I know, it’s a horrid name isn’t it?  *shudder*

I paid for the Weight Watchers online access, which was roughly $50/month.  Pretty pricey, considering by the end I was just using the website to log my food and not attending the meetings except to get weighed in.

So, what to do when you have no cash, but want to record your meals and exercise online?  Maybe get a few tips?  Read a forum?  Find a recipe?

Fat Secret

It’s a free website that you can register on and it keeps track of everything for you.  Here’s the list:

• Join Challenges (i.e. 30 lbs. in 30 days)
• Join Groups (i.e. 30 – 40 years, 20+ lbs. to lose)
• Record Recipes
• Add tips
• Journal
• Food Diary / Exercise Diary
• Weight Diary and tracker
• Food Search functionality (adding food, too!)

The front page feels a little like Facebook with all of the “updates” to members’ journals, weigh ins, recipe additions etc.  If you make your profile public, you can add “buddies” and they can read your journal and comment on it.  The website layout is clean and (this scores massive points with me) Advertisement Free.  I don’t know how long that will last because, quite frankly, I can’t imagine how they’re making any money, but can I just say I hope it stays that way.

It’s what Facebook used to be before all the flashy ads on the sidebar. 

There are five “tabs” you can focus on:

1. Home – main page, as discussed
2. My Fat Secret – your personal space to record, journal, update, etc.
3. Diets – discusses which diets are most popular and how they rate in weight loss
4. Kitchen – for all your recipe searching needs, with reviews and stars
5. Community – groups, challenges, forums, journals, etc.

One of the most compelling features of this website is that when you first create your profile, it asks you what Diet you’re on (if any).  You always have the option of entering your very own personal diet.  I entered Weight Watchers because I’ve done it in the past.  I’ve also set my Food Journal options to include Weight Watchers Points, so when I enter food – you guessed it – it automatically logs the Points for me.

If you’re trying to pay attention to a particular area, such as salt intake, fiber, etc., it can add (or subtract) any details you care about.  How convenient is that?

The only quibble I have, so far, is the Buddy System.   I’ve added a few friends, but it’s a little tricky trying to figure out if they’ve accepted, if they’re adding me, or when they make comments on my journal entries.  Maybe I’m just a Luddite. 

One feature it doesn’t have, but I would love to see, is an email alert (if you request it) when someone comments on your profile.  This would be an exceptionally handy feature for those of us who don’t want to be rude and ignore people who take the time to comment on our public entries.

So there you have it.  If you want an easy way to meet other people who are trying to lose weight, get fit, join a group, or just have a recipe to share, Fat Secret is an excellent option. 

http://www.fatsecret.com

~Melissa

Disclaimer:  And no, I didn’t make a dime off of pitching these guys.  I just love the website and want to share it with everyone I know because it is that useful.  So enjoy – or not.  Up to you.