Friday Finds . . .
I'm starting today looking at some of the top Fitness Apps out there for your smartphone, iPhone or what have you. There are some really great tools to motivate you, keep you on track, offer you workouts, and help you make smart food choices. This week I have been tied to my phone and have kept a really good food and workout journal using MyNetDiary Pro. I log in my meals and snacks, my exercises and even the amount of water I am drinking to keep track of my progress each day. I love the idea of keeping myself accountable and seeing exactly what I am putting in my mouth by way of calories, protein, carbs, sugar and fat. It is even so handy that you can scan the barcode of a food item right in and it will give you the nutritional value of that food product. It has really helped save me from any cheating I might have done this week!
Here are a few others that might interest you-
Charity Miles
If you are looking for a way to give to a good cause, this is for you. Charity Miles donates 10 cents per mile for bikers and 25 cents per mile for runners to the charity of your choice. Once you choose an organization, the app automatically tracks the distance you cover, and does all the work. It's free for iPhone/iPad/Android.
Fitness Trainer
If you need some help planning your workout this App gives you a coach to help you. It automatically creates workout routines based on your body weight and offers exercises that can be done both at and outside of the gym as. Three mediums of instruction - audio, video and graphics - make the moves easy to follow. $2.99, iPhone/iPad.
Fitocracy
This is a new one that I am unfamiliar with, but sounds interesting. This is a fitness social network that tracks your progress with points, badges and graphs, the platform allows users to record thousands of activities - from dancing at a party to taking the stairs - and connect with others who have similar fitness goals. You can join community groups that answer health questions, invite your friends and pick up followers as well. It's like a support system on the go. Free, iPhone/iPad/Android.
Instant Heart Rate
If you don't have a heart rate monitor and want to keep track of how hard you are working, this App uses your smartphone's camera to detect the pulse from your fingertip. During exercise, your target heart rate should measure approximately four times what it is ten minutes after exercise. This is perfect to see whether you're pushing your body to a healthy limit. $0.99, iPhone/iPad/Android/Windows.
Strava
This App finds running and cycling routes, introducing you to hidden sites nearby, and the best options when you're out of town. You can also compete against locals and even participate in sponsored fitness challenges for the opportunity to win prizes like North Face jackets and collectible honor badges. Free, iPhone/iPad/Android.
Juice
This App says it can give you the energy you need to get your workout in. In a very smart way, it records your energy, sleep and exercise levels and posts it on a virtual juice bottle. Weekly reports help you recognize activities optimal for your energy state and list ways to improve your energy level, like replacing the morning cheese Danish with a yogurt parfait. Feeling sluggish? Why not try - it's free, iPhone/iPad.
Nike Training Club
This is one of the most popular Apps out there. It features a host of trainers and more than 100 workouts. It tracks your progress and gives you hardcore moves like arm toners, full-range sit-ups and a Roman rotator, where you rotate your elbows at shoulder height, from folks likes Olympic soccer star Hope Solo and Ary Nunez, Rihanna's trainer. Free, iPhone/iPad/Android.
Pocket Yoga
Pocket Yoga features 27 different yoga sessions, ranging from 30 minutes to an hour across three categories: cardio, power and detox. You get images for each pose, down to the breathing patterns, and you can even hook it up to a big screen using an AV cable. I haven't tried this one so would love some feedback! $2.99, iPhone/iPad/Android.
RunKeeper
I loved using this App while training for a Half Marathon. It uses a GPS signal on your device, records distance, time, and calories burned across activities ranging from rollerblading to hiking. You can hone in on one goal, like lowering your heart rate or improving your time, while the virtual trainer tells you your progress as you work out. Free, iPhone/iPad/Android.
Zombies, Run!
This one sounds a little crazy, but maybe that's what we need sometimes! This App makes your workout into a quest for survival, which may take the boredom out of a normal run. You'll get zombie noises and missions that will make you run for your life. $7.99, iPhone/iPad/Android/Windows.
Cruise Control
A friend sent me a New York Times article this week highlighting the introduction of a new App. A couple of scientists recently launched this iPhone App that allows people to coordinate their pacing with their music playlists. You just input your preferred running or walking speed and the app skims your music library and strings together songs with the requisite beat, even subtly altering the tempo of songs, if needed. Check out the article here, http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/02/06/getting-into-your-exercise-groove/
I think we all agree that music is a great motivator and can really give you a boost during a workout. I think this would also be a great tool me creating playlists for different workouts for teaching classes. It's so time consuming to search for the right song with the right song to get through a series of jump squats and then change to ab or floor work.
And to other things:
Here are a few others that might interest you-
Charity Miles
If you are looking for a way to give to a good cause, this is for you. Charity Miles donates 10 cents per mile for bikers and 25 cents per mile for runners to the charity of your choice. Once you choose an organization, the app automatically tracks the distance you cover, and does all the work. It's free for iPhone/iPad/Android.
