Tuesday 29 May 2012

My Diet Diary

It's that time of year again. When the trainers come out in the hope of achieving your perfect summer bikini body... sound familiar?! I'm pretty sure the large majority of girls feel that pressure to get into shape for their summer holidays and I'm certainly amongst them. Only I never keep it up. I always give up after two weeks (maximum!)

This year I decided to take it to the next level, and to ensure I don't lose momentum, I've gone and gotten myself a personal trainer (anyone who knows me in 'real' life will be laughing out loud right about now) A vision of me in the gym is pure comedy to most of my friends, but I am hopeful that this is to be a thing of the past. I'm in my fourth week of fitness now and I'm actually starting to enjoy it! Now, that's an emotion I never thought I'd feel about fitness!

Anyway, without (too much) further rambling, it's going really well. I'm going to be vlogging every day in June over on my Vlog Channel and I'll be doing more general fitness updates on there BUT I thought I'd let you all know about an amazing app I found last week in the mean time, as I'm too excited about it to hold it in any longer!

It's called MyDietDiary and essentially it's a calorie counting app. Now this put me off at first because I've never been a great believer in calorie counting. I think you're far better off concentrating on what you're eating and where it's come from rather than the calorie content (as there can be a big difference between being slim vs. being healthy!)

That being said, I'm totally addicted to this app. It allows you to track your daily food intake, and balance it against the exercise you do throughout the day. It can be used as a tool for weight loss, but it's also great if you just want to maintain your weight, or even gain weight.

The app gives you a calorie allowance based on your goals and personal details including sex, height, weight and level of activity. It also allows to you track your exercise routine, calorie intake, and weight change on graphs as well as keeping track of how much water you are drinking. Your calorie allowance is adjusted when you exercise, which I find to be a great motivator for getting to off my butt and into the gym (more exercise = more food allowance... yes please!)
It's definitely not for everyone. If you lack patience then you might find it to fiddly, but as an avid list-maker myself, I love how organised this app is and I've found it really helps to keep me on track both in terms of my fitness routine set out by my personal trainer, and as a deterrent from eating unhealthily.

All in all I think this is a great tool for helping to keep you motivated. It's a free app, there are no annoying adds and you don't have to make an account to use it. If you're in the same boat as me and trying to trim down and tone up for summer in a healthy way, then I'd thoroughly recommend this app! (And no, this post isn't sponsored... I'm really just that excited about discovering this app!)

On a different note, and another topic I NEVER thought I'd care enough to comment on...
I'm absolutely loving this water. It's Isklar's Sparkling mineral water. I love drinking sparkling water as an alternative to sugary drinks, but this is definitely my favourite - It's not overly fizzy, just ever so slightly sparkling. The bottle is cool too. OK that's enough about water for today, I'll be back to my usual beauty banter tomorrow, I promise!

Is anyone else on a summer fitness kick? I'd love to hear about any hints and tips you have for keeping motivated!
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52 comments

  1. i would never have enough will power to do this! Good luck though.

    P.s i love those drink bottles..the shape looks like a diamond haha!

    http://wowyouaresolovely.blogspot.co.uk/

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  2. I'm up and down when it comes to working out. One week I'm pumped, and the next you can't get me off the couch.

    I get motivated when I'm tanned, eat healthy and overall feel good and rested. Good luck, Fleur! :-)

    Liesl xxx
    http://www.pretty-random-things.com/

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  3. SHAKE WEIGHT!

    its visibly toned my arms up in 2 weeks. ive been using it 2/3 a week. It's a 6 minute work out you can do at home (comes with a DVD). i love it.
    http://stylefadfashion.blogspot.co.uk/
    x

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  4. I'm on a Winter fitness kick (I live in Australia) so when Summer comes around, I don't have to worry too much

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  5. Just went and downloaded it :') Sounds great!
    http://nikscritsx.blogspot.com

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  6. i'm trying to get in shape too. i'me starting with moderating how much I eat and pay attention to if i'm actually hungry or not. After it starts to become second nature i'm going to try my hand at full on working out again at a gym. I can't do two things and once and this is working for me. This app will be a help! thanks for the review!

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  7. This type of stuff is fast tracking towards developing an eating disorder.
    People need to stop being so obsessed. Everything in moderation.

