There are several tools and apps that I use regularly, or have used in the past, that I've found super handy in helping me stick with the goals I set for myself in the area of health and fitness. One of first places I turned to at the beginning of my health, weight loss and fitness journey, the one that opened my eyes to just what and how much I was eating, was MyFitnessPal. I became an avid label-reader as a result of using their food diary to log my daily calories. I quickly realized I was eating far too much and some really not-so-healthy things, too! MyFitnessPal is a GREAT tool to not only help you become aware of what you're eating, but to also give you incentive to exercise to "add calories back". MyFitnessPal is available on their website, and also as a handy app on iOS and Android. Next up, the app responsible for helping me become an avid runner: Couch to 5K (or C25K for short). It's a nine week running program for absolute beginners. It helps to take you from out-of-shape to being able to run a 5K. You start off gently with 30 second run intervals broken up with 1 or 2 minute walk intervals, all the way to being able to run for 30 minutes straight. I started using the app in February 2010 and signed myself up for my first (4 mile) race in September that year as a goal. I went from being a complete and total non-runner in 2010 to just last year completing my first full marathon (26.2 miles). I currently use the Nike+ app on my iPhone to track my runs. I've also used Runkeeper in the past. The biggest reason I've chosen to use Nike+ over Runkeeper regularly is that I can use Nike+ to track my treadmill runs, whereas I cannot with Runkeeper. One of the best things about tracking all of my runs with an app such as Nike+ is that I have a visual of how far I've come. I can see run stats at a glance, it saves my personal best times, and adds up the miles ran over time. You can also connect with other runner friends and set up challenges if you're the competitive type. More recently, Nike+ has added a Coach section, which houses their training programs. Overall, technology has most definitely had (and continues to have) a huge impact on my fitness journey, and for that I am thankful. :) What tools, apps or bits of technology do YOU use? Leave a comment below and let me know! 
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Step number two is to break the big goal down into smaller chunks. I started off the year with a round (60 days) of Les Mills Combat. Toward the end, I've thrown in a couple of runs for the pure fact that I miss running. I also miss yoga. And I know I want to continue with Combat workouts. And so, as I come to the last couple of weeks of Combat Round 1, I've taken some time to forward-plan the next 12 weeks.
On February 2, I'll be starting Hal Higdon's Intermediate Half Marathon training plan, and infusing it with a weekly yoga practice, as well as a once-a-week visit to Combat-land. I'm very much looking forward to this new blended schedule. A rough sketch of the next twelve weeks looks like this: Monday: yoga Tuesday: easy run Wednesday: speed run Thursday: Combat workout(s) Friday: rest day or easy run day Saturday: pace run day Sunday: long run day This means I get up and put in my daily workout, it's all scheduled out for me through April 26, and a couple of weeks prior to this, I'll begin planning and scheduling my next workout plan... and so on and so forth until the BIG RACE DAY. MAKE A GOAL. CREATE A PLAN. FOLLOW IT. SUCCEED. {click to tweet} It's really and truly THAT simple to achieve a goal. Set your goal. Make a plan for how to achieve that goal. Follow the plan, without giving up, stay persistent and determined... and SUCCESS is yours! Tell me, what are YOUR big goals for 2015?? P.S. YOU ARE INVITED!!! In February 2015, I'll be celebrating my 5 year running anniversary (my RUN-iversary, lol), and I wanted to celebrate it in a big way. So, I'm hosting a virtual 5 mile run/walk to raise money for charity. Full details can be found HERE. I hope you'll join me in celebrating AND supporting a very worthy cause all at the same time! :)
There's a handy sound on/off switch too, so you can hear the beep or keep things ninja stealthy-like while your kiddo slumbers. I like also that it lights up green for a 'normal' temp, yellow for a slight fever and red for a higher fever. We compared the readings given by this device with readings from a standard thermometer (on ourselves, of course, not the poor sick fellow who cannot stand such nonsense). As far as that test went, the Braun No Touch & Forehead Thermometer is pretty accurate! Oh, and it's quick too! In just seconds you've got your verdict, rather than waiting.. and waiting.. and waiting.
It appears that it will be rather durable too, as the little guy took to playing with it here and there while we had it out for the duration of his downtime. The cap that goes over the sensor part could have been a little better-fitting, but that's seriously the only (minor) complaint I can come up with about it. I'm thankful I had the opportunity to review this product and that we now have a great alternative to the torture device that is a regular thermometer! You can purchase this product on Amazon through this link. Let me know in the comments below if you have any questions about the Braun No Touch & Forehead Thermometer and I'll be happy to answer what I can. Here's to a happy, HEALTHY 2015! :) |
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February 2019
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Photos used under Creative Commons from ˙Cаvin 〄, Claus Rebler, lululemon athletica
