Calorie Tracking Apps: FatSecret

Becca Staggs · #1 01-02-2011, 01:47 AM

Please vote in poll even if you do not comment.

Hey Gang,
Just wondering how many of you girls here use a calorie counter/tracking system. I never used to until this past May, and it's actually worked great for me. I even tracked when I wasn't dieting, and I think seeing the macros this off-season helped me keep things in check.

I know there are a lot of them out there, but here's one I've found that seems pretty awesome. It's free, too. I've created foods that weren't in there, and there's a free app for your blackberry, Droid, and iPhone and it can sync with the onilne entries. I typically do it online b/c it's faster but when I'm away from the computer I can still add entries. I love it.

Ok, so I'm a little late in learning this - but I found out yesterday that even the FREE VERSION FatSecret app for iPhone and Droid both have scanning capabilities!! WTF!
I'm jealous. I have a blackberry and it cannot scan anything. #FAIL

Yes, scanning. As in, you eat a greek yogurt and you scan the barcode with your phone, and it has the info in there and plugs it into your day, even the portion size is in there correctly just based off the barcode!! I DID NOT KNOW! I need a Droid or an iPhone...

One of my friends told me just yesterday she scanned an apple (those little barcode stickers on each apple) and it generated the info for an average apple. Less percise on fruit maybe, but still...how cool is that?

www.fatsecret.com

You can track any nutritional value that you want, plus excercise, sleep, calories burned when 'resting' (not sleeping or working out) etc. It also makes it simple to add foods that you use frequently. (A HUGE PLUS FOR US!! LOL)

**SheWulf** · #2 01-02-2011, 02:33 AM

I use fitday. It's also free, but I liked it so much I bought the paid version.

**erikacheer** · #3 01-02-2011, 02:57 AM

I sometimes use my daily plate at livestrong -- they have a lot of foods catalogued -- even my addiction: a mocha shake at Lifetime Fitness. I'll have to check out the fatsecret site to compare......

The link to livestrong:

http://www.livestrong.com/myplate/

**Jodi_Lane** · #4 01-02-2011, 04:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rebecca Staggs

Hey Gang,
Just wondering how many of you girls here use a calorie counter/tracking system. I never used to until this past May, and it's actually worked great for me. I even tracked when I wasn't dieting, and I think seeing the macros this off-season helped me keep things in check.

I know there are a lot of them out there, but here's one I've found that seems pretty awesome. It's free, too. I've created foods that weren't in there, and there's a free app for your blackberry and iPhone and it can sync with the onilne entries. I typically do it online b/c it's faster but when I'm away from the computer I can still add entries. I love it.

www.fatsecret.com

You can track any nutritional value that you want, plus excercise, sleep, calories burned when 'resting' (not sleeping or working out) etc. It also makes it simple to add foods that you use frequently. (A HUGE PLUS FOR US!! LOL)

Please vote.

Thanks for the link Becca! I use a similar one called MyFitnessPal and it does the same thing with facebook and twitter. I actually was looking for others to see if it's actually the best or not and I wanted to have some friends who are using the same as me, I'll check into this!!!

**Scarl3tbutt3rfly** · #5 01-02-2011, 11:21 AM

I use Tap and Track..which is an app on the iphone. It has a ton of catalogued foods, restaurants etc. And you can enter any amount of grams you want for everything. Add you own foods, etc.

I also use fitday on my computer

Becca Staggs · #6 01-02-2011, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scarl3tbutt3rfly

I use Tap and Track..which is an app on the iphone. It has a ton of catalogued foods, restaurants etc. And you can enter any amount of grams you want for everything. Add you own foods, etc.

I also use fitday on my computer

Thanks. Adding your own grams sounds good. I like that mine is on the computer and syncs (wirelessly) with my phone so they're always current. I probably wouldn't maintain 2 separate ones b/c i am lazy. lol

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jodi_Lane

Thanks for the link Becca! I use a similar one called MyFitnessPal and it does the same thing with facebook and twitter. I actually was looking for others to see if it's actually the best or not and I wanted to have some friends who are using the same as me, I'll check into this!!!

Fatsecret can connect to FB too, but I've never tried it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by erikacheer

I sometimes use my daily plate at livestrong -- they have a lot of foods catalogued -- even my addiction: a mocha shake at Lifetime Fitness. I'll have to check out the fatsecret site to compare......

The link to livestrong:

http://www.livestrong.com/myplate/

Thanks for the link. I've created foods and found some foods in FatSecret that I was actually surprised to see. The option to create a food and share it with others is key. I eat a lot of organic baked goods from a local restaurant (stuffed sandwhiches/gluten free with meat).

Quote:

Originally Posted by SheWulf

I use fitday. It's also free, but I liked it so much I bought the paid version.

I've heard of a lot of people that love fitday too.

**TanyaB** · #7 01-02-2011, 03:05 PM

I use Sparkpeople - mostly on the computer but I do use the iPhone app as well, especially if I am going off plan and want to log something before I "forget"

dvsness · #8 01-02-2011, 07:27 PM

I use Fitday and online only. Since I use it for planning and don't track things as they come, a phone app isn't really important to me.

