When New York Times reporter Brian Stelter wanted to lose weight, he turned to Twitter.

“I knew that I could not diet alone; I needed the help of a cheering section. But rather than write a blog, keep a diary or join Weight Watchers, I decided to use Twitter. I thought it would make me more accountable, because I could record everything I ate instantly. And because Twitter posts are automatically pushed to each person who subscribes to them, an audience — of friends or strangers — can follow along.”

He told difficult truths when he ate unhealthy foods, detailed his dietary negotiations with himself (one donut instead of three) and eventually started to lose weight. Strangers encouraged him when he made tough choices and helped him stick with it. His honesty was contagious; some of his followers started to change their own behaviors based on his Tweets.

In the end, he lost 75 pounds and gained a healthier, more active lifestyle.

Want to use Twitter to get healthy? Follow Brian Stelter’s example or check out these health related accounts.