Vanishing Velez

OK everyone. I have been working on this post since October, and I just haven’t been able to finish it. So, here I am powering through it.

My Fitness Pal is constantly rated as one of the best nutrition tracker apps in the United States. With a free and premium version, users can log what they eat, track their exercise, set specific macronutrient goals, track sugar and salt intake, and more. In a 2023 article, Sports Illustrated called My Fitness Pal “a mini personal trainer in your pocket that helps you set and maintain health goals.” Is this true? Well, maybe for some people, but for others it’s a serious struggle.

Things I Like

• I like that it is an app that I can take with me pretty much wherever I go, but that I can also use a browser on the internet if I want to.
• I like the barcode scanner that is part of the paid version. It makes it convenient to track all the nutrients in packaged foods.
• I like that it does more than just track nutrition, but that you can also set goals for macros, grams, exercise, etc.
• I like that there are options for plans that focus on diet AND exercise that encourage you to be consistent.
• I like that a lot of people use it, so I know they’re always working on fixing any issues that come up.

Things I don’t Like

• It is very difficult to track things from restaurants.
• there is no ‘official’ item, so there can be multiple options for the same thing that are slightly different
• not everything has 1 gram as a weight option, which can make things difficult to track when weighing. 
• A lot of the better aspects of this tool are behind a paywall. 
• Adding recipes is time-consuming.
• It makes you feel like you can’t eat if you’re hungry

Do I use My Fitness Pal?

To be perfectly honest, Yes, I do-sometimes. However, I don’t use it as well as I probably should. I usually measure my food, but I’m not consistent with putting it into the calculator. I did pay for the pro version so that I can have a barcode scanner, which makes it so much easier to track things. I don’t know if I’ll continue paying. 

I like that it is an app that I can take with me pretty much wherever I go. But yeah, I go through spurts where I use it regularly, and then times where I barely use it at all.  

The biggest reason that I think that My Fitness pal is problematic is that it can be pretty easy to become addicted and build bad habits. This should be a tool, and I know that some people become very strict about following the preset guidelines. People will still be hungry but won’t eat because they are over their calories. OR people go over their calories so they binge. 

Also, My Fitness Pal doesn’t teach good habits, or how to make good choices. For this reason, I find this to be a good tool for people who already know how to make good choices and just want a tracker. There are probably better options to help you make better choices.

That all being said, My Fitness Pal is still my favorite of this type of app that exists on the market right now- but I want to hear your thoughts!  My fitness pal? Or something else? Why?