Guest Post - Caring for Your Health the Modern Way: Best Apps for Tracking Your Health

Hey NeverEver's!

Its Tuesday and that means Guest Post Day!!! Today I am having a return poster Virigina! Originally she created the Essential Crossfit Gear To Give, which is a great post for the Holidays ^_^.  We are extremely lucky as today is all about apps!

Yup those things that we love on our phone, and the best ones for a Healthy and Active Lifestyle!

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We’re living in a miracle age—technology drives much of what we do every day: from the digital alarm clock that wakes us so much more gently than the clanging silver bells or out-of-tune clock radios of our youth, to the electronic sonic toothbrush that scrubs our teeth to previously-unheard of levels of cleanliness. And if it’s true that all this technology has made some of us more sedentary (how many hours a day do we spend sitting in front of our computers?), it’s also true that more and more of us are actively pursuing new ways to get healthy.

                                                     Image Courtesy of ShutterStock

And, of course, for many of us these days, the most important tool in our wellness arsenal isn’t a treadmill or a food scale, but our cell phones. There are apps out there that do all sorts of awesome things: Track your daily steps, count your calories, record your goals, etc.

Below are 5 of our favorite (mostly) free apps for helping you get healthy and stay strong:

1. MAP MY FITNESS

Map my Fitness helps you to plan and track your workouts, using just the GPS on your phone.  You can create your own fitness route or find an existing one, join a group of workout buddies or log your speed and calories burned.

This app also allows you to track your nutrition, calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI) and keep on top of fitness events in your neighborhood as well as around the country.

Price: FREE

2. RUN KEEPER

Run Keeper is a fitness app that allows you to track your progress as you train at the gym or when you go out into the world to do your running or biking. It will tell you the length of your workout, compare progress with previous workouts and log your heart rate. And you can set it to let you know when you’ve reached specific goals.

Price: FREE

3. WEIGHT WATCHERS MOBILE

Weight Watchers Mobile provides many of the benefits of the Weight Watchers program, right there in your pocket. The Weight Watchers app allows you to count your calories, track your activity levels, look up recipes and read success stories from fellow health-enthusiasts.

Price: FREE

4. EVEREST

Everest is a fun app, because it allows you to track any goal you like. Planning to quit smoking? Always dreamed of conquering your debt? Dying to lose 15 pounds? Everest helps you set small, achievable goals, all designed to lead you straight to your own personal mountain-top.

Price: FREE

5. FIG

Fig is more focused on overall wellness and holistic practices. It allows you to establish your own wellness guide with topics ranging over various categories (Eat, Move, Refresh, Connect, Feel, Go Further). You can connect with other people and measure your progress or create action plans to help you reach specific goals .

Price: FREE

6. ZOMBIES RUN! 2

Zombies Run! 2 is almost more a game than a running app. As you run for your life on the treadmill or through your local park, you feel more like a kid playing a fantastic game, than an out-of-shape adult trying desperately to get in shape. The app provides dozens of storylines, and lets you choose your own musical accompaniment to add to the mood.

Price: $3.99 (yeah, we know. This one’s not free. But. . . ZOMBIES!!!!!)

Who needs a personal trainer! With just your Smartphone and a selection of really great apps, you can easily take control of your fitness routine. And maybe, just maybe, enjoy yourself while you’re at it.

Virginia Cunningham is a freelance health writer and fitness enthusiast living in the Los Angeles area. While personal health and wellness is her speciality, her writing, in correlation with HostPapa, also covers the tech industry, including apps reviews, social media and web hosting. 

Arctic Zero - A Healtheir Dessert!

Hey NeverEver's!

Yes its Saturday and I am writing?!? Wonders never stop during the Holiday season does it? However, I am doing a review today and would like to say out right that I am NOT being paid for any of what I am saying. I did get free samples but everything in which I am about to say is my own opinion and not anyone else.

So even though its winter everywhere else here in California it can still be in the 70's and sometimes even higher and that I still want ice cream at times.  Well I was lucky enough to be invited by Arctic Zero to try out some of theirs.

At first I was skeptical of course. A healthy and good tasting frozen dessert? Not likely but I was game to try it. And I have to say I was pleasantly surprised but not only how good they tasted but that there was no 'healthy' after taste that some healthy mass produced items taste.

My favorites were the pints!

These 2 flavors were my favorite. The Maple Vanilla which was creamy and had a sweet after taste that really made my day! The other one was the Cookie and Cream. It had just enough of the 'cookie' taste that I fell in love with!

 Next are the bars and I made the Hubby try these. Mainly because they are dipped in chocolate and well chocolate isn't my thing. Never really has been. However, from the Hubby's review they are delicious and taste just like 'the real thing' which from a guy ^_^.

So here are some stats about Arctic Zero!