Fitness Trainer
If you need some help planning your workout this App gives you a coach to help you. It automatically creates workout routines based on your body weight and offers exercises that can be done both at and outside of the gym as. Three mediums of instruction - audio, video and graphics - make the moves easy to follow. $2.99, iPhone/iPad.
Fitocracy
This is a new one that I am unfamiliar with, but sounds interesting. This is a fitness social network that tracks your progress with points, badges and graphs, the platform allows users to record thousands of activities - from dancing at a party to taking the stairs - and connect with others who have similar fitness goals. You can join community groups that answer health questions, invite your friends and pick up followers as well. It's like a support system on the go. Free, iPhone/iPad/Android.
Instant Heart Rate
If you don't have a heart rate monitor and want to keep track of how hard you are working, this App uses your smartphone's camera to detect the pulse from your fingertip. During exercise, your target heart rate should measure approximately four times what it is ten minutes after exercise. This is perfect to see whether you're pushing your body to a healthy limit. $0.99, iPhone/iPad/Android/Windows.
Strava
This App finds running and cycling routes, introducing you to hidden sites nearby, and the best options when you're out of town. You can also compete against locals and even participate in sponsored fitness challenges for the opportunity to win prizes like North Face jackets and collectible honor badges. Free, iPhone/iPad/Android.
Juice
This App says it can give you the energy you need to get your workout in. In a very smart way, it records your energy, sleep and exercise levels and posts it on a virtual juice bottle. Weekly reports help you recognize activities optimal for your energy state and list ways to improve your energy level, like replacing the morning cheese Danish with a yogurt parfait. Feeling sluggish? Why not try - it's free, iPhone/iPad.
Nike Training Club
This is one of the most popular Apps out there. It features a host of trainers and more than 100 workouts. It tracks your progress and gives you hardcore moves like arm toners, full-range sit-ups and a Roman rotator, where you rotate your elbows at shoulder height, from folks likes Olympic soccer star Hope Solo and Ary Nunez, Rihanna's trainer. Free, iPhone/iPad/Android.
Pocket Yoga
Pocket Yoga features 27 different yoga sessions, ranging from 30 minutes to an hour across three categories: cardio, power and detox. You get images for each pose, down to the breathing patterns, and you can even hook it up to a big screen using an AV cable. I haven't tried this one so would love some feedback! $2.99, iPhone/iPad/Android.
RunKeeper
I loved using this App while training for a Half Marathon. It uses a GPS signal on your device, records distance, time, and calories burned across activities ranging from rollerblading to hiking. You can hone in on one goal, like lowering your heart rate or improving your time, while the virtual trainer tells you your progress as you work out. Free, iPhone/iPad/Android.
Zombies, Run!
This one sounds a little crazy, but maybe that's what we need sometimes! This App makes your workout into a quest for survival, which may take the boredom out of a normal run. You'll get zombie noises and missions that will make you run for your life. $7.99, iPhone/iPad/Android/Windows.
Cruise Control
A friend sent me a New York Times article this week highlighting the introduction of a new App. A couple of scientists recently launched this iPhone App that allows people to coordinate their pacing with their music playlists. You just input your preferred running or walking speed and the app skims your music library and strings together songs with the requisite beat, even subtly altering the tempo of songs, if needed. Check out the article here, http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/02/06/getting-into-your-exercise-groove/
I think we all agree that music is a great motivator and can really give you a boost during a workout. I think this would also be a great tool me creating playlists for different workouts for teaching classes. It's so time consuming to search for the right song with the right song to get through a series of jump squats and then change to ab or floor work.
And to other things:
My favorite lunch this week - Two Eggs with a little mozzarella cheese and a side of seaweed salad. So good!
My favorite quote from the week:
No, that trauma you faced was not easy.
And God wept that it hurt you so;
But it was allowed to shape your heart
So that into his likeness you'd grow.
I finished the second of these books this week. What better than a love story taking place in Russia during WWII? I was so sad when it ended! Now, looking for a new book to start . . .
Lastly, the Rodan + Fields Lip Micro-Dermabrasion winner is Sara Ann. Weeee! I have all your info so look for it in the mail! ALSO, Rodan + Fields is having a huge Convention this weekend in Dallas where we are launching a cutting edge, at home tool! It's been all secret and exciting and all details will come out after this weekend! This Month's Marie Claire magazine even leaked a photo of it in an article about at-home skin care tools!! I'll be sharing more later . . . stay tuned!
Any suggestions for a new book? Maybe I need a different time in history? WWII can be a bit depressing . . . Have you tried any of the fitness Apps? Which do you like?
Have a Fabulous Friday and Weekend!
Any suggestions for a new book? Maybe I need a different time in history? WWII can be a bit depressing . . . Have you tried any of the fitness Apps? Which do you like?
Have a Fabulous Friday and Weekend!