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    Replies
    1. I have to say that I don't agree with you on that one. If you use this app the way it has been designed I think it's a great help if you're looking to live a healthier lifestyle. Eating disorders are a whole separate issue that I do not wish to get in to, but you also have to bare in mind that doing no exercise and eating poorly (as I was before) is also an unhealthy choice. I know all the rules for keeping fit and healthy, but sticking to them can be hard in a world where taking the unhealthy road is the easiest, cheapest option. This app has helped me to keep motivated to get fit and as far as I'm concerned, that is a positive message.

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    2. completely agree with you Fleur! Either extreme is bad, and you seem to be doing a great effort to stay healthily in the middle :)

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  8. My Fitness Pal is another app that does the same thing - I got addicted last summer. It allows you to scan in the bar code of what you're eating to give you the right calorie count awesome! Must admit I'm a bit over it now though - best of luck! x
    http://pearlsandpurls.wordpress.com/

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    Replies
    1. I use this as well and it has been wonderful. I go through stages of tracking everyday to skipping a month or two.

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  9. I am starting to go to the gym as well..and i watch what i eat! there is this app called the nike training app and it gives you workouts and acts as a personal trainer! it is pretty good....i'm going to check out the app that you are using as well!

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  10. I am currently on weight watchers and have proudly just shed my muffin top! Haha! xD I am definitely on a healthy eating binge right now, not just weight loss, I've cut down on caffeine and given up my beloved Pepsi max! I feel so much better for it, not just because it helps me lose weight but because it just makes me FEEL better. :)

    Good luck with the trainer Fleur! I hope yours isn't a scary one. ;) xxxx

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  11. I downloaded this, but I was kind of put off by the fact that the target weight that it suggested would have given me a BMI of 18.2 (i.e. technically underweight).

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  12. Nice looking app. I've been using Myfitnesspal since the start of the year, which seems to be a similar app (although doesn't look as nice as this one... it does have an optional user support network, which helps when the motivation slips). Good luck on your healthy journey!

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  13. i really want to tone up for summer but fails to go to the gym everytime! :(
    x

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  14. Good job! I hired a personal trainer for 3 months ago and my goal is next summer. Changes in body don't happen in days so this year will be just all about consistant training and maybe next summer I can be the one wearing tiny bikini on the beach :D Hooray for that!

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  15. This looks really good!

    thebeautymist.blogspot.com

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  16. I am defiantly in a fitness kick, need to loose weight and tone before I go on holidays :), great post, really helped me with some tips!
    xx-B
    http://thegreyclover.blogspot.co.uk/

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  17. Counting calories is really not the way to go if you want to get healthy! A calorie is not just a number, you can't count your intake vs. outtake like some sort of machine. People seem to have the wrong impression about what is healthy and what is not. I hope you don't get offended, I'm just trying to explain the scientific aspect of calorie counting. My english isn't very good though, but please watch this video (and the whole series if you want): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0zD1gj0pXk&feature=youtu.be
    I hope you find it interesting, I eat paleo and have never felt better! Love, Antonia :)

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    Replies
    1. I talked about this aspect in the blog post.

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  18. Another great app is MyFitnessPal. It allows you to keep track of what you're eating and drinking and you can add all forms of exercises that you may be doing. It's really good actually and its free :)

    x

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  19. Just downloaded this. I was using myfitnesspal but this looks a lot cuter. Thanks for the tip. I go to Body Pump 2x weekly (and more during the summer when I'm not at college).

    Kat. x

    tousledkitten.com/blog

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  20. ohh that scary moment when you realize you don't hate the gym.. I started working out and eating better last September and I tracked my calories for the first few months. I honestly don't think you'll need to do it for very long, after a few months you get a pretty good feel for how much is in the things you're eating!
    It would be awesome if you could make a video about what you're doing for fitness :)

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  21. I'm currently using 'My fitness pal' and it's very similar to this one. I can scan a barcode and it will find the product and add it to my calories consumed list. It's so quick and easy. It also has the fitness tracker which is ideal for me, because I'm trying to loose some weight for the summer months too! xo

