5 Mobile Apps To Help You Stay Healthy

Hello again everyone! Thanks for stopping by today! 

I don't know about you, but I have an obsession with lists. Yes, lists. I love making them, I love reading them - I just love how they get to the point so quickly and easily. A lot of my blog posts are list-based for that exact reason (top 5, top 10, etc). If I'm crunched for time to write, I'm sure my readers are short on time, too. No use in writing something people get bored of and stop reading!

Today's post is about the top 5 mobile apps that have helped me stay on track with health and weight loss. Some of these you may already know about - some you may not! Keep reading for more info, and maybe one of these apps can help you get a little closer to your goal.

1) Tumblr (Free)

Tumblr is a cross between Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. Tumblr is essentially made up of short blog posts, informal Q&As with the people you follow and those who follow you, and the pictures and gifs (moving images that loop over and over) that people share with one another. Tumblr has hashtag capability and a search functionality to help find specific pictures or blogs with hashtags or labels associated with them, which helps users connect with others who share similar interests.

So what makes Tumblr such a great place to find health inspiration? You might check out this account, aptly titled Beautiful Pictures of Healthy Food. Or, for all the fitness lovers out there, pour over this "Fitspo" (fitness and inspiration) account run by personal trainer Cassey Ho, which is chock full of everything from yoga gifs and YouTube workout videos to full recipes and blog topics such as women's wellness and self-care. You can even find entire workout plans laid out in a picture small enough to save to your phone. 

For those who like using inspirational quotes as their iPhone wallpaper (me me me!) take a look through this motivational Tumblr account. Nothing gives me a new perspective like reading a few of these catchy sayings and quotes.

Download Tumblr for iPhone
Download Tumblr for Android

2) MyFitnessPal (Free)

MyFitnessPal, oh how you've changed my life! I will start out by saying that tracking every morsel of food just isn't for everyone. (For those with an eating disorder, it is not recommended.) I am confident that I know the caloric value of practically any food on the planet (14 years of experience tracking sort of burns those numbers into your brain). But, I still track my calories, because I am still sometimes surprised by the meals I make at home. 

One of my favorite parts of MyFitnessPal is the recipe builder. It allows you to build a recipe from the ground up, adding each ingredient individually. You then have the option of changing the amount of servings in a recipe, which will fluctuate depending on the number of servings the recipe yields. For example, say your favorite lasagna recipe comes out to 2400 calories for the entire pan. Divided into 12 servings, and the recipe builder automatically populates 200 calories per serving. Change the recipe to yield 6 servings, and it updates to 400 calories a serving. (Good luck finding a 200 calorie-per-serving lasagna!)

Because MFP's database is made up of entries from its users (users submit the nutritional breakdown of the foods they eat) you can build a food that isn't in the database already, as long as you have access to the nutritional information for your favorite product. Unlike Weight Watchers, MFP doesn't discriminate against brands in its database - because it isn't trying to promote specific brands over another, which I appreciate. Just be weary of the fact that since most items are entered manually, there is room for human error (if you input a slice of large pepperoni pizza and it tells you you've eaten 150 calories, chances are that's not an accurate entry.) 

I highly recommend this app out of all the weight loss apps I've tried. In addition to what's noted above, MFP keeps your weight history and food journals stored for years. I love being able to look back and see my progress from week to week, or go back go 2011 to see what crazy diet I was on at the time. :)

Download MyFitnessPal for iPhone
Download MyFitnessPal for Android

3) Food Gawker (Free)

What is a Food Gawker? It's anyone who has ever actually drooled over pictures of delectable looking food. It's a person who is visual, and likes their food to both look delicious and taste even better. Food Gawkers and stalkers everywhere will appreciate this app, which is filled with just that: pictures of FOOD!

Similar to Pinterest and Tumblr, the app shows you pictures of food and recipes based on a keyword search. You can input basic searches like "dinner" "vegetarian" "soup" "snacks" or keywords such as "gluten free" "dairy free" and so on. It's a great way to find inspiration through visuals - personally, I can't find a recipe all that appetizing without pictures. Also, a picture can help inspire an idea you may already have about a recipe, or it can get you to try new foods.

All you have to do is search a keyword - from there, you can click individual pictures to be linked to the original recipe. 

Download FoodGawker for iPhone
FoodGawker if not yet available for Android - view the website here

4) Runkeeper (Free)

"I think we need to talk. I really think you're good for me, and I really care about you. I hate to break it to you like this, but... you're just not very popular! I've heard people saying things about you. I don't think anyone really enjoys spending time with you... You're just, really... I don't know, you're just EXHAUSTING! And when I'm already tired after a long day, the last thing I want to do is feel MORE exhausted! I don't mean to make you feel bad or anything... It's so weird, though. Even though I feel exhausted while we are hanging out, afterward I feel so GOOD! I can't really explain it, but... I guess we should still see each other, but you'll have to call me - you know, since I'm bad at keeping in touch and everything..."

If you are like me and play hard to get with Exercise, an app that reminds you to work out might help you stay active. I really like using Runkeeper to track my activity because its so user friendly. It also has a "fun" feel to it - you can connect with friends, set reminders, beat your own best record, compete with others, train for a 5k, and brag to all your Facebook and Twitter friends about how many calories you burned hiking, walking, or jogging. Runkeeper is pretty much the Facebook for physical activity. Think of it as both a personal cheerleader and a scoreboard for every activity you do.

