half Italian).
So, on to books about nutrition, eating for you blood type, etc.
So after reaching 221lbs, and not too happy with myself, a neighbor said they wanted to go back to Weight Watchers and would I like to go?
I went, and the result, one year later, I was 46lbs lighter. I also learned something essential at Weight Watchers. I learned I don’t have to deprive myself, but every choice in eating has a consequence.
So what happened?
I moved, and the local Weight Watchers chapter was not as supportive as my previous one. At my previous Weight Watchers chapter, people attended the meeting and the Leader was engaging and encouraging.
I decided to simply follow the program on my own. Then simply stopped.
The result I gained half of the weight back.
Enter Track It!
One of the important points learned at Weight Watchers was keeping track of what you eat. Since my iPhone is everywhere I am, what better way to track what eat, when I eat and also know how much I’ve eaten to see if I really can have some more bread!
Since I finished development of Version 1.0 and using it for several weeks, I’m down over 5lbs and on my way to my goal!
Here I hope to have tips, motivations, and answers to questions. For example, why did I not include a points calculator in the application. Answer – believe it or not, the formula is patented by Weight Watchers, which means I couldn’t!
The smart way to lose weight!
