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.

Homemade Turkey Chili

Hi loves!!

Last night I made this delicious chili to help get my husband and I through the week on our grocery budget. All in all, this recipe cost about $10 for the ingredients and makes about 10 servings. That's pretty good considering most lunches cost upwards of $5-10 bucks a pop!! That's not including your morning Starbucks run...!

Since our wedding, Matt and I have actively been trying to get back on the financial band wagon- a feat not so easily achieved. We've found that (obvious to most people already...) when we stopped eating out we lost weight and saved money - together.

When I go grocery shopping, I sort my list by order of where the items can be found in the store (hence the recipe in this order):

Meat:
2 Lbs ground turkey*, or meat of your choice

Canned:
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 or 2 15 oz cans mixed beans
1 6 oz can tomato paste
1 8 oz can tomato sauce
1 15 oz can plain diced tomatoes
1 12 oz can gluten free or regular beer

Produce:
2 jalapeño peppers*, seeded and chopped
1 habanero pepper*, seeded and chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 yellow vidalia or sweet onion, chopped
2-3 cloves or teaspoons garlic, minced
1 bunch green onions, chopped

Spices:*
Chili powder
Garlic powder
Onion powder
Cumin
Cayenne pepper
Fresh ground pepper
Salt

The way I prepare this recipe gives it the most flavor. I have tried it the way the original recipe calls for, and it isn't as tasty. I've noticed that when I don't flavor the meat while its cooking, it comes out tasting very bland. Who wants to bite into a delicious chili only to find bland chunks of turkey??

In a large stovetop pan, heat olive oil on medium. While olive oil heats (but make sure it's not so hot that it smokes), chop all your veggies. Once the onion and peppers are chopped, add them to the pan and sauté for 5-7 minutes or until onions are translucent and peppers have softened a bit. Do not add the garlic yet, as garlic burns and becomes bitter very quickly when applied to heat.

Now, leaving the large pan burner on medium high, transfer your sautéed veggies to a large pot. (Don't turn on the heat for the large pot just yet.) Add ONE pound of the turkey back into the sauté pan and start browning your meat. Once the turkey starts to sizzle (should be right away), start adding your seasoning. You can also add garlic at this point to help further season your turkey.

The reason I don't include seasoning amounts for this recipe is because unlike baking, cooking and flavoring are really up to the chef. Whoever is doing the cooking gets to decide how it tastes! I use a liberal amount of chili powder, cumin, onion, and garlic powders. Once you've added the spices, keep cooking and breaking apart the turkey to ensure it is coated and dredged in the spices. Remember to hold back on salt - add a small amount to start, but remember that you can't remove salt once it's added - you can always add more if there isn't enough.

Once the first pound of turkey is done, move the contents to the large pot along with the veggies. Brown the second pound of turkey in the large sauté pan using spices again (trust me, it requires a lot of seasoning). Just make sure your spices do not have salt added to them, or your chili will come out far too salty.

Once the second pound of turkey is done, move the turkey to the large pan and add all of your canned ingredients - including the bottle of beer! The alcohol in the chili cooks off, so this is still safe for children to eat. Be weary of the habanero pepper if your children or family members are sensitive to spice. You'll find though that as long as the seeds are removed from your chilies, the heat will be removed with them. Spiciness comes from the seeds inside chilies!

The last part is easy. Add everything to the large pot and bring to a slight boil, being careful not to burn the contents in the bottom of the pot. Once boiling, turn it down to a bubbling simmer - usually somewhere between low and medium.

This whole process took about $10 worth of ingredients, about 30 minutes of prep time, and about 5 or 6 dishes being dirty. Chili is such a delicious alternative to soup on cold, blustery winter days. Using turkey instead of beef, the recipe is also far healthier than canned alternatives which are packed with sodium, saturated fats and preservatives.

If you can tolerate dairy, add some sour cream, cheddar cheese, and green onions to the top of your chili and serve with tortilla chips. If you are vegan, try using veggie crumbles in place of turkey and replace toppings with vegan alternatives, such as Tofutti Sour Cream or Soy Cheese.

I personally love this chili plain and it's flavor develops even more over the next few days. Keep leftovers and take to lunch for the whole week! Leftovers should be good for 3-5 days as long as they are kept in an airtight container.

Enjoy!! If you try it be sure to share what you thought of the recipe!
Becky