WWWork Out 2.0
I have been working out for almost a year now at a variation of gyms. In the larger city where I was, I had access to a large chain of gyms. I could throw a rock and hit 3 of them because they were on almost every corner. Now, I use two local gyms in the town where I live. I play racquetball at one and I have a weight trainer at the other. A nice variation is helpful.
But still, I can’t get a grip on handling calories and keeping data about my exercise routines. Heck, I have enough trouble remembering to drink a glass of water ever 90 minutes. I finally realized I should incorporate the technology tools I am in contact with daily to use for my health program. I have an iPhone for chrissakes!
So, I found a few and they have helped. Here are the ones that worked for me:
On Twitter, you can follow certain hashtags like #twit2fit and #fitness. These will send posts when someone posts to these channels.
On my iPhone, I use a resource from LIVEStrong but is really a connection to something called The Daily Plate. You can find it for free in the iPhone apps section. I like this tool because I can type in what I ate for a meal and it finds it through a Google-type of search engine. It then calculates my daily caloric intake and lets me know how many calories I have access to at each step in the day. When I exercise, it calculates that figure into how many calories I burned in the workout. Very helpful.
Another site I found today is called Gyminee and it seems like a similar site to Daily Plate. I see that on this one, you can enter your goals as well and it helps you plan on how to reach those goals.
While working out on an Elliptical, I watch iTunes podcasts on everything from the daily news (Anderson Cooper) to Cook’s Illustrated Simple Recipes (for some interesting dietary cooking). These are a nice break from just technology/education podcasts. The Elliptical is my place to break free from work and really focus my mind. Find a place in your gym or workout where you can “break out” as well.
The final help steps out of the digital side and into the real side. You need some real people in your life to nag you about your weight loss. Nagging isn’t the best thing in life; but it may be the best thing for your health.
Drink that water!
