We all use technology, and while negative externalities certainly abound, there are some programs that do make life better. Perhaps I will dedicate Friday’s to sharing which tools I find super effective, and which ones could remain uninstalled. There are no affiliate links here, just my genuine thoughts on the matter.
One of my goals ever since I stopped rowing has been to lose weight. It’s been up and down, but fortunately the last few months have been directionally correct. There is no substitute for calories in/calories out, but I have found the app Happy Scale to be super handy on my my journey.
At its most basic, it allows me to record my daily weight, but unlike other tools, it gamifies the process. One of the features provided is a rounding function, which estimates your “true” weight by comparing past weigh-ins to create a trendline. Due to life’s variety, weight goes up and down based on a multitude of factors, and having an “up” day can be demotivating when you’ve been working consistently towards lowering the numbers. Having a trend-line shows that you’re moving in the right direction, even if you have the occasional day when you go over.
It also tracks how much you have lost in the past 7, 30, and 90 days, which is inspiring, and splits your goals into milestones. One of the reasons I decided to share this info today is that I have broken through Milestone 2, and am now 21% towards my goal.
Weight loss for most people is a grind, and usually not very fun. Having a tool that keeps you accountable, that is easy to use, and motivates your behaviour is a worthwhile companion, particularly as it is free.
I highly recommend it, and good luck to everyone else out there who are STILL chasing their New Year’s Resolutions.
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