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Weight Loss: It’s a thought that crosses our minds, but the prospect of actually taking action can be as daunting as climbing Mount Everest. We live in a world where the most delicious treats range from thick, juicy burgers delivered to our doorsteps via our smartphones to oversized bags of greasy potato chips beckoning us down the supermarket aisle. This makes choosing healthier options a challenge.
But heed the advice of someone who recently lost 23 pounds in just 11 weeks. It is better to tackle this problem sooner rather than later. That’s where Simple, a weight loss app, is currently offering 60% off when you use the code SIMPLEDEAL.
This year I moved out of my London apartment, moved back home, started a new job, and bought my own apartment, all within the space of a few months. This, combined with the existential fear of achieving a 3-0 blowout, spurred my comfort eating habits. And by the time August rolled around, I realized I had gained 10kg (22lbs in old money). If you’re 6-foot-1 and weigh 115 kg, you’re considered overweight, even if you’re desperately trying to compensate for all the muscle you’ve built up in the gym.
My t-shirts are strained around my stomach, my jeans are so tight that every time I sit down I worry that the structure is completely destroyed, and it takes a lot of effort for my cat to perch on my stomach in bed at night. I had to. It was clear that I needed to make a change, so I finally enlisted the help of a personal trainer at the gym and embarked on a diet and training plan.
Seeking professional help certainly seems to be paying off, and I lost 23 pounds in 11 weeks. And the journey continues. This experience puts me in a unique position to fairly evaluate Simple using its human equivalent as a comparison point.
Simple’s regular price is £29.99, but it’s now discounted to £17.99, reports the Mirror. This is an AI coaching app that harnesses the power of artificial intelligence Avo to help you with both diet and fitness. The app lives up to its name in terms of simplicity, taking you through a quick 10-minute quiz after downloading and generating suggestions for lifestyle modifications.
The app also functions as a food diary and provides daily workouts for those who need it. But will it arrive? I tested this app to see if it could match the motivation provided by a human coach.
Before and after weight loss (Image: Tom Capon)
intermittent fasting
Fasting is not suitable for everyone. If you suffer from an eating disorder or have underlying health issues, do not rely on this method and seek medical advice. But in my opinion, it’s just the magic bullet for weight loss for anyone who needs a little help. There are benefits beyond weight loss, as our bodies aren’t designed to eat for hours on end.
Following the guidance of my personal trainer, I follow a 16:8 fasting schedule, where I fast for 16 hours and eat within 8 hours. My mealtime starts at 10:30 a.m. and ends at 6:30 p.m. This fits well with my work routine (writing on an empty stomach is a no-no for me).
I also always go to the gym before starting work. While it may sound daunting, fasting actually provides a significant energy surge in the morning that typically lasts until mid-afternoon, when you’ve eaten a substantial lunch.
A Simple Journey begins with a quiz that gathers information about your lifestyle: your activity level, goals, and timeline for achieving them. Once you enter the main app, you will be asked to select your desired fasting period. 14 hours of fasting followed by 10 hours of eating. Balanced 12:12 split. Or the 16:8 schedule recommended by my PT.
This recommendation from an AI coach suggests that a 16:8 ratio is the most effective, and also offers an alternative option for those who prefer a more gradual approach, so it’s worth pointing out to me right away. It gave me confidence. Discipline is a skill that anyone can learn, but it’s best to take it slow to avoid burnout. It’s similar to getting into a cold swimming pool. You can dip just one toe at a time, or jump right in.
Fasting is clearly listed as one of your daily tasks on your homepage, so you won’t forget it easily. The app also provides timely notifications indicating when to start and end your fast.
Additionally, the Explore tab is filled with articles discussing the effects of intermittent fasting and, based on my personal experience, how to manage intermittent fasting until it becomes natural. Guidance is provided. However, including references to sources increases the credibility of the information provided.
This app excels at its main function of guiding users through the fasting process with advice and support. But the app’s most impressive feature is yet to come…
Meal tracking and Avo
I’m often skeptical about certain AI “enhancements”, especially when they seem to complicate problems rather than simplify them. However, Avo truly shines as the app’s standout feature due to its user-friendly approach.
Tracking your meals can be a pain. I use MyFitnessPal, but after a few weeks, regular tracking starts to become a chore. This feeling is made worse by having difficulty concentrating on tasks you find boring.
But Simple has streamlined the process by allowing users to record their meals by simply taking a photo. For breakfast I had a bowl of strawberries (80g) along with a pot of Phage 5% Greek Yogurt (160g). The app correctly identified strawberries, but mistook yogurt for cream.
A simple app to analyze food (Image: Tom Capon)
However, subsequent screens were easy to correct and also provided a nutrition score to help improve in the future (I achieved “Good”, which is one level below “Optimal”). Amazingly, the app completely recognized that I was taking a protein shake with the correct amount of liquid just by looking at the picture of the shaker filled with liquid. But Avo doesn’t stop there. It also has a “meal enhancement” function.
For lunch, we requested that Avo “enhance” the meal with ingredients such as duck breast, kale, halloumi, cucumber, and zucchini. After a brief 30 seconds of reflection, a 7-step recipe was generated using the listed ingredients.
We use actual sizes, not actual portions, so we recommend following the instructions without the listed size measurements for greater accuracy. Nevertheless, its cognitive capabilities are exceptional and will be of great help to those who find meal planning difficult.
If you’re not satisfied with the nutritional value of your meal, we’ll suggest additional groceries for your next shopping trip and explain the health benefits of each item. By spending some time using this feature, you can create a personalized meal plan.
This is similar to the role of a personal trainer. Of course, there are some differences between the two. PTs can quickly adjust and account for moods and schedules, and even have knowledge of food taste. However, this app can serve as a great starting point for those whose nutritional understanding begins and ends with “5 grains a day.”
For a food lover like me, the standout feature is Avo’s ability to analyze menus and select the best restaurants. I chose Dirty Bones in Soho, London. Looking for a weight-loss-friendly meal there is like looking for copper in a gold mine, and that’s simply not what this restaurant is about.
Simple app menu download (Image: Tom Capon)
Just take a snapshot of your menu and it will sift through your options and show you the options that are most likely to fit your fitness goals. It is also categorized by subheadings. In the small plates section, they excluded the mac and cheese and suggested alternatives like chicken tenders and popcorn frickles instead.
A little common sense on your part, as out of the healthier burger options, we chose the Mac Daddy Burger, which comes with the king of saturated fats, mac and cheese. But it certainly helps overcome choice paralysis.
Is Simple worth the investment?
In short, yes. The set of features that Simple offers closely mirrors what you would get from a personal trainer. That is, someone who holds you accountable, provides meal plans and recipes, and provides advice and motivation.
This app has limitations as it is a robot, so it is suitable for beginners or those who don’t know where to start. If you need more support or if your weight loss progress has stalled, consider contacting a personal trainer.
However, the food tracking and recipe features alone are worth the cost. I plan on hiring a personal trainer again in the new year, but Simplicity adds variety to my routine. I cannot recommend this app highly enough.
If you’re looking for something different, I tried Noom a few years ago and found it to be very user-friendly, although it lacked some of the additional features that Simple offers .
