So in my quest to find the perfect constellation of workout apps, I decided to try “7 Minute Workout” which I promptly named 7 minute freakout. I am not the most coordinated of women so my first workout with this app resembled nothing so much as a seizure. The app which I’m sure works well for much more exercise-savvy and coordinated users, leads the user in 12 exercises lasting for 30 seconds each with 10 seconds of “rest” in between. I started out thinking, “this will be a piece of cake” and “how bad could 7 minutes be?” I eagerly started the routine with jumping jacks. I felt strong. I felt powerful. Then I moved on to “wall sits”. I can do this. Next I moved to push ups. Still it felt manageable although I barely had time to get into position for the next exercise during my “rest” period. As the exercises continued, I realized I didn’t know how to do some of them. By the time I figured out what to do, it was time for the next exercise. After blowing through a couple of routines trying to figure out how to do “step-ups onto a chair”, I started to get out of breath and blew right through my rest to try to make it to the next exercise before time was up. Well, you get the picture. After my encounter with this app, I’ve decided that I am definitely more of a tortoise than a hare in the race to fitness. For me, I think slow and steady will win this race.
Category Archives: Weight Loss
Couch to 5K
I said when I started this blog that I was going to spend a chunk of time on fitness and the technology I use to help me get active in 2014. So far I have leaned more toward the couch potato end of things, but this week I’ve finally gotten myself to the gym. One app has been very successful for me – Run 5K. The app is really simple which is probably why I like it. The nice woman in the app tells me when to stretch, when to warm up, when to walk and when to run. Each week I walk a little less and run a little more. I set up a playlist to listen to while I’m working out and when the workout is done my new best friend tells me I can cool down. Each training session is 28-30 mins and provides me with a realistic, structured way to get moving. If you’d like a slow, gentle way to get moving, I highly recommend it.
Filed under Tech tips, Weight Loss
We’re all in it together
As part of my January quest to start getting healthier and eating better, I made my way to a Weight Watcher’s meeting today. I’ve been attending off and on for almost 8 months now (most recently off) and decided to renew my commitment. Sitting in the meeting I found old friends, colleagues and neighbors. When you have struggled with weight loss for as long as I have you often forget that you’re not alone in this. It becomes such a symbol of your weakness or failing that you forget that many perfectly reasonable, accomplished people have the same struggle. That really is the power in the meeting, feeling like you are all in this together. I often forget that. I will try to be better about that in 2014.
Each year Weight Watchers tweaks its plan based on current food science, fashion and social mores. This year’s release features a plan called “Simple Start“, a two week quick start meal plan and nutrition guide. In recent years Weight Watchers has been developing apps and online tools to help members achieve their weight loss goals. I have to say, as an avowed techhie, I have found that the apps really help me a great deal. The new “Simple Start” app is fun, provides beautiful color photos of all the delicious food you can have on the plan, recipes and motivational tips. It looks promising, we’ll see if it helps me stick with it. After exactly one day following the menus included, I am optimistic. More to follow…
Filed under Thoughts, Weight Loss
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