The pints come in Maple Vanilla, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Cookies and Cream, Mint Chocolate, Strawberry, Coffee and Chocolate.
They are only 150 calories for the whole pint!
The bars are 85 Calories and Chocolate and Vanilla dipped in Chocolate and Strawberry and Orange dipped in Chocolate.
They are Fat Free, Lactose Intolerant Friendly and Gluten Free

And the most important part is that they are delicious! See if Arctic Zero is near you!

Motivational Thursday + Update on Squat Challenge

Hey NeverEver's!

Today was the first day that it felt like December. It was misting after raining all night. Which I missed as I had passed out by 9:30 my time, which is insanely early for me! I am going to put my early bed time on the fact that I woke up early on Wednesday and worked out in the morning. Just like I am putting my late raise today as to the fact that the bed was just more comfy then it has a right to be ^_^.

See why I wanted to stay in bed! This is why, it was sooo nice and toasty. But work called so I got out of bed and headed into work.

Anyways, it was time for work in which nothing happened because everyone is getting ready for vacation. Which has anyone gotten a turkey yet? Its on my list of things to do this Sunday is to get a Fresh Turkey!

However, I did look into my LIKE = 5 SQUAT Challenge. Here is the verdict!

Tonight when I get home from my 2 hour OT, I will be doing 120 squats. Now because there are so many I am not going weighted. But it will be done!

But I couldn't forget about my Wall Sit Challenge that I am doing w/ Rhodes of Fitness from Facebook.

I did it during my break at work. 6 minutes and 10 seconds of fun. The first 3 minutes went by pretty fast since I was browsing FB. However, the 2nd 3 minutes...I felt every second. Still I never thought I could Wll Sit for so long when I first joined this challenge so that in itself is a victory!

Now its time for Motivational Thursday!

Ok NeverEver's I will see you tonight for my Squat Challenge until then stay warm!! 

Guest Post - Tabata Workout Post

Hey NeverEver's,

Sorry about not being here yesterday...my computer hates me. It was stuck doing those Windows updates for a day and a half and once I was ready to just get on the Hubby's computer, well that one thought it was a good idea for updates as well. So therefore computers hate me.

But that wont stop me from posting this amazing workout today. Which I did this morning. And man did it kick my behind. It really did, but it was just enough kicking where I wanted to complete it.

Those Mule Kicks may be making it hard to sit today...maybe. Anyways, I am proud to present this workout to all of you. I can do it....you can do it! I just know it!

You can find more of these workouts from Julie Auler and her blog Grace. Lace and Iron be sure to check it out!

Sunday Food Prep

Hey NeverEver's!

Welcome to Sunday. Is it just me or did this weekend fly by? I swear that it was just Friday yesterday and now its Sunday.

Has anyone started planning for Thanksgiving yet? In my family it is me who does the Thanksgiving dinner. I don't mind its just a ton of planning for a family my size. I am thinking about doing a quinoa stuffing I saw on pinterest (if I can find it again). It seemed like a good alternative to bread. Also, I am going to try and make a pie (and to use Thanksgiving as a cheat day of course). But, since it will be my first pie ever made I am still considering it.

However, it is Sunday and that means Food Prep or at least for me getting my recipes ready so I know exactly what I am making on each day. Except for Tuesday as I am going to the dentist and will most likely be having left overs...or something.

So here is my week plan.

Monday - I am craving this one again - French Onion Soup

Tuesday - If I feel up to it w/ the dentist - Pasta and Broccoli

Wednesday - Grilled Steak Fajitas

Thursday - I have been wanting to try this - Oven Fried Chicken

Friday - Tuna Noodle Casserole

Sat and Sun I will be doing left overs. There should be more then enough for not only lunch but to survive until Sunday. If not I shall improvise ^_~.

Yup so this is my plan. Of course I will be loading up on veggies / fruit for snacks in between all of the dinners. I am really looking forward to this week and seeing what I can do for myself!

Okay NeverEver's, it is time to enjoy...well almost enjoy, my Saints beat the 49er's (please please please!). So I am leaving you all with my plans.

What is your Food Planning for this week?

Motivational Thursday

Hey NeverEver's!

Welcome to Thursday! The week is almost done and the weekend is almost here. Not to mention that Thanksgiving is coming soon.

Seriously, its coming and I am not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing. Cause I am the one in the family that cooks the dinner. Last year it wasn't a bad turkey if I do say so myself but this year I want to do even better. How?

I am thinking about making my first pie!

Yup a pie! I haven't made the decision if to do it or not but its there...in the back of my head...making me think about pies at random moments.

Anyways, on to my day so far and then...Motivational Thursday!!

So I started my day off right! Shakeology, Coffee and Water. Plus my Shakeology is in a Saints Cup!!

