Everyone you meet will have a theory on the best way to lose weight. Some people suggest fasting, others eat no carbs, while some suggest it boils down to exercising intensively. Whichever method you use it is helpful to be able to track critical aspects, and this is where mobile apps can come in. There are some great apps available that offer a range of tracking, diet and exercise support to the determined user.

Keeping an eye on your progress has been shown to be a motivating factor as you work harder when you see results as you strive for more. Lack of progress has also been shown to trigger a problem-solving attitude that means you try different avenues while looking for the route that works for you. Here are some of the best weight loss apps to get you started.

Fitbit

Wearable trackers have become big business over the last few years, and to use this app you will need one of the Fitbit trackers, but they now come in a good range of prices to suit all budgets and the second-hand market is also worth considering.

Primarily designed to track physical activity with an American Heart Association suggestion that all adults aim for 10k steps each day, these devices are worn on the wrist can collect other data and be guided by user input to track many factors. Newer FitBits have the capability to monitor the heart rate as well as track stair climbing activities. The app synchronises via Bluetooth with your device, and the information can be pulled at any point for a snapshot of your progress.

You can add food eaten to track calorie intake as well as record the amount of water you have drunk. Overnight the tracker monitors your sleep, recording periods of deep sleep, restlessness and awake time. The trackers can be set to vibrate periodically reminding you to get up and move, which could be invaluable if you have a sedentary job.

You can join up with other like-minded users and create mini challenges as well as the system awarding you badges of success when you clear milestones such as New Zealand when you walk the 990 miles it would take to get there. The app is free to download, but you do need to purchase a tracker.

Weight Watchers

One of the most long-standing and popular diet programs on offer, Weight Watchers has got itself an app that helps you track your food intake, and offers dietary advice including recipes. This is a subscription service with a few options including online only for those who prefer not to attend weekly meetings.

The diet utilises a points-based system which means all food is assigned points based on the about of calories, sugar and saturated fat they contain. Your goal is then to remain within your limit each day. Given the longevity of the company, the success of people following the program is apparent to see. The app is free to download, and you will be asked to create a subscription or sign into an existing account.

Deliciously Ella

The clean food revolution has been making waves over the last few years, and while it is not strictly a tracking app, Deliciously Ella offers a range of recipes that focus on plant-based eating, with no wheat, gluten or animal-based products.

App creator Ella was wiped out with chronic illness and desperately seeking a way to regain her health when she stumbled on this concept of eating naturally produced products with minimal processing. The diet worked for her, and she now devotes her time to offering advice and recipes to others who want to try an improve their health using clean eating methodology.

The app contains a vast range of breakfast, snack, sweet and main menus and gets updated periodically. There is a small charge for the app but the information you have access to makes this well worth it, and when she releases a new book some recipes are added to the app at no extra cost.

MyFitnessPal

This is a calorie counting app that encourages users to log their food intake and create a calorie spend. The app can calculate your daily calorie requirement based on your age, height and weight etc., and you then need to select the food you eat from the extensive database. It even includes information from popular restaurant chains as this would be hard to account for.

A barcode scanner is also available as you can scan the barcode for some products and the app will automatically update with the calories used. The data is used to generate helpful information including a breakdown by fat, carb and protein intake which gives you an opportunity to see if your diet is also balanced well.

There is a recipe database which is helpful if you are stuck for meal ideas and you can add your weight to track progress. A community element in the form of message boards enables you to meet other users and ask for advice or share experiences. The app is free to download and perfectly usable; however, there is a paid premium version should you wish to upgrade.

Healthy Out

The current busy lifestyle of many people means that eating out has become a popular thing to do; however, this makes tracking calories harder and often means poor choices are made. This app has been designed to help. There is an extensive database of restaurants and takeaways, and their menus have been analysed.

The app can then tell you the most healthy options on the menu alleviating the need to worry about what you will eat. It means you can seal a look at the app when eating out with friends, or even in advance of getting to the restaurant and have an idea of what you will order without having to fuss over being on a diet or trying to lose weight. The app is free to download and use.