The no. 1 global nutrition and food tracking app, MyFitnessPal, helps users embrace sustainable eating habits in the New Year, without the pressure and intensity of an ‘all or nothing’ mindset
TORONTO, Jan. 8, 2025 /CNW/ – The new year is here and with it, the push to set and maintain health-focused resolutions. Whether it’s the latest diet trend on social media, the guilt that creeps in after holiday festivities, or the long-held belief that this is the one time a year to become a “new you,” this kind of pressure is not a sustainable approach to wellness. A recent survey shows that of the 19% of Canadians that tried a fad diet, 43% were not successful in reaching their health goals. The New Year can be a fresh start, which is why MyFitnessPal, the no. 1 global nutrition and food tracking app, is encouraging its members to embrace the philosophy of progress over perfection.
Survey Says:
Of those who tried a fad diet and were not successful, 70% say it was because the diet was too restrictive.24% of Gen Z and Millennials have tried a fad diet.91% of Canadians surveyed agree that focusing on progress over perfection is the best approach to successfully achieving a health goal.
Rather than restricting or depriving yourself, it’s about making intentional choices. By planning your week and tracking your food, you will build realistic, achievable habits that account for the moments when real life happens––setting a foundation not only for today, but for life.
“MyFitnessPal acknowledges the mad fads that have been encouraged over the years in a bid for achieving what society deems ‘perfect’,” says Head of Nutrition, Melissa Jaeger, RD. “At MyFitnessPal, we encourage striving for progress, not the concept of ‘perfection’. Restrictive diets lack sustainability and overall nutrient balance – a few factors that contribute to why ‘quick fixes’, fad, or restrictive diets aren’t the solution to achieving long term health goals. Instead of trying the latest fad or revisiting an old trend – try tracking your foods, building awareness of your nutrition habits, and knowing where you stand with your health. Most importantly, don’t let it get in the way of real life. Have a piece of cake on your child’s birthday and enjoy some poutine occasionally––because that’s real life.”
To ensure you always know where you stand when life gets real, Melissa created three tips for a healthy and joyful January.
Add, Don’t Subtract
Instead of focusing on what you would cut out from your diet this January, set a goal for what you could add to your diet to help support overall motivation and progress towards health and nutrition goals.
Consider setting a SMART – Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time Bound – goal to increase daily fruit, vegetable, or water intake. Not only can small steps support overall health goals, they can also reframe how we view our diet when it comes to goal setting. An app like MyFitnessPal makes tracking fruit and vegetable intake simple through the My Weekly Report feature, highlighting dietary patterns based on food groups. You can also track daily water intake via the water tracking widget in the app’s home screen.
Stay Social While Staying on Track
Life doesn’t stop when you set a health goal and it shouldn’t have to. Instead of saying no to dinners at restaurants with family or happy hours with friends, account for these moments by logging your meals so you always know where you stand on the journey to meeting your health goals.
“Tracking what you eat can help you understand the impact of your dietary choices, encouraging a healthier and more mindful approach to eating. When you allow room for flexibility, like enjoying a side of fries, you’re more likely to stay motivated to keep progressing towards your health goals,” says Jaeger.
Don’t Put too Much on January or Yourself
Remember that January is just one month out of the year. Just as one meal, snack or beverage isn’t going to make or break your progress towards your health goals, the first month of the year isn’t the only month to focus on your health goals. Prioritize your health and wellbeing year-round, using tracking tools like MyFitnessPal to gain insight into your dietary habits and learn where you have room for modifications to support your goals.
For more information on MyFitnessPal, visit www.myfitnesspal.com or download the app for free via the App Store or Google Play.
Methodology
This Maru Public Opinion survey conducted on behalf of MyFitnessPal was undertaken by the sample and data collection experts at Maru/Blue. 1,531 randomly selected Canadians adults who are Maru Voice Canada online panelists were surveyed from December 18 to December 19, 2024. The results of this study have been weighted by education, age, gender, and region (and in Quebec, language) to match the population, according to Census data. This is to ensure the sample is representative of the entire adult population of Canada. For comparison purposes, a probability sample of this size has an estimated margin of error (which measures sampling variability) of +/- 2.5%, 19 times out of 20. Discrepancies in or between totals when compared to the data tables are due to rounding.
About MyFitnessPal
MyFitnessPal is the #1 global nutrition and food tracking app for achieving health goals, especially weight management. Since 2005, MyFitnessPal has empowered over 200 million users in over 120 countries to improve their health by tracking their food, recording exercise activity, and logging their weight. As one of the world’s most trusted resources on nutrition, MyFitnessPal’s mission is to help people around the world reach their health goals through better food choices by providing knowledge, motivation and a sense of progress. With one of the largest food databases in the world comprising over 19 million foods, access to over 500 recipes, more than 50 workout routines and exercise demos, and over 40 connected fitness partners, MyFitnessPal provides users with tools for positive healthy change. The MyFitnessPal app is available on the App Store and Google Play store. To learn more, visit www.myfitnesspal.com or follow MyFitnessPal on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok and Twitter.
SOURCE MyFitnessPal
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