**Scarl3tbutt3rfly** · #9 01-02-2011, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dvsness

I use Fitday and online only. Since I use it for planning and don't track things as they come, a phone app isn't really important to me.

Yeah only use them for planning. And don't really enter stuff everyday. Or I use just to check a portion size on something.

**VictoriaFigure** · #10 01-02-2011, 09:35 PM

I use FatSecret as well. I love the variety of foods already stored. I only use it on my Blackberry.

Becca Staggs · #11 01-02-2011, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VictoriaFigure

I use FatSecret as well. I love the variety of foods already stored. I only use it on my Blackberry.

I use it on my blackberry too, but only when I'm not at the computer. It's a lot faster on the site online...and you can view a lot more foods in one shot. I do like it on the blackberry too though. TONS OF FOODS STORED!

**ripitupbaby** · #12 01-04-2011, 01:51 PM

I do it the old-fashioned way... with a big notebook that I carry around in my cooler when I'm dieting.

**pmbpro** · #13 01-04-2011, 04:45 PM

Not sure how to vote, as I don't do it online and not on my phone. I use just an app only, on an iPod Touch and have "Nutrition Menu" on it. You can see screen grabs and description of all the features here:

http://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/nutri...294692235?mt=8

I especially like that I do not have to be online, or have an "account" to use it.

**
That said, I do also have my own overall "main" Excel database of all my foods categorized in the different food groups; condiments and supplements too. Each item/row has its volume (in tsp, tbsp, quantity, wt), then calories, fats, protein, carbs (in grams).

For my actual meal plans, I made a duplicate template and just copy/paste the specific foods I want from the "main" database and all the macro totals are automatically added up at the bottom (and their percentages too). I can add/delete or and substitute foods for each meal on the fly and see the daily totals instantly when planning meals ahead of time and then stick on my fridge. It's so easy to cut/paste the foods I want to eat and see them add up.

I also print my Excel meal plans out and use as a "grocery list".

**Pookers** · #14 01-04-2011, 05:27 PM

myfitnesspal.com It also syncs with my ipad which makes it convenient and easy to use.

Becca Staggs · #15 01-04-2011, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pmbpro

Not sure how to vote, as I don't do it online and not on my phone. I use just an app only, on an iPod Touch and have "Nutrition Menu" on it. You can see screen grabs and description of all the features here:

http://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/nutri...294692235?mt=8

I especially like that I do not have to be online, or have an "account" to use it.

**
That said, I do also have my own overall "main" Excel database of all my foods categorized in the different food groups; condiments and supplements too. Each item/row has its volume (in tsp, tbsp, quantity, wt), then calories, fats, protein, carbs (in grams).

For my actual meal plans, I made a duplicate template and just copy/paste the specific foods I want from the "main" database and all the macro totals are automatically added up at the bottom (and their percentages too). I can add/delete or and substitute foods for each meal on the fly and see the daily totals instantly when planning meals ahead of time and then stick on my fridge. It's so easy to cut/paste the foods I want to eat and see them add up.

I also print my Excel meal plans out and use as a "grocery list".

WOW!! You are super organized!! But too much work for my lazy ass. I like simple. I enter 99% of mine online, but just tell it to 'sync' with the blackberry app so I can view it on my phone throughout the day (OR enter stuff if I'm on the road). I wish I had an iphone sometimes, but I hate HATE touchscreen!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pookers

myfitnesspal.com It also syncs with my ipad which makes it convenient and easy to use.

A lot like FatSecret. ^^

**ripitupbaby** · #16 01-05-2011, 12:13 PM

OK I'm gonna have to try one of these!

**jewelofnile69** · #17 01-05-2011, 12:26 PM

I actually only track on my phone (not online) but I picked the 3rd choice. I use 'Lose It' for iPhone.

**lita** · #18 01-05-2011, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scarl3tbutt3rfly

I use Tap and Track..which is an app on the iphone. It has a ton of catalogued foods, restaurants etc. And you can enter any amount of grams you want for everything. Add you own foods, etc.

I also use fitday on my computer

After reading this thread, I just realized that fitday has an app on the iPhone. I've been using fitday for years. If you are already using it on your computer, you can sync it with your phone.

**Maeg13** · #19 01-07-2011, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jodi_Lane

Thanks for the link Becca! I use a similar one called MyFitnessPal and it does the same thing with facebook and twitter. I actually was looking for others to see if it's actually the best or not and I wanted to have some friends who are using the same as me, I'll check into this!!!

I use MyFitnessPal as well...find me!

MissMaegan

**Suzanne** · #20 04-12-2011, 08:01 PM

I don't really track I pretty much eat the same thing daily anyway but i do through my info in when i get a new plan.

Actually just got done putting in my starting plan for USAs but aggravated that daily plate doesn't have 1/3s or let you pick it is whole serving or increments of 1/4 and i have cream of rice 5 tbl but it only has as 1/4c