I briefly touched on the LoseIt! app and website a year and a half ago in my “Tools for Working on Goals” article. I am still using LoseIt!, Fitbit, and I’ve added Withings. I also still use DayOne for specific journaling work related to health and fitness. (I use MacJournal for all other forms of journaling.) I am no longer using Lift. They changed their direction, and I didn’t want to go in that direction — I’m sure it still is a useful tool, but as they changed to meet their needs, it was no longer what I was looking for.

For this Tech Stuff, I’d like to discuss the LoseIt! app and website in greater detail. Although I mostly use the iPhone app, I love that they have an iPad app and a website (they also have an Android app, but I have no experience with it — my stepdaughter has used the Android version with much success). I see on the features page they also have Kindle and nook versions of the app.

I found such value in the app that I decided to pay for the Premium version. I’ve linked the comparison page comparing LoseIt! Basic, LoseIt! Premium, and Weight Watchers OnLine features. The Premium features are well worth the $30 a year to maintain; however, the Basic features offer integration with other apps, so you may not feel the Premium capability it worth it to you. For me, the LoseIt! integration makes the Premium features in this app worthwhile, and I use the basic features in Fitbit and Withings. Your needs may be different.

The one Premium feature I value most is meal planning. I’ve found I have the most success when I input my planned meals for a a week in advance (at least a day in advance). If I already have the dinner calories and nutrients allocated, it seems to make it easier for me to plan and eat more responsibly earlier in the day.

A Basic feature most valuable to me is the seamless integration between the apps and the website. The barcode scanner is particularly helpful as is the ability to add custom foods to your database. You cook at home a lot? Enter your favorite recipes once, and you can easily track your meals, including nutrients.

I don’t use this feature, but if you’re diabetic, you can track your glucose readings. Need to track carbs? You can do that. (For me, that’s depressing, but I really need to do a better job of reducing carbs.)

I use the Fitbit to automatically track and record steps. I use the Withings scale to automatically track and record weight, heart rate, and manually input blood pressure readings when I remember to take them. If you need to track blood pressure more closely and don’t want to manually enter the data, Withings makes a blood pressure cuff that will automatically do this for you (so cool, eh?). I use Fitbit to track sleep, but it will automatically update to LoseIt!, and I have a nice Sleep graph in my Goals section. My goal is seven hours, and I average 6.8 hours of sleep per night. The key for me? If I record a measurement in one app, I have it update to Fitbit for a single complete picture.

Best of all, no equipment (other than a computer, smart phone, Kindle, or nook) is required. If you don’t have a computer, use your smart phone. If you have a Kindle or a nook, get the app. If you don’t have a smart phone, use your computer. The website is great! If you happen to have a Fitbit or a Withings, that’s cool, but it’s not necessary. If you want to track sleep but don’t have a fitbit, you can manually input the hours of sleep you got the night before into your goals section.

Want to track exercise? Either link your RunKeeper, MapMyFitness, or Nike+Running data or input your exercise yourself.

Try having fun with your health and fitness goals. Give LoseIt! a look.