Five Favorites: Fitness Apps

I love how there are so many great apps that can make your life easier, but I find a bunch of the fitness apps out there to be kinda clunky (and I'm not looking to pay big $$$ for them). But there definitely are some great ones out there. Here is a list of my top five fitness apps.

In no particular order:

1. Nike Training Club

Workout Love

Source: Lithe Method

Have you ever been in love? Like "can't stop thinking about it, funny feeling in your stomach, can't imagine life without it, change your schedule for more time with it" love? I am right now- with my new workout, Lithe Method. For me it's the perfect combination of upbeat moves, muscle exhausting reps, flirty atmosphere, fun props (like resistance bands and barre work), and quick results.

But I guess we call can't be as lucky in love as I am right now *hair toss* but it got me thinking about how to choose a workout that is right for each person. Obviously, since everything has already been created in this world (thanks internet) a quick search of Google told me that indeed, there are many people who have already figured out a way to help people find the perfect workout for them. Here are some of them:

The Comeback Workout (Week 2)

Last week I posted a copy of the workout schedule that I have been following. You can find week one of the Comeback Workout here.

Here is week 2 of this workout. After last week I already feel stronger (I swear!) 

All yoga is through the Yoga Studio App or is linked
All Pilates workouts are from the Blogilates Beginner's Calendar week 2
All specified strength exercises are from the Nike Training Club App

The Comeback Workout (Week 2)*

         Monday
AM- Blogilates for Beginners Total Body Workout
       The 100 
PM- 30 min run w/ dog
       15 min post run Yoga

        Tuesday
AM-Beginner's Ab Time
      8 min Abs
      10 min Yoga 
PM- NTC Arm Definer
       NYC Ballet

        Wednesday
AM- 30 min run
       15 min post run yoga
PM- Fat Burning Cardio
       Legilates
       Till the World Ends
        Thursday
AM- Quiet Cardio
       Saddlebag Shaver

       Glad You Came Calves   
PM- 10 min Bedtime Yoga

        Friday
AM- Pick Me Up Quickie Workout

       8 Min Abs

       ABC Abs 

PM- NTC Shaped Back

        

        Saturday (Rest Day)
AM- 15 Min walk
PM- 20 min Calming Back Poses

        Sunday
AM- Lithe Method Class- Skinny Mini (you can substitute this class with 60 minutes of cardio bootcamp/circuit training)
PM- 10 min Bedtime Yoga

*All of the stuff on this calendar is available for free through apps or the internet except the Yoga Studio app which costs $3 (worth it!) and the Lithe Method class.
         

The Comeback Workout (Week 1)

Do you ever get to that breaking point where you're tired of feeling weak? Your're tired of not having enough energy to get through the day? You're tired of not liking what you see in the mirror? That was me on Monday. I hit a moment where I said "NO MORE" to myself. No more skipping workouts, no more cheat meals, and no more laziness. So on Monday I set a schedule up for myself. I wanted to jolt myself back into the game, how do you do that? Two-a-days.

The Stages of Running

Running and I have a love/hate relationship. I've been running for 9 years now with few breaks until last year. Last year, while training for the Philadelphia Marathon (and doing a crappy job of it) I injured my back. I was unable to run the marathon, and I took a hiatus from running. Honestly though, I was relieved when I got injured because somewhere among the pressures of training mixed with looming long runs, and a deeply seeded feeling of just being too slow, running had stopped being fun. It had stopped being the thing I depended on, the thing that got me through the day, and the thing that made me feel good about myself. When I took my break I vowed that I wouldn't return to running until I enjoyed it again. Two months ago, I started running again.

But for me, loving running has never come easily. Instead I found that there are stages along the way:

Hate
Running feels terrible. You know it should feel great, and you should glide easily along, but it's just not that simple. Instead it hurts your shins, it makes walking up stairs impossible (I've walked sideways and backwards up many a staircase), and it makes your face so red people think you're going to pass out. Running sucks.

Respect
You begin to respect the sport. You respect the camaraderie, the tenacity, and the mindfulness it has given you. You realize you can run farther than before, longer than before and it makes you feel stronger.

Like
You start to look forward to a run after a frustrating day, or maybe you long for the alone time it gives you in the stillness of the morning. You start to feel like you're a part of something. You begin to realize that you're a runner.

Love
Running has taken you to places you've never been before, and it makes you look at things differently. You're more connected to your body and nature. Running is second nature to you. You imagine yourself growing old with running. You'll be one of those 80 year olds running their 100th marathon. Running gets you.


Right now, I'm somewhere between respecting running and liking running. It's still hard to get out the door and run some-most days. I'm trying to only do it when I want to do it. Have you experienced these phases? Where are you?