Bring the old food log interface back.

[grim1959]

It appears that the food log input format changed today (2/13/18). Has anyone else noticed this, or is it just me? The new format is much more cumbersome in my opinion. I prefer the original format. Any input/comments/recommendations welcome!

Moderator edit: updated subject for clarity

[Don-H]

I agree the least they could do is put that graph on the bottom instead of
on the top

[BonnieT]

Or do away with it completely. Or at the very least if someone wants that information, and Fitbit seems so click happy, then make it so it's hidden and can be 'clicked' on if one wishes to see it. Still don't really know it's purpose.

[ashwolve]

@BonnieT that's part of my suggestion form previous page - take a look at the like to see what you think if you like give it a vote and comment the more that it gets the more chance of then making some sort of change

Regards

Wayne

[Posting]

Thank you. How does that interface with the fitbit stats, for activity, etc.?

Sent from my iPad

[ashwolve]

@Postingnot sure who your comment was aimed at but if it was mine im Sorry at this moment I am solely trying to find a viable compromise for the food logging page as this has only just changed and there is a lot of upset that its looks clumsy and too complicated - they are changing things because of the move from Adobe Flash to I think its HTML5 as Flash will no longer be available past the end of 2020 nothing else should change so sleep, activities, weight should not be effected by these suggestions that will probably be brought up in a different forum thread.

hope this helps and makes sense

Regards

Wayne

[Emmee]

I agree! Bring back the old version.  Or at least give us the option to use the "classic" log.  For the life of me, I cannot figure out how to add in new foods or edit any of my existing ones.  How is this helpful?? 

And that graph at the top....I don't need it.  It is useless information. 

This new format is not user friendly....again...and is very cumbersome.  Again.  Quit trying to change something that is not broken. On the other hand, My Fitness Pal is starting to sound more and more appealing.   

[jwshrive]

I sent the following email to support, and they suggested I come here and make a comment with the community. This is what I mentioned in the email:

Hi there, 

I wanted to comment about the new layout for the food logging section of the website. I use the web portal every day and have done so for years; unfortunately, I am finding the new update very difficult to use when logging food. It is taking me significantly longer to log my daily food, especially if I have to go back a few days. 

These are some of concerns I have, which I am hoping you can take on board: 
- The graph at the top is HUGE and takes up far too much space. 
- The dates in the graphs are not links - this would be useful to be able to load the data for each day. 
- I have numerous meals set up which display down the right-hand side - however, these boxes no longer fully expand. This means I must scroll within each box, which isn't at great design. Just allow it to expand fully as it used to. 
- The page takes much longer to load. 
- Searching for foods takes longer to find and suggestions take longer to pop up as you type - this significantly slows down food entry. 
- Adding a food entry takes longer as the loading symbol processes what is happening between each food item. 
- I can not see an obvious way to move back and forth between days to log food (there used to be arrows up the top). The days at the bottom do not show up if nothing was logged, which makes it more difficult if something was missed. 
- It would be helpful if sections expanded when there was food logged in them, as well as any easy way to view one day at a time. 

- The meals/snack times drop down box is in a very strange order - it made sense to have them ordered by time of day. Now, for example, Morning Snack comes after Dinner.
- The visual summaries of calories in vs calories out is useful and easy to read. 

I apologise if it seems like I am having a whinge, but your web designers also won't know what to improve if they do not get feedback. I have a background in web developing, so I am hoping my suggestions above can be taken on-board. 

Is there a way for users to still use the old version of the site? As that would certainly be my preference at this point. 

Thanks for your time, 

jwshrive.

------------------------

I may not be using the site properly and might have overlooked some things, but my initial impression of the new design is that I've found it unintuitive and far less efficient to use. I am hoping they can take this feedback onboard.

[BonnieT]

jwshrive, great suggestions. The example you gave of morning snack coming after dinner in the list they provide is simply because they have  it in alpha order, which makes no sense to users.

[jwshrive]

Yeah I thought maybe alphabetical order was their go to as well, but then it goes Morning Snack, Afternoon Snack, Evening Snack. So I think they've prioritised main meals at the top and then snacks at the bottom? Maybe their usage data shows that people don't use the snack options and that Anytime is the one most people select? But I thought the older order made the most sense - ordered by time of day.

Anyway, we can only hope the feedback is taken onboard and hopefully some tweaks get made.

[ashwolve]

To All it has been mentioned in this following link that the old food log will make a TEMPARY return while some addition changes and fixes are being made

https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Fitbit-com-Dashboard/New-Food-Logging-Page/m-p/3294299#M93173

@jwshrive and anyone else who may be interested I have tried to find a compromise between the old and the new food log page and would invite you all to take a look and vote up if it looks like something you could work with

https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Feature-Suggestions/Suggested-new-food-page-Format/idc-p/3293891#M20...

the more vote and positive comment the better the chance although it will not be an immediate change if it is approved by Fitbit but it would be a start

Kind Regards

Wayne

[LarryJorge]

A few years ago the sleep format was changed and I quit using it.  Now the food log is changed and I quit using it.

I unplugged my sync fob and quit wearing my fit bit.  Don't have the time to learn a new system just to have it changed unexpectedly again and again.  I see hundreds of negative comments about the new format.  Where are all the positive comments?

