{"id":12106,"date":"2021-10-12T22:25:00","date_gmt":"2021-10-13T05:25:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/amihungry.com\/?p=12106"},"modified":"2021-10-30T15:11:46","modified_gmt":"2021-10-30T22:11:46","slug":"diet-and-activity-trackers-the-next-generation-of-misused-tools","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/amihungry.com\/diet-and-activity-trackers-the-next-generation-of-misused-tools\/","title":{"rendered":"Diet and Activity Trackers: The Next Generation of Misused Tools"},"content":{"rendered":"

Diet and activity trackers, calorie counting apps, body composition monitors, and other gadgets have brought the old diet diary, bathroom scale, and pedometer into the digital age. But are they really an improvement, or the next generation of misused tools?<\/p>\n

Based on my personal and professional experience, the countless devices, apps, and other tools on the market for consumers to track their food, nutrition, calories, and activity tend to keep people obsessed with what they eat and how much they exercise. That leaves less room to focus on their lives, relationships, and work.<\/p>\n

Worse, when these diet and activity trackers are misused, they contribute to guilt<\/a>, disordered eating, orthorexia<\/a>, compulsive exercising, and other symptoms of the natural system of consuming and using energy gone awry.<\/p>\n

Nothing New Under the Sun<\/h2>\n

\"Food<\/a>As a recovered yo-yo dieter<\/a>, I have vivid memories of writing down everything I ate and checking the boxes on my “Daily Tracker,” “Weekly Diary,” or “Success Journal” (depending on what year it was) for over\u00a0two decades of my life. I tracked exchanges, optional calories, then points, and logged\u00a0my minutes of exercise to earn sneaker stickers and extra calories.<\/p>\n

And what did it get me? A lifetime membership to go back whenever I fell off the wagon (and I did, many times) and disordered eating.<\/p>\n

For some reason, I saved a box of all that stuff (see photo on right). Perhaps I thought I would use it again someday. More likely, I just wanted something concrete to show for all the time, energy, and money<\/a> I put into it. Proof that I really had tried.<\/em><\/p>\n

(I can hardly believe I wrote down, “2 life savers,” yet there it is. Yeah. That is disordered eating.)<\/p>\n

Does It Make My Life Bigger or Smaller?<\/h2>\n

Using an app and\/or a device strapped to your body to track your calories in and\/or out may seem fun, motivating,\u00a0cool, logical,\u00a0or even necessary.<\/p>\n

And for some people, there’s no harm in it. But just in case, ask yourself these questions about how you use diet and activity trackers:<\/p>\n