From Eileen: Nothing gets me motivated more than a new exercise gadget. I hate to say it, but I love buying exercise stuff and, for some reason, this really works for me.
Many years ago, I spent a lot of money on a treadmill and was worried sick that it would become a $2,600 dusty clothing rack. So I decided I would have to use it 1,300 times (at $2 per run) to make it worth my while. I kept track and, after about six years, I made it! I actually kept tabs on the number of times I hopped on board (a bit compulsive, I realize), but it really helped me keep going. And for $2 per use, it was worth it even if it eventually becomes a clothing rack. That’s my logic, anyway.
In any case, my new favorite gadgets are iPhone apps, most of which are free! Right now, I am experimenting with the apps for Map My Run and Map My Fitness.
The Map My Run app lets you search or create your own walking or running routes. I went for a jog the other day around the neighborhood and it tracked where I went, how far, how fast, how many calories I burned, etc. Genius! You can create routes and keep track of your workouts or you can find a new route. It really was so easy to use and helpful. My only complaint is I don’t usually carry my iPhone when I run. (I usually carry my iPod shuffle because it’s smaller.)
The Map My Fitness app might be a better choice if you are really watching calories and want to log other types of workouts, as well. It’s easy to use, especially if you are used to logging calories on other websites like Weight Watchers (not free, unfortunately) or Lose It! (which is free and also has an app).
The big difference between Map My Fitness and Lose It is that Lose It seems to be much more goal oriented, in terms of weight loss. You enter your current weight and your ideal weight and your goal in terms of time. It helps you figure out how many calories you need to consume and burn based on that equation. Then you add your food intake and your exercises and it lets you know exactly where you stand each day. Again, genius! And free!
And, remember an earlier post from Joe about how goals are more easily achieved when you write everything down. Well, there’s an app for that and it’s free. What more could you ask for?
This just answered a question I was about to research! I’ve seen a lot of those run-tracking posts on Facebook and I was wondering if you could just map your route and time without having to carry the iPod. Sounds like you can’t, sadly. Still, it’s pretty amazing to be able to get all of that information for free.
You can go on the website to find routes in your neighborhood, but, alas, you need to carry the iPhone for all the personal information. I have an armband for my iPod, but I think I am going to have to get one for my iPhone, too. Another shopping excuse!
One big difference is that Lose It allows you to track other nutrition elements. The MapMy apps and website only allows you to track calories, fat, carbs and protein. I am trying to reduce my cholesterol intake and Lose It lets you track that as well as sodium, fiber, saturated fat and sugars. I also find it easier to view a day’s worth of foods in Lose It.
The MapMy products really are great for the exercise and route tracking, but I find Lose It to be superior in the food and nutrition area.