I killed my lunch workout for the #LBDWorkout! I even did 15 close squats and 15 wide leg squats at the end of my Thursday workout. Plus some left over soup from SkinnyTaste, a Broccoli, Cheese and Potato Soup

 

But I had almost forgot about my wallsit challenge. Well I am going to do it when I came home but I decided that it wasn't a good idea to wait. Especially since I am going to be doing my spin class tonight. So in comes the work wallsit! 

Now on to the Motivation!! 

Okay NeverEver's! It is time for me to get back to the grindstone! I will see you all late! Have a great Thursday and even better weekend! 

Bad Day's / Good Day's

Hey NeverEver's!

Ever had one of those days where you just wanted to crawl back into bed? Well I had that day on Tuesday. And I let it get to me. Really Really get to me.

I shouldn't have. I know that I can turn a bad day into a good day. I know that my reasoning for having a bad day was just plain stress from some family drama. In fact, I was responsible for making something that was only a small hill into a big freakin mountain. It didn't need to be a mountain. In fact, that small hill could have been handled with some deep breaths and a good nights sleep.

So what happened?

I over thought it.

I have a habit of over thinking when it comes to stressful situations. I remember things that have happened in the past, that was in the same situation, and then I get re-stressed by those past events. As if the current drama wasn't enough, I add more.

So once I came home I tried my stress reliever. Reading. It helped while I was reading but as soon as I stopped I felt the bad mood coming right back. My next course of action was just to go to bed.

And you know what.

It helped. I woke up this morning with a better mood. And it felt amazing!

So bad days come. They always do. When they happen sometimes you can change that mood. Turn your frown upside down. And other times you just can't. You can't shake that bad mood at all. That is when you should sleep it off.

All you can do after having a bad day...is to have a better day the next day. And that is exactly what I did.

During Lunch I did my #LBDWorkout and since I was such a pain yesterday I did both Tuesday's and Wednesday's workout. I will tell you I felt it...and still feeling it! 

Once I came one, it was time to start dinner and workout! I did the Slim in 6 w/ the Hubby for 30 minutes and still had dinner ready by the time it was done! 

Then of course I had to make up for my wall sits I missed yesterday. So it was time to pull out the #RTF30daysofthanks and do my 1:00 min wall sit! Thank you Hubby for the pic! 

And after all of that physical activity I can only feel happy again. I have my Shakeology ready for Breakfast, My gym bag ready for tomorrow's Lunch Workout / Spin Class and my dinner soup ready to go. So there really is nothing that I will allow to stop me from having the rest of this week a good week! 

On a side note I have changed my workout schedule. I went to the Kickboxing on Monday and found that it just wasn't my cup of tea. The owner was nice enough where I am exchanging my groupon to someone else (seriously awesome guy!). So instead on kickboxing on Wednesday / Friday I am coming home to do a BeachBody Workout DVD. I have Slim in 6, Hip Hop AB's and now Brazilian Butt Masters. So there are plenty to choose from. 

Okay NeverEver's, it is time for me to head to bed! I will see you all tomorrow for Motivational Thursday! 

What do you do when you are having a bad day? 

13th 5k & No Voice

Hey NeverEver's!

Its Sunday and I know I should be doing food prep but I have a thing about touching 'family food' while sick. I don't want to get anyone else sick. Soo no food prep today...left overs next week!

Oh ya I am still sick but instead of coughing or a head cold I have lost my voice. No other issues except for a small cough. No sore throat, No bad breathing, No ear pains or anything. Just the lost of my voice. Its a good thing that my blog relies on my typing skills instead of my voice ^_~

But I go to the doctors. And they just tell me that I need to just not use my voice and if it isn't back with in 3 days then come back. Well I have a job that depends on my voice! I am still debating if I should text my boss to let her know that although I feel fine I am not gonna be able to talk with the customers. However, due to my awesome friends I am trying some more natural remedies for now.

I know it looks weird but this is 1 squeezed lemon, 1 tablespoon of honey and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon. I can talk a little better after spooning this down my throat. Do you have any other home remedies? I am willing to try them all right now!

Ok so enough about my voice...lets talk about this weekend! It started on Friday night ^_~

Halloween party with some of my old co-workers and still awesome friends! It was an awesome night with laughs and drinks to be had! Although I did have to leave a little after midnight because of...

I had a Bubble Run to get to! Yup that is right I ran the next morning w/ one of my friends and current co-workers. Man can this lady run!! But the Bubble Run was so much fun. I mean look at those suds at the beginning of the run!

Ok if I had thought that the beginning was fun it was nothing compared to the rest of the 3 miles! First was pink, then blue, then green and finally yellow. Over at the green area the bubbles were so big that they were over my head! Yes I am that short ^_~

However, the run can only last so long (we all hope) and the fun had to end. I was a little disappointed that I didn't change to the Bubble Run's official shirt (I didn't know that there was color bubbles). But we finished the run strong!

