If you're serious about getting in shape and eating right, documenting your plan of action and your daily progress is a great way to meet your goals. I found an easy way to keep track of all your stats — the fitbook ($20). It's 12-week fitness journal and food diary that's 5.5 square inches, so it's small enough to tuck in your purse or gym bag. It's made of 100 percent recycled paper, and comes with a little pen to jot down your info. It has neat little charts so you can see how much you've worked out, what you've eaten, your weekly weight, and your body fat percentage.
A fit and healthy lifestyle doesn't come easy to many people. It takes discipline and a lot of planning, so using a journal like this one is a great way to set yourself up for success. Plus research shows that those who write down their goals are 75 percent more likely to achieve them.
If you want to take a peek inside this neat little fitbook then read more.
If your goals will take more than 12 weeks to accomplish, or you have some friends who want to get on the fitbook boat, you can purchase a set of four for $75. Since we're all pinching pennies, if you don't want to splurge on a fitbook then you can download my fitness and food journals for free.
Paul & Joe
Seafolly
Vivienne Westwood
I just use an app on my iPhone that lets me track my eating habits and workouts daily. It also provides a guideline of how many calories I can have if I want to lose 1, 1.5, or 2 pounds a week.
1im sorry but this is just stupid. i write down everything i eat and any exercises i do in a journal. its free and much more simple
2Someone is always trying to make money off others. Good grief, people wake up...fitness and journaling are Free.
3Yeah, why does this cost $20? You could make a spreadsheet on Excel that would do the same thing for free. Or pick up a plain ol' notebook for a buck or two and do your journaling in that.
4I agree with the others. It shouldn't cost a dime to keep track of keeping fit. Plus it's more individually tailored -- duh -- to your own idiosyncratic routines and such. Speaking for myself. I have an old notebook with doodles and notes on fitness-related subjects. Inspiring quotes and ones I create; I can look back on how far I've come and readjust my goals. I can see when it's time to switch up exercise routines.
5I like it! I think it clearly breaks down everything you should be focusing on. Not gonna lie, I'm bummed it's 20 bucks though. I say $10 and call it a deal.
6I like it because it breaks everything down, but I priced it. By the time you add shipping, it is over $25. Not worth it.
7i think it has a lot more things to keep track of rather than writing it yourself in a blank notebook. 20 is a little much but lhj10 will knock $2 off!
8I would love to buy this, it seems really neatly laid out and would encourage me to stick to my goals better-when I write my own diary whenever I go wrong I just rip out the pages and start again!!!So I think this was good. Shame they don't appear to deliver outside of the US:(
9I'm definitely into this book. $20 isn't much if it helps you keep your goals. Sure you can make a spreadsheet, but this is so much easier.
10DeviousMuse - What app do you use? I have Lose It! on my iPod Touch and I love it. I have used it daily for the past three weeks, and I credit that 75% with my losing 2lbs per week so far. I'm curious if there are better ones out there.
11hey fitsugar readers! this is angela - the creator of fitbook and i'm SO happy to read all your input on what you think of the fitbook. just wanted to give you my thoughts behind why i created it: i always used a blank journal too and even made my own spreadsheets but i needed something to take to the gym and keep with me...i didn't like anything else out there either, which is how the fitbook came to be! but what i did was pull in the following elements to make it better: weekly goal setting, motivational fit tips, nutritional and workout guides, a handy little slot in the back for your gym card, and a cute little pen! yes it's $20 - but that lasts you 3 months and if it gets you closer to your goals...it's worth it! here's the deal: use promo code FITSUGAR10 to get the fitbook for $17.95 (and we do ship internationally!), try it out for yourself and then all i ask is if you change your mind about it...repost a blog! i'm super passionate about helping people reach their goals and i love getting emails everyday from people that have had success with the fitbook. thanks for all the valuable feedback!
12live life fit...
angela
i use lose it! on my iphone. love it. sometimes i write in a journal, either online or in a notebook. bahaha i'm everywhere i guess!
13I'm a busy working mom and I LOVE my fitbook! $20 is worth it to me. I don't have time [or want to make an excel sheet]. This is much more organized and has a goal oriented/motivational format that I love. Little fit tips at the bottom are great reminders. I tried iPhone apps and ended up back with my fitbook because the actual activity of writting everything down (meals, snacks & lattés) keeps me accountable. The strength training side is well organized and I love the rating system. It's also helped me set a weekly plan with a week workout plan so there is no thoughts about "what will I do today. I now use the iPhone apps along with my fitbook when I want to track calories. But I'm sticking with writting things down! I love being able to flip back the pages and see my progress, notes and doodles.
