My fitness Pal (plus Iphone app) an overview.

My Fitness Pal

There are many diverse calorie/fitness tracking systems. Some of them are free, some expensive. Some come in book forms, some just internet databases.

I've recently found one that I love!. At first I dismissed it for the another program, BUT after a recent discovery (an app available for the phone) it's one of the most CONVENIENT APPS/Programs I've come to love.

My Fitness Pal.

It's a great website. Not only does it have a much bigger database than most (exercise and food) BUT it does all the math for you and helps you with your weight loss.

After you create your profile you can edit what your goal is (gain lbs, lose 1 lb, 1.5 lb etc) . Using your measurements and weight, it will calculate what your calorie goal is for every day. ALSO when you enter in your exercises it calculates your net calories (calories burned and needed to regain energy, nutrients, etc etc) so no more confusing numbers for you to keep track of!


A feature on the website, I wish they would add on the phone, is the breakdown of your nutrients, my diary consists a list of my carbs, fat, and proteins. It keeps track of every food I eat and groups them together with what meal I had them with (breakfast, lunch, or dinner), that way I can work on certain meals and getting them down to the right balance. It also helps me see what each individual item costs me every day I eat it.

 ALSO one of its best (and my favorite) is the Iphone App (FREE) that goes along WITH your website.

I carry my Iphone almost everywhere I go (except in the water and on the work floor). My fitness pal has an AMAZING app on it! You no longer have insert a certain brand  of Peanut Butter (for example)  double check, is it the low fat..no..reduced..fat..."wait this calorie count is different than whats on the label!" .into a database .no more guessing. I simply go to the "My Fitness Pal App" Pic 1 (I have all my fitness apps combined in a folder)

Go to the MY DIARY SECTION

In the right hand corner you see a blue button that looks like a UPC code. I click on that

My Camera turns on and I scanned the bottom of a Swiss Miss Box, I drank one mix of this today.

After I scan it, the nutrition facts pop up (99.9% of the time) and after I click add, it's added to my diary of what I have eaten today. Simple, easy, and FREE.

This, by far, wins my vote for My Fitness pal. It takes out the guess work for the many, many food items we eat every day.

ALSO. You can track your exercises you completed for the day with this app.

You go back to the add entry menu and you can click on either cardiovascular or strength. Within those individual menus you can find workouts or customize your own based on how long you worked out along with your heart rate.

I have to credit a friend for sharing some of this information with me, BUT I have found that I LOVE this app. I use it everyday and so far am having much luck with it!

If you have an iphone, you should try it!

1,000 Page Views+ Live strong website

Wahoo! Thanks guys! Let's keep this going!

Have you been looking for a weight loss tracking system? I've sadly been on and off again but one of my favorite websites (free!) is the Livestrong my plate system. They have So many items you can look up in their database for your calorie counting table. PLUS they have an iphone app so, if you're out eating you can track away from the computer! You can also input your exercises that way it'll recalculate your new caloric intake, so you don't have to get all confused with the net outcome!

It keeps track of your measurements as well as your weight. If you want to loose 1lb a week it calculates your calories for you so you know what your limit is, as well as your protein, sugar, carb, and fat intake. I really like it!!

You should go check it out!
www.livestrong.com

Turbo Fire 1 Month DOWN

Ok, So this post IS over do for an update. I've been a tad busy with work and other things.. but I DID IT

I was so excited, There were a few nights where I wanted to talk myself out of working out, but I know when get came to the next day, I wouldn't be happy, If I wanted results, I needed to push.

SO. Here is an after picture that was the most noticible difference

I lost a lot of muscle in my arms when I stopped working out (when we moved from LA-HI) So....I was excited to see this..

Turbo Fire Week 3-Day 17

I've put in a lot of hours this week at work, so, it's been a little tough  working 8-9 hours then getting the effort to workout but, I've been doing it.

Yesterday I didn't have a ton of energy so, Instead of doing a cardio workout, I did a strength training, Core 20  minutes. It's tough, especially when you get to the floor section, it's not just your abs, it's your entire body, Back, stomach, and chest. Pushups are EVIL, I hate them. I don't know why I've just never had the strength to do them. You think after all the years of band and winter guard I'd be able to nail them (directors LOVED pushups as a form of punishment lol) ANYWAY, When I started this program I really wanted to make sure I was going close enough to the ground, so I still used my knees. As of last night I did every rep on my toes getting down to the ground. I was very pleased.

ALSO the stomach section is brutal. She doesn't do reps and then goes on..she ADDS on. So you'll do rep a, then rep b then you'll do rep a and b together, then she'll add C you'll do that , then you'll do Rep a, b, and C....UGH it hurts.. BUT she knows how to fatigue your muscles so they are constantly repairing themselves even stronger. I could barely get through that section, last night I only took 3, 2 second breathing breaks. SO, VERY EXCITED! Things are going well!

Turbo Fire 2 weeks!-Sept 4

I did it!!!! I was so excited to finish 2 weeks. It's the longest I had ever stuck with a workout program, on my own!. I love turbo fire. There are some days I want to use my rest day (i don't actually take it unless I need it for soreness) But I know I feel better in the morning after I do my workout.

Ive realized I'm more successful if I reward myself  with someone I had been waiting on to purchase. I received a Clinque mailer and had been waiting for a week for something to come out, but I made myself wait another week so it could be used a my reward.

I purchased a Gift set that came with a 21.00 purchase. With coupons I ended up getting all of this for $16. :) I was excited and was very happy that I was able to splurge a little on myself for a job well done. Hooray!

As I stated before I don't own a scale...BUT here are the pics
Before

After, I tried to put them side by side but it wouldn't let me. Anyhow, there isn't much of a difference but, it's only been 2 weeks.

So...Hopefully I'll keep going and things will keep improving!

Turbo Fire, Day 13 ALMOST THERE

I've never been good about keeping up with at home workout videos. I quit P90X a week and 1/2 in. I just didn't have the time. I'm almost at 2 weeks in with Turbo Fire, I'm so excited!!! Tomorrow I'll post a before and after pic, I don't have a scale and have no way of weighing myself , (my goal wasn't to lose weight anyway, it was to tone up) , SO I'm pretty excited. I LOVE food but that is not going to be my reward. There is a small makeup kit at Macy's I've had my eye on for a little bit so, I decided that, that can be my reward for working out so hard.  \

Thanks for following me along in my journey. If you have any questions or comments about this program, please ask!

Turbo Fire Day 10 update + Video

I'm halfway through week 2. I'm really liking this workout. It's really challenging but gets the work done in half the time of a lot of other home workouts. By the end of every video I'm covered in sweat and my muscles are fatigued.


Today I did a 15 minute high intensity training and a 30  minute sculpt class. My arms are so sore already but I can already see great definition where muscles are starting.


Here is a video of of the 3rd drill in the 15 minute HIIT session

I was really tired this morning, Every morning my husband works, I get up at 5:45 with him, make his lunch, and drive him to work. When I get home, I either have the option of going back to sleep or working out. I've been trying to be good about working out, because I normally work morning-mid evening. If i wait to workout in the evening I could come up with 100 reasons why I wouldn't want to work out and lose my momentum.  I was a little shocked when I started this today, It actually wasn't that hard as I remember. I was jumping higher and wasn't completley fatigued until the end of the 2nd rep. The 1st reps, I went all out, but didn't get tired as quickly so Hooray for improvement!

Hope you enjoy the vid!