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  22. I've just downloaded this! I'm loving the NHS 'couch to 5k' podcasts too which you do 3 times a week and takes you through a training programme that literally starts with walking, and results in running 5k/30 mins continuously after 9 weeks! xx

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  23. I'm not one for calorie counting, as someone who has suffered from an eating disorder in the past I personally would avoid something like it. I think the key is to make sensible food choices and exercise is the key to maintaining a healthy weight! Also everyone's base metalblism is different - you just need to learn to listen to your body. Way when hungry & stop when you're full!

    missjaynebecca.blogspot.co.uk

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  24. Thanks Fleur! This post came at the perfect time. I have the same problem of sticking to an exercise routine/healthy diet. I can't really afford a personal trainer since I'm still a student, but hopefully this app helps!

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  26. I used to calorie count, but not anymore because it's just too fiddly! Everything in moderation! I'm doing my second 5K of the year (Race for Life!) and I'm going to try out the 30 Day Shred as well! Should keep me busy I think!

    Great post!

    www.thoughtfulsunday.blogspot.co.uk/

    xx

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  27. Great! Im planning on doing a 'health week' soon and post pix of what i eat every day and what kind of execise i do. You should join me!! Xx

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  28. You should try the app "get running"! it's really great for getting into running or getting back into it which was the case for me and it's been working really great! it isn't free though, but it was still very much worth it to me! I heard from it through laura's blog "buy now blog later" (she used to be lollipop26 on youtube!)! I'll definitely try this app you talked about though, thank you! :)

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  29. I've just downloaded the app and I love it already! So easy to use and hopefully I'll be able to keep with it. I too hope to lose a bit of weight for the summer and now that I've finished exams I'm really going to work at it! Good luck with your weight loss :)

    aimeemoncur.blogspot.com

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  30. I'm training to be an NHS dietitian and my blog is full of health and fitness tips - please come and have a browse :)

    nourishedbysarah.blogspot.com

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  31. I wish you luck from the comfort of my couch, exercise is not my friend! Laura x

    http://secrets-de-beaut.blogspot.co.uk/

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  32. I'm also on a complete health kick at the moment, Loving MapMyRun as an app too but definitely want to give this a shot as I love the idea of having a motivator to exercise more, I'm semi-doing the Lauren Conrad's bikini bootcamp exercise routine, it's fab definitely check it out! x

    http://ally947.blogspot.com/

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  33. I was using My Fitness Pal for a while, which sounds exactly the same as this app... but then I got lazy with it lol. Good luck to you though!

    Check out my blog, I'm doing a giveaway when I reach 100 followers! :)
    just-another-day1.blogspot.ca

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  34. Good luck on it Fleur!

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  35. Nice isklar i think is a danish brand! :)

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  36. Besides jogging I love to take ZUMBA classes....the hour goes by so fast you don't even feel like you are working out because the dancing is so much fun, plus you sweat A LOT! Taking classes motivates me :)

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  37. This app looks great! downloading it now! Ive been 'trying' to eat healthier for ages now and it hasnt been working! ugh. So I'm defo gunna give this ago! xx

    http://mylittlenotebook95.blogspot.co.uk/

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  38. So glad you posted about this, I'm just starting to try and lose a few pounds after realising that my holiday is coming around a lot quicker than I thought! I'm downloading this now x

    www.a-place-for-beauty.blogspot.co.uk

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  39. Ooh I'm downloading the app right now! Really need to get motivated to do more exercise. Xx

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  40. Nice Article! Thanks for sharing with us.

    Type 1 Diabetes

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  41. I'm on a huge health kick too, and to keep my incentive up to do it (as well as getting married in one year!) is that I've started a blog to record my highs, lows and everything in between! I've never been great at sticking to a diet so hopefully this will encourage me to more!

    Best of luck with your diet :)

    Ellie xx

    Ellie-Mary.blogspot.com

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  42. Im not trying to spam you Fleur, but can you please check out my blog, I would really apreciate it:)

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  43. Its just tap water from Norway.. with sparkles! ;)

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  44. Keeping a food diary has many benefits, from encouraging weight loss to improving nutrition to pinpointing food intolerances. I think the most powerful part is accountability and the next most powerful part is increasing awareness of where those extra calories are coming from.

    With love HGH energizer plus

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