5 Favorite Health and Fitness Apps

As most of you know by now I enjoy using my iPhone and iPad as a workhorse. There are so many amazing apps out there that sometimes I wonder how I ever functioned without them. Today, in conjunction with my Straggling to Strong series, I want to share 5 of my favorite Health and Fitness apps. As we all know, sometimes we need a little assistance along the way and I’ve found these apps to be just the thing to help keep me accountable. Maybe they will help you on your fitness journey as well.

1. C25K Free–This is the first app I ran too, literally, when starting back to running after having kids. I really like this app because you can listen to your own music while the narrator on this app tells you exactly when to walk or run during your training weeks. It’s a no-brains way to get started running. Cost: Free

2. Period Tracker Lite–This app is especially friendly for us girls because it allows us to keep track of what our OBGYN always wants to know about–our period. On the day you start your period all you have to do is open this app, press the start button, and the app does the rest. It keeps track of your period length, your cycle length, your most fertile days, and your expected ovulation date. It’s definitely the easiest way I’ve found to keeping track of Mrs. P. Cost: Free

3. Map My Fitness–Once I finished the C25K program I needed a program that would track my mileage without step-by-step moderation. Thus came the use of this app. Mapp My Fitness is a GPS tracking device that lets you know how far you’ve traveled while exercising. It will give you updates as your exercise or just tell you the summary at the end depending on how you set your app up. Map My Fitness has several apps out there geared towards cycling, running, and the like. I happen to like this one the best because its the general app, meaning I can use it to track whatever type of fitness I choose to do for the day. If you have a sports speciality you may want to check out one of their other GPS apps for added features geared toward specific sports. Cost: Free

4. My Fitness Pal–I’ve tried several calorie tracking systems over the years and most apps as well. I have to say though that My Fitness Pal is the best app I’ve found hands down as it is not only easy to use but you can also access your info online. In addition, I like that it adjusts your calorie needs based on your activity for the day. Most other apps/programs just give you a generalized daily calorie count that is the same every day. Thanks to this calorie adjustment factor which adjusts each day based on what you input, I’ve actually seen reasonable results. As with all calorie tracking devices though, in order for them to work, you have to enter the data and that is usually where my downfall happens. But then, that’s not the app’s fault but mine. Cost: Free

5. Spark Recipes–For years, I was a big advocate of Sparkpeople.com with it’s free calorie tracking service, forums, and the like. While I no longer use this community to keep track of my calories, I still very much enjoy their recipe database. The selection is massive and the nice thing is, every recipe is marked with the nutritional value leaving no guessing or calculating involved. I’ve found many a family favorites via this app and it feels good knowing they are healthy ones. Cost: Free

*Want some more health and fitness app inspiration? Check out this list of 63 Health and Fitness Apps by Shana Lebowitz.

Straggling to Strong Challenge Update

Week 5′s Goals
This week I definitely did better than last although the scale only told me I’m in recovery mode. Goes to show even the 3rd and 4th week slump as often seen on the Biggest Loser happens at home too. That means this week should be amazing, right?!

Complete Week 1 5k Training Plan for Intermediate Runners
Complete 7 Weeks to Fitness Week 2
Exercise daily BEFORE the girls wake up.
Track calories on My Fitness Pal.

Pounds lost this week: 0
Total Pounds lost: 4.5 lbs.

Lessons Learned

Monday: Some exercise is better than no exercise. More is better yet!

Tuesday: If you don’t write what you eat down on paper, then what you eat will write it down on your body.

Wednesday: When you can exercise and read at the same time (such as when on the elliptical or stationary bike), both are more enjoyable and the time goes faster.

Thursday: Lots of exercise+Lots of stress=Lots of eating. Not a good cycle.

Friday: Don’t forget to incorporate the kids in your exercise. They love to “play” too. i.e. ”Let’s see who can run to the next driveway the fastest…ready…go!

Saturday: When going out, try to have a plan. If you don’t the choices can be overwhelming.

Sunday: Enjoy afternoon naps. It’s a wonderful God-given invention.

This Week’s Goals

Complete Week 2 5k Training Plan for Intermediate Runners
Complete 7 Weeks to Fitness Week 3
Track calories on My Fitness Pal.
Go to bed by 9 p.m. to read (something not on the iPad) before turning the lights out.

Did any of you make it your goal to exercise with a different mindset this week? How did it go? What’s your plan of action this week?

*To view all 19 bloggers who are teaming up for this Get Healthy and Fit Series and gain even more inspiration, be sure to check out their profiles by clicking the button to the right. We will also be providing extra inspiration via the Twitter hashtag #healthymomseries and Pinterest board Get Healthy & Fit.

**To see other posts from the Straggling to Strong series, click Get Healthy Weekly Updates.

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. I Corinthians 6:19-20