Skinny Score

The premise of the app is good but the execution is flawed. I feel like it supports unhealthy dieting. It gives extra points to skipping meals, doesn’t ask about exercise, or have anything about drinking water. I am counting calories as well( I know this app is against it) but I’m glad I do. Yesterday I was below 1,000 calories at the end of the day after eating healthy portioned meals. That is dangerous so I ate a cookie because it was the only thing I had to push me above 1,000 calories. I got docked points on this app for that. I understand not wanting to count calories, but it needs to have a way for people to check that they are not partaking in risky, dangerous dieting.

This app takes away all the stress of dieting and encourages me, in the simplest yet most effective way, to make behavioral changes that lead to weight loss. I loved the article (“manifesto”) written by the app’s creator which explains how he ended up choosing a simple points system, not the WeightWatcher-style points system which assigns points to foods, but instead a rewards system of points based on good behaviors. Please read manifesto! I think the research it outlines is totally illuminating, helpful, and wise. I am losing weight because my clothes are getting looser and baggier everyday. I am not weighing myself, because I think years of dieting in the traditional way has led me to have a weighing/numbers obsession that is unhealthy and leads me to yo yo. (Btw, the app does not discourage weighing.) This is the most refreshing weight loss app out there. I have been dieting for years, using several popular apps, stressing out about all the calories or WW food points, weighing myself and getting frustrated with myself time and time again as the scale goes up and down, feeling guilty, giving in and giving up repeatedly. But this app gives you a little system of points based on the good choices you make, very simple, common-sense lifestyle choices. I feel like a new person who has been set free to deal with the actual root of the problem - my behaviors before, during, and in between meals. The app helps you become mindful of what you are doing. I becoming increasingly aware of my habits around food. I get a little dopamine hit every time I can give myself a point or two towards my end goal of points (which happen to be 533). I feel proud that I have not earned any negative 1’s or 2’s so far. I have gotten a few zero’s, but that’s ok. I’m not going backwards. I’m going forwards. I am playing a fun game! We all love games! And I can have family members join me in playing the game and we can compete! The only negative I can think of about this app is that you get rewarded for skipping meals. I would think that could lead someone towards eating issues; however, at the same time, we all know how popular intermittent fasting has become. Maybe it’s not so bad, I’m not sure. Very few people have discovered this app, and I want that to change. I’m telling you, this app is on to something, and it’s called common sense that has been swept away by the money hungry (no pun intended) dieting industry! I am in no way connected to the app’s creator. I am not writing thi