My friend was able to get it done in 25:37 (she is a demon on the track!) and mine was a respectable 39:55. I am ok with that time. Actually pretty darn happy with that number to tell the truth.

However, with this run done. I have officially finished the #13in2013 races that I promised to do at the beginning of the year! It really hasn't hit me that I have been able to do this when last year I never ran. I walked and slowly at that. Now, although I am not fast I am proud to say that I am a runner. Who would have thought that I would say that? Not me from a year ago that is for sure.

So let me say it again. Just to let it sink in for me.

I AM A RUNNER.

Wow. That is something big. Especially since I got another run next Saturday.

Okay NeverEver's, I have to help the hubby get dinner ready ( i.e. I am telling him what to do by the doorway and in no way touching the food) so it is done in time for his Packer Game. Oh and my Saints won!!! Woot Woot!

Have a wonderful Sunday and I promise to have food prep for next weekend!

Motivational Thursday

Hey NeverEver's!

Welcome to Thursday. I am so looking forward to tomorrow. I have the day off and it is going to be relaxing/pampering/heart pumping/epic all at the same time. Just know it! I have Barre Class in the morning. Then the Mani / Pedi that I couldn't get to last week in the afternoon. Followed by going to the Laugh Factory w/ the Hubby to just finish the night off right!

But before I can get into that I have to finish Thursday! And man did Thursday really make me workout at Boot Camp today. Geez!

I did more Burpee's but happily only 2 mins worth...not 50 like on Monday. Then kettlebell swings, tri dips, crunches, weighted curls, leg lifts, ropes (moving them up and down), push-ups and a lap between every 2 exercises.

It was a good day. Even if I looked like a zombie warmed over when it was done.

However, now I get to relax after knowing that I left it all at the bootcamp. At least for today. Tomorrow is barre and I am ready to leave it all again! 

But now its time for Motivational Thursday!! 

And this is exactly how I am feeling right now. Well that and that it is time for bed. Getting tired. Gonna finish up my water & chia seeds and all it a night.

Have a great Friday and an even better weekend!

September in Review

Hey NeverEver's,

Welcome to the end of September. The last month of the single digits. The knowledge that we only have 3 months left to this year. That the holiday season is coming really...REALLY soon. But before we get into ANY of that lets review this month.

This month isn't the best that I have had. In fact it was one of the worst that I have had since I started this blog. But that is the thing about months and starting it over. I can leave this month behind and start better and harder for October.

So on September 10th I finished the Be Our Guest 5K. This was my 10th 5k for this year and it has been amazing! Never thought I would get this many 5k's done this year!

Then on September 24th I did the Princess Challenge 5k the Mulan. My 11th 5k. The Mulan medal is so pretty!

It is a little sad that a whole 30 days and really this is my accomplishments. 2 virtual 5ks while amazing seem to be a little too little.

But like I said I am making sure that October goes the way I want it to go. Starting with today.

I did a Weigh In.

Weight - 203.6

Waist - 49"

Breasts - 41"

Arms - 16"

Thighs - 24"

So at the beginning of this month I was at 200.6 and now I am at 203.6. Personally, I thought I would be higher because of 2 weeks ago I was feeling so blah that I was eating my feelings. But, I got myself down to 203.6 and I am ready to make sure that number is never seen again. 

This is my month. This is where I am. And this is where I am going. 

I started the South Bay Fitness and Fun Boot Camp that I got from Groupon. Today wasn't easy. It kicked my @ss so many times over that I felt like I was going to throw up. But I didn't and I actually did pretty damn good. Today's workout was

Partners Workout

2 Lab Around the Building Park

P1 - 50 Burpees

P2 - Crunches 

1 Lab Around the Building Park

Reverse exercises (i.e P1 does P2 exercises and visa versa)

1 Lab Around the Building Park

P1 - Fast Jumping Jacks - 50

P2 - Plank

1 Lab Around the Building Park

Reverse Exercises

1 Lab Around the Building Park

P1 - Push Up's -50

P2 - Lateral Raises 

1 Lab Around the Building Park

Reverse Exercises

1 Lab Around the Building Park

P1 - Donkey Kicks - 50 (each leg)

P2 - Lower Ab Raises

1 Lab Around the Building Park

Reverse Exercises

1 Lab Around the Building Park

There was another exercise on the board but me and my partner wasn't able to get to that one within the hour of the class. The fact that I was able to do 4 out of the 5 is amazing. Especially since...like I said it really did kick my @ss ^_^. 

But I came home and I did my Nightly Prep. 

I got my gym bag (for my Barre Class tomorrow), my lunch (herb chicken w/ raspberry salad), my shakeology and my clothes for tomorrow. 

So I am exhausted. I am headed to bed. I am ready for October and it is gonna be an awesome month. I know it. But what are your plans for this October?