Top 5 Weight Loss Apps to Help You Get Healthy

We know that there are a ton of apps for weight loss out right now on both iOS and Android. Since there are so many weight loss apps available, it can be hard to know which ones are really helpful. If you are trying to lose weight, you might decide to try out an app.

An app for weight loss can be very useful to you because it can help you see your goals and see your progression. Some apps for weight loss also contain helpful tips or a community so you can interact with other members. We know that losing weight can be challenging, so here are five apps for weight loss that can help you achieve your goals.

Fooducate– One of the best apps for weight loss out there is Fooducate. This is a free app on iOS and Android. Fooducate is an app that will help you with weight loss in a different way. This app is all about helping educate you on the various nutritional labels and information. All you have to do is scan the barcode of an item and the app will tell you a letter grade for that food product. Fooducate will let you know what preservatives and additives are in the food item too.

If you are looking for a weight loss app that does more than just track your calories, Fooducate is the best choice out there. Some people who have certain special diets might also find this app very useful, such as those with diabetes or kidney disease and who have dietary restrictions. Obviously, the better the grade the app tells you an item is, the healthier it will be for you and will help you lose weight. There is so much within this app that you will find it useful for any age group or any weight loss goals or dietary needs.

Lose It!– Lose It is also on our list of the best apps for weight loss. This is a free app on iOS, Android, Kindle, and Nook. With Lose It, you will feel like you have your own personal health coach guiding you on your path to weight loss. There are healthy recipes in this app, charts that show you your progress, and also exercise challenges.

There is also the option to crowd-source food choices in this app too, so there is a social element to Lose It! You will be able to share your weight loss progress too with your friends and family using this app. If you are someone who wants something that is more interactive and social, then Lose It might be the best choice. This app is very easy to use and it is also fun, which is important for staying engaged in your weight loss program.

MyFitnessPal– MyFitnessPal is a great choice if you are looking for apps for weight loss. This free app is available on both iOS and Android. MyFitnessPal is one of the most popular weight loss and food apps out there because it does so much to help you. Under Armour actually owns this app, so you know you are getting a legit exercise and weight loss app. There are over 1 million foods in the database, which is also searchable. You will be able to get your own diet profile which is personalized just for you. This allows you to setup diet goals and healthy eating goals.

You can make exercise goals and even keep yourself motivated in this app by talking to your friends. Speaking of talking to your friends, you can connect with your various contacts through the app and also friend other MyFitnessPal users. This app will connect to various products too, such as Withthings, Runtastic, and Fitbit. You will be able to log your food intake, count calories, and so much more with MyFitnessPal.

Diet Hero- Diet Hero is an iOS app that is $1.99 and it makes our list of the best apps for weight loss. This is something different than just a calorie counting app and it is more unique than other weight loss apps. With Diet Hero, you can tell the app what foods you enjoy or have at home, and the app will tell you what you should be eating. Diet Hero will allow you to see what types of foods you can make with the items you have. If you do not have many foods at home, the app will come up with the healthiest option available out of your food items.

This is a proactive meal planning app that allows you to personalize and customize it for your own needs. You can choose to swap out the recommended food choice and the app will swap out with the same types of food items. By this we mean that if you do not like the protein the app selected, it will replace it with another healthy protein. You can input your weight, height, gender, and age into the app. The app then tells you how many calories you should be eating in order to reach the weight loss goal you also put into the app. For $1.99 this app is definitely worth your time and money.

MyFoodDiary- Lastly, on our list of the best apps for weight loss we have MyFoodDiary. This is a paid app that will cost you $9 per month. You will get a 7-day free trial so you can try it out before you buy it. MyFoodDiary is only available for iOS as of right now. With MyFoodDiary, you will be able to track and manage your weight loss goals in various ways. There are color-coded reports you can use and it also has a digital refrigerator. The digital refrigerator will show you what items you are eating the most.

The reports in the app will tell you all about the nutrients you are getting with the items you eat. MyFoodDiary allows you to put all of your food choices into the database and then the app will calculate your calorie count. This is an app that does exactly what it says it will do which is allow you to keep a diary of the food items you are eating. This is a great way to keep track of and log your weight loss goals and possible bad food choices hindering your progress.

Source: App Informers

5 Facts About Fatigue

Fatigue often indicates an underlying health problem.

Newborns can't rock themselves back to sleep at 3 a.m., and work deadlines don't make exceptions because you were glued to the TV the previous night to catch a special guest on the late, late, late show.

