If you’re wondering what AOTW stands for it’s ‘App of the week’. It was a section that we included in the podgoat podcast series until we pulled the plug on the show last month. It was one of my favourite sections and one we got some good feedback on as we tried to highlight which apps (either for iphone, ipad, android, or desktop) we’d found useful, fun or interesting in that week. I’d like to kind of bring it back here on the blog. Feel free to send me suggestions via twitter of apps you’ve found that foot the bill. I am an android user from a mobile perspective and PC as far as desktops go but many of the apps I include here will have versions on other platforms (e.g. iphone, Mac, Symbian etc) so don’t disregard it completely you apple fanboys ;0). To get started this week I’m going to do cover two apps on similar but very different theme.

Fatbooth (get it – android / iphone)
Fat Booth is not big or clever but it is good for a 5 min giggle (as long as you do not offend easily). It has been a hugely popular app on iOS for a long time but it’s now (finally) made its way to android. It is pretty juvenile but the basic premise is it makes people instantly fat.


You take a photo of someones face (or select one from your gallery) and then a little bit of facial recognition happens and you are then prompted to point the app in the direction of that persons eyes, mouth and chin and several burgers later your subject has gained a big wodge of flab around the face….GENIUS! You can then save the pics, and share them on your favourite social thingy-me. It’s got some nice features like being able to shake between before & after pics once the fattening has occurred and the UI is nicely designed and looks good. It amused me and my colleagues at work for a good 10 mins this week (our max attention span). check it out…

MyFitnessPal (get it – android / iphone / website )
My second app this week is far more useful and one I now use on a daily basis. Those who follow my activities on facebook or have read previous blog entries etc will know I’m currently in the process of battling my bulge both through diet and exercise. This app here is the thing that keeps me on track and so far has helped me lose nearly a stone and a half. It’s a free service that allows you to track and count your calorie intake and exercise calories along with nutritional information and weight loss. It will give you a daily target based on how much you currently weigh and how much you wish to lose  on a weekly basis (within sensible parameters) and then gives you the means to track your progress. It uses an online database of nutritional information on every food and brand you could think of and a barcode scanner to help you easily record your intake. The website can also be used to update all of this information and they have forums and blogs if you want help, encouragement, want to moan or just be social (not my cup of tea but some obviously get benefit from this kind of support).


I am aware not everybody is in the position of having to lose weight so it’s not for everybody. I’ve also had lots of conversations about my weight loss over the last few weeks and it’s clear everybody has a different opinion on what is a the right or wrong way to do it. I’m no expert but I’m happy I’ve found some things that work for me and makes me happy so I can only suggest if you are in the position of trying to lose weight or get fit but haven’t found a method which works for you yet that you give this a try :) .

please leave any comments or general feedback on AOTW below and feel free to share with us your app of the week. I’m expecting a new phone this week! so will be more than happy to try your ideas out.