In the past two weeks, I've started two programs that will lead to better health and fitness. Both are apps on my iPod Touch which I am really enjoying exploring - especially the free apps!
The first app is called 'Lose it!' and I started using it on Friday, April 9th, and so far, I've lost 8 pounds. The application allows you to choose your goal for weekly weightloss - between a 1/2 pound and 2 pounds. After entering your height and current weight, the program gives you a calorie limit to attain your weekly goal. Every day, I enter what I eat and drink, and many of the items are already listed in the application's database. There are general food items, supermarket and restaurant items. Sometimes I can't find what I'm eating listed, so I've looked up nutritional information on the web. Another app, I downloaded the free version, called 'Fast Food Calories Hunter', provides nutritional information for many restaurants. The application also allows you to enter any exercise done that day and that affects the amount of calories available for the day. One thing I didn't realize, but that now makes perfect sense, is that as you lose weight, the amount of calories allotted in order to maintain the same rate of weight loss decreases. For example, on April 9th, my daily budget was 1566. Today, my budget is 1494. The first few days of the program were the hardest and I felt pretty hungry. Now that hasn't been a problem which is a pleasant surprise. I've also decided that on the weekends, I would allow some flexibility in the budget, but I still try to make a relatively wise choice. For example, last night, we had Chili's for dinner. Instead of the classic beef fajitas which amount to 1160 calories without the toppings boat, I chose the Citrus Fire Chicken & Shrimp Fajitas which were 760. I've started drinking water with lunch and dinner and low calorie breakfast juices. One of the items that I used to scoff at are the 100 calorie packs of snacks. But now in the beginning stages of my diet, I am glad to know I can indulge in something tasty while limiting the calories.
The other program I've started is 'Couch to 5K' which basically takes a very sedentary person like me and gradually increases the distance one can run (or in my case slowly jog). I just finished the first three workouts - they recommend three a week for nine weeks. This first week, the program consisted of five minutes of warm up walking, and then 20 minutes of alternating running (60 seconds) and walking (90 seconds), followed by five minutes of cool down. One of my favorite aspects is that you can play your iTunes music with the program running and a voice prompts you to run or walk at the appropriate times. It also tells you when you're halfway and when one minute remains. Next week, I'll attempt alternating 90 seconds of jogging with 2 minutes of walking for 20 minutes. This first week, I was so grateful when the little voice said 'Start Walking' after I was winded from the 'running'. I may have to repeat some of the weeks because I'm starting the program in poor form, but I'm going to try and follow it and see how it goes.