Due to life's challenges and pleasures, nearly everyone gets tired — even thoroughly exhausted — now and then. It's when symptoms become chronic that our health becomes compromised. 

Jennifer Earvolino, MD, a primary care physician at Rush University Medical Center, shares five things you should know about fatigue.

1. There's more to fatigue than just being tired. 

Most times, the cause of being tired is easily identifiable. Perhaps you just took an extra-long hike, or the wedding you attended included too much alcohol and surpassed your usual bed time. In these cases, symptoms will pass within a few days.

"Clinical fatigue lasts for an extended period, usually more than one month, and consists of three parts: lack of motivation, a reduced capacity to follow through with activities, and difficulty with concentration and memory," Earvolino says.

If that’s the case, a trip to your primary care physician can help get to the root of the problem.

2. Fatigue can impact more than just your energy level. 

Fatigue can have a negative impact on your daily quality of life.

"Some patients are unable to get themselves out of bed and go to work," Earvolino says. "They may be sleepy and have trouble getting through the day, and end up missing out on things."

If you can't concentrate, your ability to focus at work or school will be affected. Deadlines may be missed and grades may drop. If you have children, you may not be fully in the moment in your role as a caretaker, and that can impact their school or social lives. You may also find it harder to stick to your usual exercise routine, which could lead to weight gain.

3. History helps with diagnosis. 

Physicians look for telling patterns during patient visits.

"I can't stress enough how important it is for physicians to obtain a thorough patient history," Earvolino says. "That generally consists of asking patients open-ended questions to try and understand the situation better."

For example, did the symptoms come on suddenly? Have the symptoms been more gradual? Are symptoms getting better or worse?

In addition, a thorough physical examination, including a blood test to check for anemia, diabetes or inflammatory diseases, is important to make sure illness isn't the source of the problem.

Clinical fatigue lasts for an extended period, usually more than one month, and consists of three parts: lack of motivation, a reduced capacity to follow through with activities, and difficulty with concentration and memory.

4. There are many causes of fatigue. 

Sleep disorders or poor sleeping habits are big culprits. "People should generally get seven to eight hours of sleep every night," Earvolino says.

"But just because you're in bed for seven to eight hours doesn't mean you're getting quality sleep. A disorder such as sleep apnea or restless leg syndrome may keep you from really resting."

In addition, illnesses such as a cold or the flu can cause fatigue, as can more serious problems.

"Fatigue may indicate a more serious medical issue," Earvolino says. "Changes in appetite, unexplained weight loss or gain, enlarged lymph nodes, cough, pain, fever — these are things that may point to an infection or a more serious causes of fatigue."

Thyroid disorders, such as an underactive thyroid gland, can leave someone feeling tired. Anemia and other blood disorders can also sap energy. Even the buildup of day-to-day stress, from work responsibilities to picking the kids up from school, can interrupt sleep and rob people of energy if it isn’t managed properly.

Fatigue can stem from psychiatric disorders, particularly depression and anxiety. Often a psychiatric disorder is found to be the issue after all other potential causes are ruled out, and it's most likely to be the cause when fatigue lasts for six months or longer.

5. There is relief for the weary. 

Treatment for fatigue depends on the cause. But in the majority of cases, there's an effective way to help a patient regain their usual energy level.

If lack of quality sleep is the problem, Earvolino focuses on ways to help patients get seven to eight hours of quality sleep every night. "You should take the TV and other electronics like laptops and smart phones out of the bedroom," she says. "There are studies that suggest the light that comes from computer screens can interrupt your ability to wind down."

In addition, avoid exercise an hour prior to going to bed. Instead of rigorous exercises, try a relaxing yoga workout that includes meditation.

However, there are plenty of benefits to more heart-pumping exercises earlier in the day. Thirty minutes of cardiovascular exercise such as running or biking three to four times a week can help you maintain normal sleep cycles. But in the case of a sleep disorder, Earvolino refers patients to a sleep specialist.

A healthy diet can also go a long way in helping your body function properly, meaning better sleep and less stress. "Eat a well-balanced diet, avoid excess alcohol and stay well-hydrated," Earvolino says.

"Also, avoid sugary and carbohydrate-heavy meals, which cause fatigue after your blood glucose level spikes and then plummets."

Exercise and diet can also help when depression or other psychiatric disorders are to blame. Cognitive behavioral therapy and medications are the main treatments, and your doctor can refer you to a specialist.

“There are effective treatments available, so people should seek the help of their primary physicians if they aren't feeling as peppy as usual, for a prolonged period of time," Earvolino says.

Source: Rush University Medical Health Center