14www.fitday.com
15Okay, if this was just a jounal that cost $20 I might agree with some of the others comments. But it isn't.
I have been using the Fitbook since February and have to tell you that it is GREAT! In the past, I have kept track of my meals using a regular journal...and yes... that is less expensive. But for me it wasn't effective. My journals just ended up having a list of foods that I ate and a note on whether or not I worked out that day - they were spotty and honestly weren't that helpful. Since I felt like my weight was getting out of hand, I started with a personal trainer who provided the FITBOOK as part of his training packages. Not only do I track my meals, the nutritional value and cardio logs, but my trainer uses the FITBOOK to capture our workouts. It helps keep track of the weights I am using on each machine so I can duplicate those work outs on my own. Additionally, my trainer uses the book to review my eating habits and provides me feedback on ways to improve my diet. I can look back and follow my measurements and see how I am tracking toward my goals. It is something that has been incorporated into my daily life.
The FITBOOK costs $20 but that is for 3 months. That is less than 25 cents per day. Much less than I would spend on a coffee or a snack.
Here is another suggestion for those who like the idea of the book but don't want to spend the money, ask your trainer or the gym if they offer this included with the membership. That makes the cost free for you!
16I am a personal trainer and use the fitbook with all my clients! It is a fabulous tool. Writing down your goals and bring mindful of your nutrition is very powerful to helping impriving your health and performance. I used to print my own workout sheets and have a cheap looking folder for each client...the Fitbook provides a clean and convenient way to track food and workouts, and my clients have a day by day account of what they have done at the end of 12 weeks, which adds value to what I do. And I saw a few posts about having a problem paying $20 for something that could be free...these pay for themselves ten times over. The time and money to print sheets for three months is a lot. And the asthetics don't even compare to some crumpled up sheets or some beet up five star notebook!
17By far the best fitness journal I have ever seen. Perfect size to carry in your gym bag, and so professionally designed that makes the price a real bargain. This is a tool that is well worth the money and were you can almost read your life journal. Keep it in your bookshelf and look back into your "fit journey" for a healthy life.
18Definitely a must.
I purchased a fitbook six weeks ago. Compared to hiring a personal trainer or signing up for a gym membership (things I was considering to do in order to achieve my fitness goals) the fitbook was the perfect, inexpensive tool to motivate and keep me accountable. I've lost seven pounds, several inches, and feel much more "fit." It is a worth-while buy for those who need accountability in keeping their fitness goals, but don't want to pay the price for a gym membership or personal trainer.
19The fitbook is great!!! i love how by tracking my diet and workouts every day it keeps me very dedicated to my goals and makes me accountable. there is a lot of talk about how it is $20, but if you think about much you spend every week on coffee or candy bars $20 doesnt seem like very much when it's helping you meet your excerise and dieting goals!!! Thanks for such a great product!!!
20First - I use Fitbook - LOVE it - have given it as a gift and they've LOVED it also.
Seems like there's some people posting that have a lot of negativity towards the idea of people paying for a fitness and nutrition journal. I can see where some people may think "why spend $20 when you can use a plain notebook, or a cheap iPhone app, etc." and maybe for some people a free option will do the trick, but unless you've used this journal I think it's unfair to be so quick to judge. I do use this Journal and I think it's one of the most important parts of my fitness and nutrition programs.
I have been journaling what I eat for 8 years (when I started Weight Watchers, lost 100 pounds, and then worked for the company for 3 years). I've tried more journaling techniques than most: free, paid, electronic, written, you name it! I can honestly say that the Fitbook is the MOST complete, well organized, and informational journal I've ever come across. And yes, it's cute, and fun to use. This might seem like a stupid quality to matter for some, however, having something that you really like, that adds fun to your routine, can be the difference between success and failure.
Basically what I'm trying to say is don't knock it if you haven't tried it!
I'm on
my 2nd fitbook and am going to order the 3-pack next time just to be stocked up. For those of you that think this is just a fancy notebook with an inflated price, check it out on their site
(www.getfitbook.com), there's a virtual walk-through that shows you all the different sections and additional info they give
you - that's what I did before I bought my first one.
