How do you track it?

[Kitsunae]

Allright, So with this contest starting and my wife's requests I help her personalize a tracker I got to wondering...

What do you track and how do you tend to track it? Do you use a log book, software, dont bother, something else?
If you use software which software do you use, what do you like about it and what would you like to see changed?

Who knows, with enough input I might be able to build something a little more useful.

[Jaxon0408]

What kind of tracking? Cycle tracking excel, for calories and macros use myfitpal

[Kitsunae]

What kind of tracking? Cycle tracking excel, for calories and macros use myfitpal

All honestly. The one I'm working on currently is supposed to have The nutrional data from the USDA national nutrional database for the meal information (Calories, Macros and whatnot), a section for tracking weight, body measurements and bodyfat calculations, workout log, medication log (for tracking what meds, interactions, doses till refill, doses taken day and time), and symptom tracker.

Slow build, little at a time, but My girl wants something a little comprehensive. But she's just one voice and I'm looking for other input so I can design and build this thing better.

[krugerr]

If you're building this yourself? Allow a setting to input personal medical reminders, and customise names... "Test due at 3pm, dose 1ml" or something. Would be great
Personally I have found that MyFitnessPal does about everything else, EXCEPT, it doesn't allow the user to setup alternative days. If I want to do a hi/lo carb diet, I'm fvcked. I can only have 1 set of values for my diet. It would be good to allow customisation. 2,3,4,5,6,7 rolling days. So I can select 2-day and set up an alternating hi/lo carb. Or if carb cycling, 4-day hi/med/lo/lo, etc.

Sorry if that isn't too concise. It's 3AM, I've just gotten back from work and I'm exhausted.

[Kitsunae]

If you're building this yourself? Allow a setting to input personal medical reminders, and customise names... "Test due at 3pm, dose 1ml" or something. Would be great
Personally I have found that MyFitnessPal does about everything else, EXCEPT, it doesn't allow the user to setup alternative days. If I want to do a hi/lo carb diet, I'm fvcked. I can only have 1 set of values for my diet. It would be good to allow customisation. 2,3,4,5,6,7 rolling days. So I can select 2-day and set up an alternating hi/lo carb. Or if carb cycling, 4-day hi/med/lo/lo, etc.

Sorry if that isn't too concise. It's 3AM, I've just gotten back from work and I'm exhausted.

Any input is good input, well, as long as it gives something to work with (Your program sucks, without telling me WHY is bad input)

[Perseverance1]

Ehh, I make a meal plan (daily) and eat the exact same thing everyday. The only dfference is lift days have about +100g protein from my Two shakes. I'll add/drop cals and modify macros every +/- 5 pounds but that's how I do it.

I no longer care about strength gains so I don't even track my lifts...I just go by feel/memory. I'm tired of injuring myself.

[Kitsunae]

Ehh, I make a meal plan (daily) and eat the exact same thing everyday. The only dfference is lift days have about +100g protein from my Two shakes. I'll add/drop cals and modify macros every +/- 5 pounds but that's how I do it.

I no longer care about strength gains so I don't even track my lifts...I just go by feel/memory. I'm tired of injuring myself.

Honestly part of whats motivating me to work on this project is to keep treasure from injuring herself and overdoing it, it would be nice to give her a clear picture of what she's doing and what effects its having on her overall.

[kitstreasure]

Are you still planning on doing the pre-loaded menus/menu plans?

[Kitsunae]

Are you still planning on doing the pre-loaded menus/menu plans?

If possible, with Manual selection and Random menue generation based on selected criteria and limitations. Though taking a look at the methods other software use, or that people manualy take to go about it always helps.

[twitz]

I used to use fitday, and now I use my fitness pal. I used it because it's the best one I found as an app on my phone.

I don't like that some of the values aren't accurate, that it can't track (or give me an idea) of calories burned from weight training, and that it won't allow me to adjust the marcos to my personal needs. For example, it states that I require 67gr ED, and that's only about half of my lbm.

[Kitsunae]

I used to use fitday, and now I use my fitness pal. I used it because it's the best one I found as an app on my phone.

I don't like that some of the values aren't accurate, that it can't track (or give me an idea) of calories burned from weight training, and that it won't allow me to adjust the marcos to my personal needs. For example, it states that I require 67gr ED, and that's only about half of my lbm.

Phone app capable, track cal burned from exercise, suggest Macros but allow for personalized adjustments then?

[twitz]

Phone app capable, track cal burned from exercise, suggest Macros but allow for personalized adjustments then?

