30 Days of Eat Do Live

In my previous post, I introduced a new app I developed to help me live a healthier and more intentional life. Today I want to share my experience using this app over the past month.

Eat Do Live App Overview

As a quick recap, the Eat Do Live app allows you to track:

• How many servings you're getting of the food groups you want to prioritize, such as "2 servings of fruit" and "3 servings of vegetables" daily

• Daily/weekly/monthly goals such as "practice piano for 30 minutes daily" and "family game night once a week"

• Big-picture goals such as "read 100 books in 2025" and "visit Paris"

My Personal Tracking Goals

When I first started using the app, I wanted to make sure I was getting my recommended daily allowances of water, fruit, and vegetables. I decided to start with just these 3 categories to improve my chances of success and reduce the likelihood of getting overwhelmed. I thought I was doing well with water intake and needed to improve on fruits and vegetables.

Week One

The first week showed me that I wasn't actually getting my recommended 8 glasses of water daily and I had difficulty getting more than 2 servings of vegetables daily. I made two changes:

Morning water routine: I started drinking 2 glasses of water when I wake up. After a couple of days, I realized I am actually thirsty in the mornings but had gotten used to that feeling. The 2 glasses helped with thirst and gave me a good start on my daily water goal.

Daily smoothie: I started making a fruit and vegetable smoothie daily. My basic recipe is 16 oz water, 2 servings of fruit, and 1 serving of vegetables. This is not a meal replacement—I typically drink it with lunch or dinner. My basic recipe:

• Start with 16oz water and a banana

• Add one more serving of fruit (apple, pear, or 1 cup of grapes/melon)

• Add one serving of vegetable (1 cup of carrots, zucchini, cucumber, herbs, or greens; ½-1 cup of frozen spinach)

During this first week, I noticed I was having fewer food cravings, especially at night. In the past I snacked at night on high-calorie foods like chocolate and ice cream. This time when ice cream was offered during our family movie nights, I found it easy to say "No thank you, I haven't met my fruit and vegetables goal for the day so I will have some fruit instead." I actually really enjoy fruit, so this didn't feel like deprivation.

I also noticed improvements in digestive function and no longer needed a daily fiber supplement.

Week Two

I was still having a hard time getting more than 2 servings of vegetables daily even with the smoothie, so I added a serving of vegetables to my breakfast routine. Previously my breakfasts had consisted of just 2 cups of coffee. Initially, eating vegetables in the morning felt forced since I wasn't hungry for solid food, but after a few days it became natural. This change had the unexpected side-affect of eliminating my mid-morning hunger and snacking.

By the end of week two, I was sleeping better. I still take time to fall asleep, but once asleep I wake up less during the night. In the morning I have more energy and only hit snooze 1-2 times instead of 3-5 times.

Week Three

I was consistently meeting my goals and it was getting easier. Some of my clothes were fitting better, so I weighed myself and was down 4 pounds. The better fit was likely due to less bloating.

This week was my niece's birthday party—my first test of meeting goals when I don't control the menu. I used the app to see how many servings I still needed and chose accordingly: cucumber salad, pasta with vegetables, fruit skewers, and 1 slice of pizza. I found I actually enjoyed the fruit, vegetables, and pasta more than the pizza.

For the birthday cake, I decided not to deprive myself since the goal of Eat Do Live is to help people eat more of what they want, not restrict things. The cake was delicious and I didn't feel guilty for eating it because I had met my other food goals. Unlike past experiences, eating cake didn't trigger increased sugar cravings or further binge eating. I am finding that when I'm already satisfied with fruits and vegetables, I don't crave as many sweets.

Week Four

We took a trip to Cleveland. By this point I was regularly meeting all my goals and had a nearly 3-week streak. As someone with OCD tendencies, I told myself this trip would be good practice in accepting imperfection.

I packed bananas and cherry tomatoes for the road trip, which helped me meet fruit and vegetable goals on the first day, though I fell short on water (I didn't want extra rest stops). During our time in Cleveland, I tried to make good choices where available: veggie omelet with fruit bowl, veggie tacos, and chicken wrap. I also shared desserts with my family.

I didn't fully meet my food goals on any of the 3 days, but I did better than I would have without being mindful. I could have been more strict and chosen salads, but I think it's important to enjoy being on holiday. Perfection isn't needed—it's what you do most of the time that makes a difference.

Results After 30 Days

At the end of the month I weighed myself again and was down 2 more pounds for a total of 6 pounds. My BMI dropped from 33.7 to 32.7. It's not a large amount but it's moving in the right direction. I didn't add weight tracking to the Eat Do Live app because I didn't want to focus on weight loss, but I still find it hard not to check.

A Note on Balance

While using the app, I reflected on watching the show Supersize vs Superskinny and how being overly strict about eating can lead to disorders. About 20 years ago I lost weight through diet and exercise, getting down to 110 lbs, then 105, then wondering if I could reach 100. I eventually got to 102 before falling off the wagon and gaining weight over the next two decades. I don't think I was anorexic, but I can see how my personality could fall into that trap, so I'm trying to be more mindful this time.

What's Next

I plan to continue using Eat Do Live. In this post I focused on the "Eat" part, but I've also started tracking "Do" and "Live" goals. Our Cleveland trip was actually one of the "Live" goals. In a future post I'll share how I'm using the app for piano practice consistency, family time, and bigger life goals.

Want to try Eat Do Live for yourself?

Eat Do Live is available on Google Play for Android.
📱 Download it for free from the Google Play Store — and yes, it’s completely free, with no ads, no in-app purchases, and no hidden catches.

I created this app because I believe tools that support your health and well-being should be accessible to everyone. I don’t want to make money off of people trying to improve their lives—I just want to help. If Eat Do Live can make it even a little easier to eat better, stay active, or live more intentionally, then it’s doing exactly what I hoped it would.

Start using Eat Do Live today and take one small step toward a healthier, more intentional life.