My favorite apps - health edition

We're now almost 1/2 way into February and I thought something different might be in order - just in case you're struggling on those New Year's resolutions - I thought I'd share some of my favorite health related apps.

I really think apps helped totally change my fitness routine...actually, let's be real here - they helped me start a fitness routine.  There's something to be said for having something tangible to track progress...but maybe that's just my type A personality.  I'm doing a competition at work with some co-workers and it's really inspired my competitive soul.  Here's what I've been using to help keep myself accountable -

1.  Ease into 10-K

This was the VERY first thing that got me started and something I've stuck with today.  Back in October 2010, when I decided to make a change - I started the couch-to-5k program, as described here.  I can't say enough good things about it - I am absolutely NOT one of those people who just "love to run."  It's still a chore for me most days - but this program made it manageable and I started feeling accomplished.  After completing the couch-to-5k, I downloaded the Ease to 10-K app.

You can build each day and even today, I'm still a big believer in the run/walk - it's great to get your heart rate up and somehow breaks up the monotony - gives me something else to focus on by having short spurts. I don't really stick to the program so much anymore, but I like having something in my ear that tells me when to walk/run/when I'm half way done, etc..I usually just pick a day based on how much time I have, how far I want to go, how I'm feeling.

2.  iMapMyRun  

On the weekends, I try to get outside to run and get out of the gym - but it was frustrating to me to not be able to tell how far I had run - I thought about getting one of those fancy GPS watches, but low and behold - there's an app that does it for free!  I've actually found this to be pretty accurate - I've run certain marked courses and checked the mileage against this app - it was usually within .05 miles!  

This app uses a GPS and you can set it to give you cues in your ear about your pace however often you would like.  It will also keep track of your splits however you set it (I do by the mile) - you can tell I get slower by each mile!  :)

3.  Nike Training Club

It's not all about running though - I really started seeing better results when I mixed in some form of strength training a few times a week.  Usually, I'll do a cardio warm-up and pick a program from NTC - there are several "Get Focused" 15 minute exercises.  Again - it's like having a personal trainer in your ear telling you how long and what the best form looks like.  There are also longer programs (30 minutes or 45 minutes) that incorporate a full body workout.  You can also watch videos of what the exercises are supposed to look like.



4.  Workout Trainer by Skimble

This is similar to Nike Training Club, but I'll also mix it up with this app - there is a lot of variety of what you can do with this one.  You can even create your own workouts (which I've also used to create custom intervals for run/walk).  

There's also a "shake" feature - you can lock either the amount of time, the part of your body or the intensity and it will find workouts for you.

5.  My Fitness Pal

I first started using this app just to understand my eating habits - see what I was doing that was totally worth the splurge (chocolate, Moe's Southwest Grill and wine) and figured out there were a few things (soft drinks in particular) where I wasn't getting enough bang for the calorie/sugar/fat buck.

This app has a scanner to scan barcodes, you can create recipes by adding all the ingredients as you cook/prepare a meal and save them, etc.  It also has a ton of restaurants already included - assuming the restaurant posts its nutrition facts.  I will go through off and on periods of using this - I have gotten to a point where I generally know what to eat now to maintain, but go back to using this when I am feeling a little uninspired.  There's something about having to add in those extra snacks during the day that makes me a little less willing to splurge..It also tracks net calories, so it's even more encouragement to go to the gym - as every calorie I burn helps!  I'll also take a look on a weekly basis to see it I'm getting the right amount of the good stuff (fiber, protein, nutrients) or too much of the bad (fat, carbs, sugar).

6.  Menu Planner

I know some people (cough...Janet...cough) can just whip together a meal with what's on hand, but for me - I have to plan or we'd be eating take-out every night...and eating take out every night sure makes for a lot of red bars on the My Fitness Pal app.  I'll do a meal plan on Sundays based on what our schedule looks like for the week - what nights I know we need to eat quick vs. what nights we have plans, etc and I usually will pick about 4 meals that I know we're going to make.

 

This app lets you import recipes from any website and you can also create recipes manually.  It takes a bit of time to set up, but once you do, it's so nice - your own personal cookbook arranged any way you like it.  Once you add the meals to each date, you can import your grocery list directly from your meal plan - it even sorts it by category (you set it up) - and I have mine arranged in the order of the Publix aisles.

Hope you find these helpful!  Let me know if you give any of them a try!

Vulcan 10-K

Some of you may know that a little over a year ago (Sept 25, 2010 to be exact - I only remember b/c its my dad's birthday!) I decided to get into a healthier lifestyle.  I have thought about blogging about it for a while now, but haven't had the nerve b/c I didn't want to sound too preachy or like I had it all figured out (I've already taken too much grief for my "motivational" pins on Pinterest!).  Stay tuned to see if I decide to share. 

So, as part of this "get healthy journey" I started running.  Last September, I couldn't run a lick.  I did my first workout which was the Couch to 5k program, as described here.  My first workout, I did 30 minutes on the treadmill, with only 8 of those minutes being at an actual jog (and at a very slow pace, might I add).  I only share my running history to give you a little perspective - a few weeks ago, I ran in my second ever race - I ran a 10-K! 

Now, prepare your gag reflex here - I actually enjoyed it.  Now, I CANNOT say this is the case for 99% of my runs - I like the results and I like the way I feel after, but I never thought I'd be one of those people who just enjoyed the run itself (and in the spirit of honesty...I'm not sure I've enjoyed a run since this run).  But, there was something about all of the people, working towards a common goal, enjoying the weather, etc.  I also liked this one much better than the 5-k - something about the distance was right.

I mentioned in a previous post that Emily Ann was trying to talk me into running the Vulcan 10-K - I decided last minute that I'd suck it up (even after my massive b-day dinner at Sumo).  I did have to do a double take when I picked up my race bib and it said my age was 28 - you have to put in your birthday and they calculate your age on race day.  Guess I'd forgotten I'd have one more b-day before race day!  :)

Vulcan Run - 2011



WAY too early - and it was really cold!



The route started and ended downtown and was pretty flat

Emily Ann and I ran together the first four miles of the race - her knee was bothering her a bit and we separated for the last 2.2 miles, but having her with me was great so I knew how to pace myself.  She has a Nike plus watch that tracks your pace while you run and that really helps - I tend to run too fast and then get winded early.  We still ended up finishing pretty close together - and they even had frozen yogurt from Yogurt Mountain at the end of the race - yogurt at 9:30 in the morning?  Don't mind if I do!

We did it!

Being new to the race world, I didn't realize they'd post your time on the Internet for all the world to see.  I might have run a little faster if I'd have known that  :)  All in all - not as fast as I was planning, but the important thing is that I did it!



So, I've sort of gotten the bug - there's a 10 mile race in January that I'm thinking about doing.  I know most people say to do a half marathon next, but 1.  That seems like a big leap to me and 2.  The timing is not as good - (mid Jan - March are really busy at work).  Again, putting my thoughts out there to have some blog accountability!  We'll see!