Larry J

[Duffpic]

with the new log in screen, it doesn't let you do a "1/2" or "1/4" of a portion.  for example, I ate 1/4 of a Halo orange. it won't let me type in "1/4".  What gives?

[ashwolve]

@Duffpic  it currently only accepts decimals so for now its 0,25 0.5 etc it has been reported a few times in the main forum thread and I believe its one of the things the moderators have feed back to the team

the link to the main thread if you want to keep an eye on updates is in my last post further along the page

Kind Regards

Wayne

[TCJR]

i hope the "team" listens to the members--the new log page is much more difficult to navigate than the previous design--extremely slow to navigate from the dashboard to the log page. main thing i think most all are saying is GO BACK TO PREVIOUS SETUP

[ashwolve]

@TCJR  I believe that they intend to temporarily revert back while more updates and improvements get implemented - it will not be permanent though as Flash Player will cease at the end of next year and all programmes I believe are being converted to HTML5 to allow time for some of the major issues to be sorted before they exact a permanent change

Kind Regards

Wayne

[TCJR]

ashwolve--thanks for your prompt response. the ONE change i noticed that is a really good thing is the addition of the ability to track sugar. be sure that remains please

[ashwolve]

@TCJR  that im afraid would be beyond my control as I am only a regular user like yourself - I apologies if I gave the impression that I worked for Fitbit I just like to try and help out where I can with information I have gained over the last 4 years of using the system - but I do involve myself in the forums and from what I can see we may loose it on a temporary basis as they revert back to the old to make some fixes and updates , from what I have heard there is no intention in removing that function and may add a few extras to bring it more inline with the older tool (no guarantees though) I think their first priority is to have it suitably working without taking too much time to load up

if you wish to keep an eye on what's happening I have posted a link further up the page that will take you to where the moderators are updating us when they get more information I think its about 7 posts away from this one - its the first link the second is to a concept that I would like to see instead of the current layout

Again apologies that I have no real sway just a little knowledge of useful information that may help some fellow users

Kind Regards

Wayne

[Joelyn]

Just tried opening FITBIT in the hopes that the dream team had changed it back.  When it took so long to load I just knew - no such luck!  Here's hoping. . . . 

[GlenSiegel]

I received an email explaining that FitBit was trying to make all the platforms the same with the recent changes.  This is a BAD IDEA!  If you read the comments most respondents said they used the the web dashboard for logging food as they thought it was superior.  You could make the iOS and Android experience ore like the desktop web experience which would be an improvement on them.  Making the web interface like the ones most people won't use is a bad idea!!!

[ashwolve]

@GlenSiegel that is just the start of it im afraid and I agree its a bad idea but from what I have heard and seen on these forums the way that the programme used to run will no longer be available so they have to amend it (explained in more detail in my earlier posts) - I have tried to suggest a front page that would be more like the old but not getting the votes in to make it stand out but I agree there is a lot of work needed to make the new tool anywhere near as user friendly for the Desktop site and a lot of functions are missing - ideally they need to revisit everything in the old format and then convert as much of it as possible into the new format instead of what seems to be starting from scratch and adding the history of data already submitted

I am sure given enough time some sort of resemblance can be achieved as long as they continue to listen and improve as the enquiries come into the forums

Fingers Crossed something good can come out of this - yes being the same can help with maintenance but the need to think on the functionality and what will be lost if they cannot replicate a lot of these functions

Kind Regards

Wayne

[Bonnie62]

Regardless of what we end up, PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT NOT EVERYONE IS CONNECTED TO THEIR PHONE 24/7!!!!

I myself do not own a "Smartphone", nor do I ever plan to.  I log all my stuff via my desktop computer.  Fitbit does need to keep this in mind & not just cater to the phone people.

[fromthestands]

I only have desktop capabilities, no smart phone. This new version has been very trying indeed.

[Stump-grinder]

My issue is, EVERYONE LIKES THE OLD ONE! There is nothing wrong with it. The complete lack of caring by the company has caused me to look into other options and there are a lot more now than when I got my fitbit. Here are a few of the companies that provide the same service: Under Armor, Nokia, Garmin, Polar Flow, Misfit, Microsoft Health, etc.... Until the change I had ZERO reason to look for something else. Why? Because I was very happy with the product. Now I am UNHAPPY and shopping the competition. If I am going to be forced to learn a new interface, I am going to see what ALL of my options are.

[gitting]

And I just noticed today (on top of it being a horrible interface--and yes now I've given it a week and it still sucks) that you can't add new foods. 

PLEASE just bring the old interface back or make it so we can choose. I am so unhappy with this (and I track everything on my laptop) that I'm not looking at other fitness devices. 

[ashwolve]

@gitting you can add new foods - on the right where the drop down menus are about the 3rd or 4th one down is titled Custom click on that ad you should see create new and edit select the create and you should be able to log a new food - the only thing that I cannot see is you cannot add multiple servings unless now its automatic (TBH ive not checked that bit) and you cannot add a note to the food to say whether its cooked weight or if I packet what the size is IF there isn't an entry already - I would love to be able to add a custom serving size and have been asking for it for years - anyway I am going off the point of the enquiry

does this help a little for the time being?

Kind Regards

Wayne