When I turned on the reminders in my Runkeeper app, it actually remembered the last time I went running, and sent me a little pop up notification that said "Hey! Last time you went for a run, you thought this was the perfect time to go. How about beating your last record?"

Download Runkeeper for iPhone
Download Runkeeper for Android

5) Podcasts (Free)

I only recently found out about the podcasts app! If you have an iPod or an iPhone (you can also download iTunes software on a PC, if you don't have a smartphone) you can download original podcasts from thousands of individual contributors. I've found every kind of podcast on iTunes, from meditation practices to hypnosis to weight loss. Some are hit or miss, since they are produced individually, but it's always worth a try because they are free to download. 

My favorite podcast is the Jillian Michaels show, which she updates weekly. Her podcasts usually last 1-2 hours, but I find it really helpful when I'm in a funk or if I just need to pass the time and don't feel like listening to music. Her topics are actually somewhat offbeat - I've been moved to tears by some of the stories she's shared on her show. (It reveals a softer side of Jillian, which most people aren't accustomed to.) Jillian shares insightful methods for handling conflict, facing your own demons, and challenging excuses at their core. Get ready for some tough (but down to earth) love. If you're not a Jillian fan, there are SO many other health and weight loss podcasts full of useful information. 

Download Podcasts for iPhone
Download Podcast Manager for Android

A final word of advice and disclaimer

I am not a health professional in any capacity. I have not received any formal training on the subject, but my expertise comes from many years of research and learning by my own trial and error. Always make sure to research for credible sources of health related information, if you happen to run across information you don't agree with or that seems a little far fetched. 

There are SO many conflicting arguments out there about the healthiest way to live. The healthiest way to live is however you feel your absolute best - not what anyone else tells you to eat or not eat! When you listen to your body, it will always tell you what it needs.

This post is not sponsored by any of the aforementioned companies. All opinions are my own.

VegNews Article on the Benefits of a Vegetarian Diet

An article I found on VegNews.com, a Vegan/Vegetarian website, explains the health benefits of a vegetarian diet and "mythbusts" some misconceptions about both diets:

Veg diets lack protein? Says who?!
Here are a few factoids for veggies new and old.

By Dina Aronson, RD & Meghan Fitzpatrick

Now that you've resolved to go vegetarian, phase two of your new-year plan should be arming yourself with veg-related factoids. Why? Because friends, family, and even random strangers are guaranteed to quiz you, grill you, and otherwise bombard you with questions about your new-and-improved lifestyle. Do a bit of myth-busting and show ’em what they're missing by memorizing a few of these fascinating factoids.

Myth: A vegetarian diet lacks sufficient protein, calcium, and iron.
Truth: A well-balanced vegetarian diet certainly can provide enough of these nutrients. What we don't hear too often is that any poorly planned diet—meat-centered or not—can lack adequate nutrients. For well-fed vegetarians, protein, calcium, and iron are rarely issues. Beans, lentils, and soy are the protein standbys, although protein is also found in vegetables and starches. As long as we consume enough calories from a variety of foods, protein needs are easily met.

Roughly two-thirds of the world has difficulty digesting milk, making the majority of us reliant upon non-dairy calcium sources. Indeed, nuts and seeds, tofu, beans, leafy greens, and other foods contain calcium, and many plant sources are actually better absorbed by the body than the kind found in cows' milk. Even if your vegetarian diet isn't pristine, it's easy to get enough calcium from fortified vegan sources like cereals, juices, energy bars, and soymilk.

Myth: Vegetarians only eat salad.
Truth: From vegetable-topped pizza and pasta primavera to succulent stir-fries and vegetable curries, today's vegetarians should have no trouble finding something delicious and nutritious to eat. More and more restaurants are adding veg options to their menus, and many of today's veg eateries have gone upscale, offering dishes that would dazzle even the most discriminating palates. We'd like to also rid the world of the myth that vegetarians arrange their plates with a pile of plain veggies beside a pile of rice. Give us a maple-roasted acorn squash stuffed with wild rice-pecan-currant pilaf instead of a pile of steamed veggies and a scoop of rice any day.

Myth: Being vegetarian is time-consuming and difficult.
Truth: Just as omnivores typically don't pluck their own chickens and make their own cheese from their own cow (that they milked by hand), vegetarians don't necessarily prepare nine-course meals from scratch every night. We get a bit of help using healthy convenience foods such as wholesome breads, quick-cooking grains, ready-to-eat cereals, frozen chopped veggies, bagged salads, canned beans, baking mixes, jarred nut butters, prepared herbs and spices, veggie burgers and other faux meats, sauces, and more. With a little imagination, a healthy, meat-free meal can be prepared in minutes.

Vegetarians have a lower risk of:Obesity
Cardiovascular disease
Stroke
Hypertension
Diabetes
Cancer (certain types)
Diverticular disease
Kidney disease
Gallstones

(courtesy of http://www.vegnews.com/web/articles/page.do?pageId=275&catId=7. I did not write this article.)