The Department of Veterans Affairs MOVE!
Coach mobile application combines tools and information from the VHA’s MOVE!
weight management program.
It will help you track and meet your weight, diet, and exercise goals and provides one
more way to participate in the MOVE!
Program.
The MOVE!
Coach app was created with Veterans in mind and is available for use on both iPhone and
iPad.
The easiest way to download the app is through the MOVE!
Coach webpage located at [reading URL].
Once there, just select the link to the iTunes App Store.
The app doesn’t require you to log in, but the first time you launch it, you must accept
the End User License Agreement to proceed to the welcome screen.
On the welcome screen, you will be prompted to enter some information about yourself so
that the app can provide you with tailored feedback.
You will then be brought to the MOVE!
Coach home screen which provides access to a variety of the app’s key features and
options.
For example, you may use the gear icon to adjust your notification settings and set
up reminders.
You will also notice help icons, seen as question marks, located throughout the app.
They provide easy access to additional information and help guides.
Also on the home screen, you will notice buttons that allow you to access self-management guides,
explore resources on how to solve problems, and monitor your goals and progress.
There is also a graphing feature that displays your daily entries.
You can use the buttons at the bottom of the screen to graph your weight, diet, and physical
activity, and also change the time period that is displayed.
Before we show you how to enter your data, let’s take a look at the Self-Management
Guides by selecting the “Self-Management Guides” button.
In this 19-week self-guided program, users can learn how to set weight management goals,
and how to follow those goals using tools built into the app.
The guides are offered in a timed-sequential order.
The first three guides are each one week in duration and the remaining guides are two
weeks each.
Select the “Self Management Guides” button to review information about the guides and
unlock the content for Week 1.
Let’s return to the home screen and use the “How To Solve Problems” button to
explore that feature.
Here, you will find excellent resources and articles for many topics related to healthy
living, ranging from tips to real time relaxation practices.
There are many additional features contained in the MOVE!
Coach app.
Access them by selecting the “My Goals & Progress” button on the home screen.
Here, you will find quick access to your diaries, goals, graphs, calculators, and additional
summaries and reports to track your progress.
You can even print, email, and share your progress and reports using Twitter and Facebook.
Next, let’s take a moment to go over how to add daily Weight, Diet, and Physical Activity
entries.
We will start with weight, which is the easiest.
After choosing the “+” icon on the home screen, simply select the “Weight” button
and enter your weight.
When you select “Done,” you will notice that your entry is now graphed on the home
screen.
Now let’s go over how to create a diet entry.
Select the “+” icon again at the home screen, and choose the “Diet” button.
Each diet entry shows you the food you ate, the serving size, and the number of calories.
As you add food entries throughout the day, the Calories bar will show you how many calories
you have eaten and how many you have remaining.
To enter what you’ve eaten, select the “+” icon next to the appropriate meal.
I had an apple for breakfast, so I am selecting the “+” icon next to breakfast to add
the apple.
Had I consumed a unique food, or a combination of foods made from a recipe, I could choose
the “Custom” button to enter the details myself.
Instead, I choose the “Search” button, enter “apple” and select “Search.”
I then scroll through the search results to find “Apple, raw.”
After finding the apple, I can choose the “i” icon to review the nutritional details.
Then I choose “Done” to return to the search results and select the “Apple, raw”
option which adds it to my diet entry.
Next, I select the serving size to finalize my entry.
The raw medium apple has now been added to my diet entry.
I eat a lot of apples, so I select the star icon to also add it to my favorites.
Now, the next time I have a raw apple, rather than searching for it again, I can just choose
the “Favorite” option.
If you need to remove something you have added, you can simply swipe to the left on the food
item you would like to remove, and confirm by choosing “Delete.”
There are more features in the Diet Entry section, but let’s move on to entering Physical
Activity.
Back on the home screen, select the “+” icon again, and this time choose the “Physical
Activity” button.
The steps for adding activity entries are very similar to adding food entries.
Start by choosing the “+” icon.
If you track your steps, you can add them here.
You can also search for activities.
When you choose an activity, you will be prompted to enter the number of minutes you performed
the activity, as well as the type of activity.
The Calories bar will update to reflect your calories burned.
You can also make an activity a favorite by selecting the star icon, if you participate
in the activity often.
Thanks for taking the time to join us as we explored the tools and resources the MOVE!
Coach offers to help you achieve success with your weight-management journey.
If you need technical assistance with the MOVE!
Coach app, or would like to provide feedback, you may reach the Help Desk at 1-877-327-0022
Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Eastern Time.
Information about the MOVE!
Coach app and the MOVE!
program can be found at [reading URL].
The MOVE!
Coach app is just one resource in our suite of mobile apps.
Enjoy exploring the many VA applications designed to help you better manage your health.