unnamedPersonally, I would rather order a pizza than go to the gym. However, this obviously does not help in my new mantra to be and feel healthy. So where did I go to try to get out of my slump? I looked at what I use all the time–my iPhone. I realized I have a tool right in my hand that is with me all day everyday, so why not use it to my advantage? This is when I found two of my favorite apps, MyFitnessPal and Runtastic.

MyFitnessPal

MyFitnessPal is a free app that gives the calorie count to either stay the same weight or lose at most two pounds per week. You make a profile of your height, weight, gender, and age. The app then approximates how many calories you should consume based on your profile. This app is not only a calorie counter though; it gives you how many carbohydrates, fats, and proteins to have each day. Within this app there is a diary where one can add what they eat as well as how much they exercised. MyFitnessPal definitely opened my eyes to see what I put in my body each day.

When one makes a decision to “be healthy,” old habits are hard to break. The MyFitnessPal diary made me realize whatever I eat really determines how I feel. What really surprised me when starting MyFitnessPal was how much sugar is actually in chips, sodas, and juices. After using MyFitnessPal for a week, I felt more energetic. I chose water instead of soda. I chose fruits and veggies instead of fries or chips. I drank more water each day and always tried to get some type of movement in–even if that meant taking a ten-minute walk. This app allowed me to break old habits and try to be healthier. I always lean on MyFitnessPal when I get back into a slump and need help to get out of it.

My favorite type of exercise is running outside. For me, exercising is a healthy stress reliever and running outside allows me to clear my head. With this in mind, I looked to an app that could help me measure what I was doing as well as my progress. When I first started running it was not easy, but I stuck with it and today it makes me feel like I’m on top of the world when I accomplish my goal on time or for distance.

Runtastic

fitnessRuntastic is a free app available on the iPhone, Android, Windows phone, and Blackberry. It uses a GPS to track your location as you run as well as your speed. The app has a clock that measures the duration of your run and allows you to play music. Each run goes into your history where you can see how many times you ran, the distance, date, duration, and even the weather that day. You can even take a picture during your run and look back later on. Lastly, the app sends random notifications that either say “great job for running this # of times this week” or “you ran this # of times this week; try one more!” When I get into a rut, somehow that notification always reminds me that instead of watching Netflix for another few hours I can go for a run or get some sort of exercise.

Hopefully this article gave you a few ideas on ways to break those old habits and be healthier. I know these apps definitely whipped me into shape. Today I have more confidence because I know I can accomplish whatever I set my mind to, even if it’s with the help of a couple of apps.

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