• CmdrShepard49@sh.itjust.works
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    1 day ago

    If you’re someone like me who has never really paid attention to what you’re eating so long as you aren’t rapidly packing on weight, I recently downloaded an app called Cronometer after being told by my doctor that my blood pressure and cholesterol are too high and to lose weight.

    I’ve been tracking everything I eat and have managed to keep myself between 1000 and 1500 calories a day along with monitoring my fat, carbs, sodium, and protein intake. It has been insanely eye opening to see and feel the difference after cutting out the daily burgers, pizza, and fried foods and its only been like a week and a half. Seeing the numbers in the app makes it almost like a game to see how little fat and calories I can eat each meal/day and shocking to see what is contained with a typical meal that I used to eat (easily 2-3 days worth of fat and calories compared to what I’m eating now in just one meal).

    In any case, if you want to eat better, try finding something that let’s you tally up what you’re eating. From there it’s as simple as finding better alternatives (like a low fat dressing instead of regular dressing, or chicken/fish instead of beef/pork) or replacing just one meal a day with something healthier.

    • Joelk111@lemmy.world
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      24 hours ago

      I love the apps but, man, they just took too much time for me to enter everything into one, especially with any home cooked meals where you have to enter all the ingredients. If it were automatic, I’d love it. I guess that’s why they’re trying to make those stupid AI pins and glasses do it, even though it’s way too complex a problem for them.

      I’ve just settled for removing junk from the house and it’s worked OK, plus I can still eat “normally” when at a party or something.

    • SystemDisc@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      21 hours ago

      I used Cronometer for awhile, but it was too much to enter everything every day. I switched to a really simple keto diet and I’ve lost 45 lbs so far this year.

      • CmdrShepard49@sh.itjust.works
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        19 hours ago

        It is somewhat annoying (mainly figuring out serving sizes) but I do it while I’m eating and it makes me eat more slowly. It looks like you can also make your own meals or recipes, which includes all the individual items into one entity to enter in one go. I have to watch my fat intake so I don’t know if keto would be right for me though I do know a few people who swear by it.

    • BeardededSquidward@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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      23 hours ago

      I had issues with the apps when I tried them a long time ago. Like I’d make a stir fry of chicken with veggies but there’s nothing on the app comparable so I had to guess on the nutrition.

      For me, it’s better if i just keep healthier snacks on hand, fruit and snackable veggies. As well try to have one vegetable with lunch and dinner.

      • CmdrShepard49@sh.itjust.works
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        19 hours ago

        Ive been having to guess on some things with home cooked meals since I’m not using a kitchen scale but I’ve been able to just google “100g of salmon” or guesstimate by cups or tablespoons and think its close enough. I try to err on the side of inputting higher than I think just so that I’m not having more fat or sodium than I should.

        This is a big lifestyle change for me so having all this data is really helpful.