To the Fitbook people - Thanks for a GREAT product - can't wait to see what's next!
To the poster "selftami" - I think your comments were a little harsh! Just because someone comes up with a product to help someone achieve their fitness/nutrition/weight loss goals and charges for it, doesn't mean they are trying to take advantage. We all need to make a living, why not do it providing a super cool product that actually helps people and then give them the choice to buy it or not? And, to imply that someone that would buy a journal needs to "wake up" wasn't very nice either. I think you were just trying to say that you are happier using something free, but don't discourage others from a product that could change their lives (sounds overdramatic, but for those of you battling weight loss, you'll understand!).
Kudos to Fitbook for the ingenuity, and good luck to EVERYONE out there in reaching your goals no matter what method you use to journal and achieve success!
21Fitbook has been great to my OCD self... It has catered to more than just a place to write down my workouts and day but it has aided to the structure and the organization that I need in order to not only meet my own personal needs, but also help keep me on track for my fitness goals. I use it even on the days Im not working out to track my intake, and also just how I feel about the day... I now know why and feel the way I do on a day to day basis, and now feel more accountable for the results I am getting and why! This has been a great addition to my life both in and out of the gym! Thank you fitlosophy!
22FitBook is amazing. I have been recommending fitness and food diaries to my clients for nearly two decades. This is the one that I use myself. It helps me make the connecting between food and my mood. It keeps me on track and keeps me motivated as I see my progress. I love it!
23I'm finding the tone of the comments on this post to be really interesting. The first half of the comments were short, generally from established Sugar users and more negative (in that they questioned the cost relative to the product). Then the creator posted a nice, informative comment. Then, all of a sudden, there is an influx of "anonymous" comments about how great this product is. Methinks someone who works at Fitbook is directing commenters to this post to pump up the product!
24I was thinking the exact same thing. Not that positive responses are wrong, but that the long anon posts are fishy. Plus, usually after the posts leave the first two pages, the comments die down, not pick up. No worries, I'm sure it's a great product to those that find exercise journals useful to them! As for myself, using an application on my iPod Touch works the best for me because I'm already carrying it around in my bag, it's small enough to fit in my purse, and straps on my arm at the gym, so it's one less thing that I have to carry. If there was a fitbook application that cost $10, I would absolutely be inclined to check it out.
25I'm not sure I would spend $20 for a fitbook when I can do it online for free. There are a lot of interesting choices, from The Daily Plate to Spark People to MSN Health and Fitness. I use the MSN version because I also use Training Peaks. But the choice of documentation is probably as individual as weight loss and diets themselves, so anything goes!
26I LOVE fitbook! I started using it a year ago when my Excel spreadsheet just wasn't cutting it. Now, the company I work for has given one to every employee to promote health and fitness. I've given a fitbook to several of my friends and they've ordered more since they've completed one.
27It's easy to use and small enough that carrying around is a snap. It's a long ways from my single page spreadsheet. I now have a record of how far I've come in my fitness endevours
I just ordered the 4 year pack and can't wait to get started. I prefer to do the paper/pen thing rather than online. I find it works better for me and I hate to be tied to some electronic device (phone/computer) all the time.
I agree $20 is more than most food & exercise journals since most run around $15.00 at B&N or $10-$12 on Amazon. But these might just be worth it. I will have to post in a few months and let you all know how they are working for me.
28I am one week from finishing up with my first Fitbook and I have really enjoyed it. I am ordering the one year supply next. Before I have used online systems but then I didn't have the info handy when I wanted to recall it later. With Fitbook, I can fit it right in my purse, and I do, I carry it with me all the time. Also, I recently had to start monitoring my blood sugar. The Fitbook has been perfect for that. I write my meal down and the time I ate it which reminds me when I need to monitor and then I make note of my readings - it helps me tie back my readings to exactly what I ate so I can fine tune my eating habits. Admittedly, this first go round I did not use the Fitbook to it's highest potential but now that I see how it can be useful to me I will make even more use of it. My only complaint with it is that I prefer to have a place at the end of each week to notate goals progress and it is set-up with the goals page at the beginning of each week so I have to flip back but that is no big deal. PS. No one asked me to write this review!
29Post New Comment
Please share your opinion with our community, but make sure it is on topic and follows our Community Rules. We moderate comments and prohibit personal attacks, threats, spam, lewd images, or the promotion of your personal website.