Oh my goodness, you listen... lucky gal Treasure

Bang on

Another thing, and I'm not sure if any of the other programs can do this (I haven't seen one), but if you could upload your daily macros to an online journal. Instead of logging in two places.

[baseline_9]

I use myfitnesspal.... Great app/site

[kitstreasure]

Oh my goodness, you listen... lucky gal Treasure

Bang on

Another thing, and I'm not sure if any of the other programs can do this (I haven't seen one), but if you could upload your daily macros to an online journal. Instead of logging in two places.

That's part of what I asked him for. I also asked for the ability to incorporate things like FitBit, blue tooth heart rate monitors, etc.

For us ladies, I also asked for it to include tracking our fertility/menstrual cycle, and predict our up coming cycles based on previous input.

I asked for it to track: Blood pressure, body measurements, caliper measurements, and blood sugar.

I also asked him to figure out how to make it not just a tracker, but able to plan your runs/walks/biking trips with it telling you when to increase speed, decrease speed, turn, etc. I also wanted the ability to plan lifting sessions and be able to set a rotation so I don't have to think about what I'm working or what exercises I'm doing complete with an interval timer....

I know that sounds picky, but I'm sick and tired of having like 20 apps on my phone in order to accomplish 1 task.

[baseline_9]

That's part of what I asked him for. I also asked for the ability to incorporate things like FitBit, blue tooth heart rate monitors, etc.

For us ladies, I also asked for it to include tracking our fertility/menstrual cycle, and predict our up coming cycles based on previous input.

I asked for it to track: Blood pressure, body measurements, caliper measurements, and blood sugar.

I also asked him to figure out how to make it not just a tracker, but able to plan your runs/walks/biking trips with it telling you when to increase speed, decrease speed, turn, etc. I also wanted the ability to plan lifting sessions and be able to set a rotation so I don't have to think about what I'm working or what exercises I'm doing complete with an interval timer....

I know that sounds picky, but I'm sick and tired of having like 20 apps on my phone in order to accomplish 1 task.

Do u seriously log all these things in different apps

[energizer bunny]

i use my fitness pal............if you are creating your own, id like an option so you can have different macros/cals for each day, that would make it easier for carb cycling, keto/CKD and TKD diets........thats one thing on my fitness pal that lets it down.

[kitstreasure]

Do u seriously log all these things in different apps

Yes, I track all those things... I have one for my cycle information, but it doesn't allow me to track anything else. I have one that I use to track almost everything else, but it doesn't communicate with anything else, so while I use it to have everything in one place, it doesn't allow me to print history or export that information to some other format where a coach/trainer/nutritionist/doctor could look at it. I have another one that I use for tracking my blood test results, blood pressure, weight, etc., but again, that one doesn't communicate with anything else and only gives a partial picture. I have one that communicates it's information to other places/things, but it's internal data isn't all that accurate so I end up having to put all my own information in every time I log things in it.

Base, remember, I have chronic health issues that require I keep a very close eye on what's going on with me physically as well as mentally/emotionally... Especially now that I've fired my health care team, I have to watch very closely what causes what symptoms. For me, it's all about finding, monitoring, and correcting trends before they become issues.

I tried myfitnesspal and wasn't happy with it, for various reasons. FitDay is for iPhone and I have a droid... The one that I like best for fitness purposes doesn't have a nutrition component, and doesn't track anything but fitness stuff.... I could go on, but I think you get my point.

I know I'm not the only one with issues/needs like these, but what Kit is asking is what you guys need/want and like/dislike about your current tracking system if you have one.

[GirlyGymRat]

I use my fitness pal and customize my macros but only know how to do from computer. Can't find on phone app.

[baseline_9]

I use my fitness pal and customize my macros but only know how to do from computer. Can't find on phone app.

Yeh u have to do it on a pc....

[baseline_9]

Things I like about MFP...

Bar code scanner, there database in general, ability to add a food source, compile a meal and save it.... The ipad interface and online is good ( iPhone is crap)


The things I don't like about MFP.

Unable to set exact macros (you can do it as a percentage in 5% increments)


Overall it's great for tracking macros... Your going to be seeing me using it a lot during this contest too

[lovbyts]

Between my add and mild ocd there is no way I can keep a log. I can't even keep a shopping list

[boz]

I use nothing, cause im just smart

[Kitsunae]

Looks like Myfit is the target to nderstand and beat at this point.

[krugerr]

Yea, MyFitnessPal is probably about the best of them that I have used so far.
Twitz - You can customise the macro splits online, that should help!