Are you looking for the best weight loss tools to help you lose weight? These are the tested and approved weight loss tools that you need to know about!
Losing weight can be difficult but luckily there are tools that make losing weight easier. As a frequent dieter, I feel like I have tried so many products (and spent so much money) on things to help me lose weight. These are the top weight loss tools that I have found to be helpful and that I still use to this day!
You are going to learn about all the essential weight loss tools, from fitness trackers and body weight scale to the can't live without kitchen tools.
These are all of the weight loss tools that I love, have used for a long time, and most importantly won't break the bank!
This post is all about the 9 essential weight loss tools that will make your weight loss easier!
DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links which means if you click on a product and make a purchase I will earn a small commission. I only recommend products that I truly believe are great so you get an awesome product and I get a small commission. It's a win-win.
If you want to lose weight and get in shape, then it's important that you have the right tools. These 9 best weight loss tools will help you get on track to a healthier lifestyle.
Food Journal
Many women who want to lose weight and get in shape don't realize that the best way to do this is by keeping a food journal. This takes some discipline on your part, but it will help you make better choices about what you eat and drink each day. A food journal also provides an accurate record of everything that has been consumed for quick reference as well as a reminder of how many calories were eaten during the course of one day.
Food tracking can be tedious, but it's worth the effort because it means less time spent counting calories at the end of every day or week. It also makes sense when you consider that most people are unaware about how much they consume in terms of calories, fat grams, or carbohydrates each day.
Another great thing about food tracking is that over time it helps you find out what works for you. If you hit a plateau or start gaining weight you can look back in your journal and see what you were eating during a time when you were losing weight. Then you can compare to what you are currently doing and make any adjustments that you need to start losing again. It also helps for you to see how certain foods affect your satiety and control your hunger.
[Wondering if you really need to count calories? Read Should I Count Calories or Just Eat Healthy?]
The Food Journal that I use is actually a weight loss app called MyFitnessPal. I have used this app for years. They have a paid version which I do currently pay for but I had the free version for many years. The great thing about Myfitnesspal is that it has a HUGE database of foods so you don't have to spend a lot of time copying the information off nutrition labels.
You can also save commonly eaten meals which makes it easy for logging meals.
The the app does all the math for you. You can input how many calories you want to eat each day and it will subtract the food you input and let you know how many calories are remaining each day. This makes it easy to stay within your daily calorie budget.
Other weight loss apps that a lot of people like are Lose It and Cronometer (for those who are focused on limiting their carb intake).
If you prefer what some see as a calming approach of sitting down with a physical journal, this is a very cute option that gets great reviews on Amazon. It has a place to also keep track of your measurements so that you can log your progress over time.
Food Scale
If you’re trying to lose weight, a food scale can help. You need to know how many calories are in your food so that you can make smart choices about what and how much you eat. A food scale will help you measure your portion sizes for each meal so you can easily determine how many calories are in each serving. This simple kitchen tool makes tracking calories easy because it measures both dry goods (like rice) as well as liquids like oil or water.
This is the food scale that I use. I love it because you can easily measure your food before you eat so that you know exactly how many calories are in each serving. The best part? It’s super easy to use and doesn't add any time or hassle to your meal prep! Just place your plate on top of the scale, press “on” and then “tare” with a single button press. Now start adding your favorite foods look at how much they weigh, enter them into Myfitness Pal (which does the math calculations for you) and enjoy your meal!
The other reason I love this particular scale is that it uses two AA batteries. Other food scales I have had used the circular watch batteries and for some reason they ran out quickly and then of course I never had any on hand and had to remember to buy them at the store. These batteries last forever and when they do run out I always have some at the house.
Body Weight Scale
A scale is an important tool for weight loss because it allows you to track your progress. It gives you instant feedback and lets you know if you have lost weight. Weighing yourself regularly can help you stay on track and motivated, as you can see the results of your hard work. If you’re not seeing the progress you hoped for, it can help you adjust your diet and exercise routine accordingly.
A lot of women(myself included in the past) would get too emotionally attached to the number on the scale. [If this is you see my article on which provides tips on how to stop seeing the scale as your enemy]. Having such a negative view of the scale leads some people to abandon it altogether.
This isn't helpful because without a measurement you don't actually know if what you are doing is working.
Here's another option. Buy a wireless scale. The scale I use is the Renpho scale. It measures weight, body fat, muscle mass, water and much more. It also has an app where it automatically records my weight to it after I step off the scale each morning. It also syncs with my Fitbit so that the weight is recorded there as well to view my progress.
Here is the best part about a wireless scale. If you are too tied to the emotion of the number on the scale. You can step on the scale and not look at the number. The scale will register the number in the app without you ever having to know what it is.
Then you can look at your progress when you are ready.
This is the scale I use and I really like it!
