When I first delved into the world of diet tracking, I had no idea what centering my life around a health app would entail. 

Health trackers can be very beneficial — keeping you on a schedule, making you aware of what you put into your body, and even providing great articles and healthy tips. But in today’s society, we don’t always look further into the effects these apps can have on our self-perception.

Writer’s Note 

This is a personal account of my experience using an app to track my food and exercise. Everyone is different. This article is here to tell you my story, not to tell you how you should manage your own health. For personalized dietary advice, visit Nutrition Services in the Health and Wellness Promotion Office. For personal training at The Rec, get started here.

We all know the feeling of realizing spring break is just around the corner. This past year, I began to feel like I needed to incorporate “healthier” habits to feel my best before breaking out the bathing suits. To help me though the process, I decided to download a health tracking app. 

The app I chose allows users to log daily food and water intake and keep track of physical activity. Notifications pop up after logging a food that might set you over your daily goal for proteins, carbs, and more. The biggest component of this tracking device is calorie counting. The app recommended that I set up my account to lose about one pound per week. In order to accomplish this, I was given a calorie limit each day for my body type. 

After using this tracker for over three months, I came to understand the mental and physical effects it was having on me. Some of these were positive, like tracking the amount of water I put into my body, ultimately increasing my hydration. The app also opened my eyes to how much I actually exercised on a daily basis, whether it was walking to class or taking the stairs. Finally, taking notice of the foods I was putting into my body made me realize that my diet consisted of a lot of the same things. I started getting interested in foods out of my comfort zone and even cooking simple meals at home. 

While all of these effects were great, they didn’t outweigh some of the negative impacts this experience had on me. The calorie-centered health tracking app I used created an obsession with calorie counting as I found myself looking at the labels on everything I touched. On the days that I went over my calorie limit, I got so down on myself. When I stayed within my limit I sometimes felt unsatisfied, which created cravings and thoughts of my next meal. All of this affected my mood and I began to wonder why I started in the first place. This life of dieting and calorie counting went against the “everything is good in moderation” stance I had always believed in. It wasn’t a healthy way to live my life. 

Now that I have stopped tracking my diet, I see the positive impacts of the experience still playing a role in my day-to-day life. I drink more water, eat a wider variety of food, and even cook for myself from time to time. I also realize that without the constant reminders, I feel less constrained. I live a more sound life as I enjoy eating everything in moderation. 

Health trackers were created to serve a good purpose, and they can do just that. But what we sometimes don’t think about is the lasting negative habits they create. After going through this journey, I can say with confidence that I am not opposed to fitness trackers altogether. Now that I understand what my version of a healthy lifestyle is, I wouldn’t even be opposed to re-downloading this app. Taking a step back, I know I can still keep track of my health while enjoying what I eat and the lifestyle I live. 

Be well, Auburn.

Photography: Jacob H.