Technology as a Resolution Solution

It's still early in January, only a week into the New Year, but let's face it, some of those resolutions have already been kicked to the curb.

For the most part, I've stuck with my goal of eating less sugar. Granted, my limited success is mostly based on a technicality. I said “less” sugar, not “no” sugar. So, for example, if I have cake but don't have ice cream with it, that's less sugar than I would usually have. Therefore, I can have my cake, eat it, and still be good in the resolution department.

EARLIER:

Of course, a better approach would be to quantify what I eat and use some objective criteria to mark my progress. Fortunately, these days there are plenty of tools to keep track of calories consumed.

I was an early adopter of calorie tracking technology. Years ago, I had a program called "Diet Balancer." However, this was back in the day when you'd launch a program, go run a couple of errands, come back to see if the program had finished loading, then maybe clean out the garage, come back to check the program again, and so on. Finally, after a few hours, the program would be up and running, only to crash a moment later. The key to Diet Balancer, I'm convinced, was that it took so long to enter foods into the database that eating became more work than it was worth.

Fortunately, now there are dozens of online programs that are faster and easier to use than ever. Personally, I like My Fitness Pal, although I have friends who swear by SparkPeople and My Net Diary. I've also tried Fitday, but it seemed they were always trying to get me to upgrade to “Premium,” which in the end just managed to drive me away.

Sites like these offer a range of tools beyond just calorie counting. They also have social media components so you can find a community to give you the support you need to reach your nutrition goals. If you're less interested in social networking and more interested in nutritional analysis, check out sites such as Web MD Diet Assessment or My Pyramid Tracker. 

Calorie-counting isn't just for your laptop, either. There are a myriad of nutrition-tracking phone apps, so you'll never have an excuse for not logging in that Caramel Mochaccino. If you make a concerted effort to record every calorie that passes your lips, you might be surprised at the results. I, for example, discovered that I routinely hit my day's allotment of calories by about 4 p.m. I guess that explains why I never seem to lose weight.

On the exercise front, there are plenty of sites to help you keep track of your progress. My favorite is Daily Mile, which has been describe as Facebook for people who exercise. In addition to being easy to use, Daily Mile's social interaction aspect is top notch. With Daily Mile, I've managed to connect with other runners, and I've even met some of them at local running events.

Another site that combines exercise tracking and social media is Buckeye Outdoors. Sites like Daily Mile and Buckeye offer challenges as a fun way to stay motivated. The challenges can range from competitive (see who can bike the most in one week) to encouraging (everyone try to walk or run 50 miles in one month).

For the tech-gadget lover out there, Garmin, Polar and other makers of heart-rate monitors and watches have sites that allow users to directly upload data from their devices. Tthere are also a variety of phone apps such as Run Keeper, Run Meter, and Map My Ride that can record your workouts as you are doing them. Tracking your miles couldn't be easier. 

For those who want to plan ahead in addition to looking back, Training Peaks doesn't just record the workouts you've done, it also allows you to set up your exercise calendar in advance. The site also offers a range of tools to help you analyze your workouts and make the most of your training.

And if it's general motivation you need, look no farther than Twitter or Facebook. Declaring your resolutions to your online community can help keep you accountable and on track. Just remember that no matter how challenging your resolution might seem, tools to help you stick with it are just a click away.   

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