Let’s be honest: the rise of computers and the Internet has not helped stop America’s obesity problem. Sitting in front of a computer for hours a day is not a great way to burn calories, and updating your Facebook status won’t help raise your fitness level. But there are several social media tools you can use to improve your health and overall well-being.
Determining Your Calorie Needs
CalorieCount.com is one of the best sites I have found for people looking to lose, gain, or maintain their current weight. It is not a typical diet program–it has tools for you to enter everything you eat, with nutrition facts for nearly all foods listed, and a metabolic calculator to figure out how many calories a day you burn through normal activity and exercise. You can even enter in ingredients for homemade recipes and figure out their nutritional content. The site also assigns foods a grade from A to F based on their nutritional value. In addition, there are forums on various topics, allowing calorie counters worldwide to come together to share recipes, fitness tips, weight loss/gain tips, and support for dietary issues as well as eating disorders.
Here you can see the nutritional facts for 1 cup of eggs, the nutritional grade according to Calorie Count, and members who have recently joined the site.
Strength in Numbers
Additionally, members can create their own journals and add “friends” on the site, similar to the way one adds friends on Facebook. Many members use their journals to keep them on track in their eating habits, while others use them to voice their daily frustrations as they strive to reach their ideal weights. Members’ friends can read their entries and leave supportive feedback.
Stay Updated
Finally, the site employs several registered dietitians, nutritionists, and doctors who post articles on the site’s blog dealing with health and fitness. These articles and links help keep members informed on the latest research and news about the world of health.
My Experience
A few years ago, my doctor told me I needed to exercise more and cut back on junk food. Calorie Count was an invaluable tool for me because it made me aware of what I was putting into my body and helped me understand the benefits of exercise. Though I do not use the site on a regular basis anymore, I sometimes read and contribute to the forums to pick up tips from other members that I would not otherwise find from a health magazine or website. Even if you are fine with your current weight, I would recommend checking out the site if you are interested in how you can improve your diet or exercise routine and reach your personal health goals.
Healthy Living Through Social Media 