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Joseph Thomas Fitzpatrick's review of MyFitnessPal
Date last edited: 11-21-2024 at 11:39AM
Rating: Mature 17+
Review: Title: MyFitnessPal Developer: Under Armour, Inc. Genre: Health & Fitness Rating: 17+ Primary Audience: Adults interested in tracking nutrition, fitness goals, and overall health Version: Varies by device (frequent updates) Platform: iOS, Android, Web Cost: Free (with in-app purchases and a premium subscription option) Image/Trailer: "Change Starts Here" | MyFitnessPal MyFitnessPal is a popular app designed to make tracking food, exercise, and wellness goals simple and effective. With a massive food database, it lets users easily log meals, count calories, and monitor nutrients. Beyond just diet tracking, it also allows users to log their workouts and syncs with other fitness apps and devices to give a full picture of daily activity. Whether you’re trying to lose weight, gain muscle, or maintain a healthy lifestyle, MyFitnessPal provides tools and insights that make reaching health goals more achievable. With free features and a premium version, it’s a go-to app for anyone looking to stay on top of their health journey. The Seven Media Keys The First Media Key: Balance When pursuing the first Key of balance we must pray for the virtue of temperance and seek to live it out. MyFitnessPal promotes temperance by helping users make mindful choices about their diet and exercise. “Build healthy habits with the all-in-one food, exercise, and calorie tracker.” (https://www.myfitnesspal.com) By tracking daily calories, macronutrients, and physical activity, the app encourages balanced habits that avoid overindulgence and support moderation. For instance, users can set goals that align with their health needs, whether that’s portion control, balanced eating, or regular activity, allowing them to practice restraint and discipline. The app’s reminders and progress-tracking tools also help people stay accountable to their goals, reinforcing a steady, thoughtful approach to health rather than extreme or impulsive decisions. The Second Media Key: Attitude Awareness The virtue associated with the 2nd Media key is Prudence. MyFitnessPal demonstrates prudence by guiding users to make informed, thoughtful choices about their health and wellness. By providing detailed information on food choices, nutrient intake, and exercise habits, the app equips users with the knowledge they need to evaluate their actions and plan accordingly. For example, users can view the nutritional breakdown of meals before eating, helping them consider whether their choices align with their health goals. “Personalized nutrition insights reveal what's working so you can make smarter choices.” (https://www.myfitnesspal.com) The app also supports goal-setting and progress monitoring, allowing users to set realistic targets and adjust behaviors to maintain a healthy balance. This emphasis on foresight and decision-making encourages users to act wisely and consistently in pursuing long-term wellness. The Third Media Key: The Dignity of the Human Person The 3rd Media Key calls us to look inwardly to assess the quality of our character and pray for the gift of justice. MyFitnessPal exemplifies justice by fostering a sense of responsibility and respect for one’s body and health. By encouraging users to track their diet and exercise, the app promotes the fair treatment of oneself through balanced nutrition and mindful activity. In this sense, justice involves giving oneself what is rightfully due: a healthy lifestyle that respects physical well-being. The Catechism of the Catholic Church discusses care for the body as part of respecting the dignity of the human person. Exercise aligns with the teaching to maintain physical health to honor the body as a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:19-20). It encourages a balanced approach to physical activity, avoiding idolatry of the body while fostering well-being to serve God and others effectively (CCC 2288) Additionally, the app’s community features, where users share advice, support, and encouragement, reflect justice by creating a supportive environment where users uplift each other. By encouraging users to stay accountable and make choices that respect their health, MyFitnessPal helps cultivate a just approach to personal care and wellness. The Fourth Media Key: Truth-Filled To find what is truth-filled we must be willing to struggle in our pursuit, but we can only do this when we pray for the gift of fortitude. MyFitnessPal demonstrates fortitude by supporting users through the challenges and discipline required to reach health goals. Tracking daily meals, maintaining exercise routines, and adjusting habits can be demanding, especially when motivation wanes or setbacks occur. The app’s progress-tracking features, reminders, and supportive community encourage users to move forward, even on tough days. By helping users build resilience and stick to their health plans, MyFitnessPal fosters the strength needed to overcome obstacles and persevere in the pursuit of a healthier lifestyle. Through this ongoing commitment, users learn to cultivate patience, self-discipline, and the inner strength essential for lasting change. The Fifth Media Key: Inspiring The 5th Media Key is tied to hope which the Lord oftentimes gives to us in small ways every day. MyFitnessPal gives hope by breaking down health goals into manageable daily actions, showing users that positive change is within reach. With tools to track progress, whether it’s through weight loss, fitness milestones, or improved nutrition, the app helps users see tangible results over time, which can be highly motivating. The app’s community feature also plays a big role, as users connect with others on similar journeys, sharing successes, setbacks, and encouragement. Seeing others reach their goals and celebrating small victories along the way reinforces the idea that progress is possible, no matter where you start. This ongoing sense of progress and support fosters hope, empowering users to believe in their capacity for change. The Sixth Media Key: Skillfully Developed The app is skillfully developed because by its nature it leads people to a deeper virtue of faith. MyFitnessPal can help to increase faith in God by encouraging mindfulness about one's body as a gift from God and motivating users to treat it with respect and care. For those who view health as a way to honor their body and spirit, tracking progress through the app can be seen as stewardship, taking responsibility for the well-being that God has provided. By setting health goals and achieving them, users may feel a deeper sense of gratitude for the strength and vitality they have been given, which can deepen their faith. While the app itself is secular, it can support users’ spiritual journeys by aligning their health goals with their faith, reminding them to care for the body God has entrusted to them. The Seventh Media Key: Motivated By and Relevant to Experience The 7th Media key calls us to pray for the gift of charity so that we can enter into the struggles of others. MyFitnessPal encourages charity in a few ways. First, through its community features, users often share tips, encouragement, and success stories, fostering a sense of solidarity and support. This social interaction can motivate individuals to be more generous with their time and knowledge, offering help to others on their fitness journey. Additionally, MyFitnessPal can promote charity by encouraging healthy habits that enhance well-being. As individuals improve their health, they may feel inspired to use their newfound energy and strength to serve others, whether through volunteer work, charitable donations, or supporting causes that promote wellness in the community. In this way, MyFitnessPal becomes a tool that supports both personal growth and charitable actions, encouraging users to think beyond their own goals and consider how their progress can benefit others. Conclusion In conclusion, MyFitnessPal is not just a tool for tracking diet and exercise; it embodies key virtues like balance, prudence, and charity, helping users pursue their health goals with mindfulness and discipline. By fostering a sense of accountability, community, and support, the app encourages personal growth while promoting a deeper sense of respect for one’s body. Through its thoughtful design, MyFitnessPal exemplifies how technology can align with values that enhance both physical well-being and personal virtues.