Fitness Tracker
A fitness tracker tracks your daily movement as well as what you eat, so you can see where improvements need to be made in order for you to reach your goal weight faster. In addition to steps taken each day, a fitness tracker measures other key data that is essential to successful weight loss.
I use a Fitbit and in addition to Steps walked each day it also tells me how many calories I burned, what my resting heart rate is, how many active minutes I had each day, how I slept each night, and so much more.
I use a Fitbit and it was a huge part of my weight loss journey. See my article here on The Genius Way To Use Fitbit For Weight Loss.
I use the Fitbit Sense which you can buy here (But also see my comparison of the Fitbit Sense 2 vs Fitbit Charge 5)
Other wearable devices that people love are the Apple Watch and the Garmin. All are great fitness trackers that allow you to monitor your daily activity level and keep you accountable to help you achieve your weight loss goal.
Progress Measurement tool
In addition to a body scale, a measurement tool is an essential part of any weight loss journey.
Our bodies are complex and sometimes our hard work doesn't show up on the scale right away. An additional measurement tool helps you to see if your body is changing even if the scale is taking a while to cooperate.
Without a way to track your progress, it can be difficult to know if you are making the right changes and seeing results.
A measuring tape is a great way to track your waist size, hips size, and other measurements that can change as you lose weight. As you lose body fat, your body size will get smaller even if the scale stays the same.
I use a simple tape measure.
In addition to a tape measure, I also use a pair of smart shorts called "Like a Glove." The Like a Glove shorts measure your body shape in seconds so that you don't have to think about it. Also, with the measuring tape sometimes I worry that I'm not measuring in the same spot that I did before. The shorts eliminate that problem because I am able to just put them on and they measure in the same spots each time.
Once they send the measurements over bluetooth or wifi connection, the app will show you how your body size has changed (or not) since the last time you measured. In addition, to the numbers it also shows visual avatar showing changes over time and a graph showing progress over weeks/months/years!
For more on the Like a Glove Smart Shorts visit their website Likeaglove.com
It's also helpful to take photos of yourself so you can see the physical changes in your body over time.
This is the tape that I use. I measure my waist weekly and then take a full body measurement once a month.
Instant Pot
An instant pot was a key tool for my weight loss journey. It allows you to easily prepare healthy food. If you eat meat, you can cook chicken breasts from frozen and they are ready in a half hour. Since food can be prepared quickly and easily there's no excuse for healthy eating.
If you follow a plant-based diet like I do, an instant pot really shines. You can cook dried beans in about 15 minutes, and grains in about 30. That means that you can have a healthy, home-cooked meal in no time at all. I also make a big pot of vegan bolognese sauce (recipe here) that I store and eat throughout the week. Instead of hours to make a homemade Italian sauce the Instant Pot does it in three (3!) minutes!
Air Fryer
An air fryer is the second kitchen tool that I really relied on for weight loss. It allows you to eat delicious food that is traditionally cooked with a lot of oil. For example you can easily make no oil crispy french fries.
Use less oil when cooking or eliminating it altogether significantly reduces the calories that you consume making meals healthier.
In addition the air fryer cooks food evenly and there are a huge variety of foods that can be cooked in air fryer
Food Storage Containers
Being prepared with meals is important to weight loss. A lot of times people make poor food choices because they are hungry and the only thing readily available is chips, crackers, or other processed items.
By preparing food in advance and storing it in food storage containers, you can make sure that you always have healthy food available. This will help to prevent you from making poor food choices when you are hungry. Some of my favorite healthy meals to prepare in advance are vegan bolognese sauce, quinoa bowls, and roasted vegetables.
Storage containers also allow you to bring your healthy food with you wherever you are. If you are at work, no need to go out for an unhealthy lunch just eat what you prepared in advance. Watching your child's soccer or baseball game? Avoid the snack shack and pull out your healthy and delicious pre-made meal.
Water Bottle
Hydration is very important to weight loss. When you are dehydrated, your body holds on to water which can cause you to gain weight. In addition, drinking plenty of water can help to boost your metabolism and reduce hunger cravings. I always make sure to have a water bottle with me so that I can stay hydrated throughout the day.
My favorite is a Yeti because it keeps my water ice cold throughout the day. I've even left it in a hot car and came back to ice cold water! The Yeti is also machine washable which I really appreciate as well.
I have a couple Yeti's. My favorite is my 30 ounce Yeti. The bottom fits into my car cupholder. It also fits on my Peloton water holder (even though it looks like it would be too big).
I also know that to meet my water goals each day I have to fill it four times during the day. This makes it easy for me to keep track of where I am with my hydration each day.
Conclusion
These nine essential tools will help you lose weight and keep it off. By using these tools, you can make healthy eating easier and reduce your chances of making poor food choices. In addition, staying hydrated and being prepared with healthy meals will help you lose weight and keep it off. Use these tools to make healthy choices and reach your weight loss goals.