Friday, January 27, 2012
Dawn of the iPotato
Dawn of the iPotato
Gone are the days of the couch potato conceived by the power of the television. Don’t get me wrong, the television may still have a great power for potato creating, but a new strength has emerged as our technology advances. Our society has seen or heard the radio, the television, the computer, the laptop, the “iSeries” (iPod, iPhone, iPad) and everything in between. Technology advances in an attempt to make our lives easier, more productive, and information more accessible. While this is beneficial, we have simultaneously welcomed the dawn of the iPotato.
Our iTechnology does not need to be so detrimental to our health. These devices can actually encourage us to get up off the couch and move our bodies. Many are well aware that iPods can be used to keep pace during a workout, and iPhones and iPads can distract us from our cardio workout with a favorite movie. But did you know that there are a plethora of apps specifically created to encourage exercise? Below are a few FREE highly rated exercise apps for your iPhone or iPad that will get you moving!
PEDOMETER FREE GPS + BY ARAWELLA CORPORATION
Studies have shown that, “the use of a pedometer is associated with significant increases in physical activity and significant decreases in body mass index and blood pressure,” (Bravata et al., 2007). Since you may already be carrying your iPhone with you, there is minimal effort required to keep track of your daily step count. This pedometer measures not only the number of steps, but also time, distance, speed, average speed, and calories burned. It also contains a pulse timer and a GPS to track your route while still allowing you to listen to your music. You will want to keep your iPhone in your pocket or near your waist so that the pedometer app is capable of recognizing each step. Read more about this app by following the link below: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pedometer-free-gps/id400204326?mt=8
ENDOMONDO SPORTS TRACKER BY ENDOMONDO.COM
If you love to track your outdoor sports, especially running or biking, the Endomondo Sports Tracker app is a great choice. This app tracks duration, distance, speed, average speed, max speed, calories, altitude, elevation, average and max heart rate and your distance goal. Audio feed back for each mile/km you exercise, pep talks from friends, and linking to Facebook are all features of this app. It also contains a GPS to track your route, and the ability to beat yourself or race a friend. Make sure to use the GPS only when tracking a workout. Otherwise, the battery life of your device will be drastically shortened. For more information about this app, click on the link below:
YOGA FREE FOR iPAD BY ARAWELLA CORPORATION
If you have always wanted to try yoga, but haven’t been able to make it to a class, try Yoga Free for iPad by Arawella Corporation. Although there is only one ready-made beginner session, this app contains 200+ yoga poses that you may combine to create your own routine. This app sorts the yoga exercises by the required skill level. Photos, written explanations, voiceover guidance, and a countdown timer assist you through each pose. Since many yoga poses make it difficult to look at your iPhone or iPad screen, a convenient sound timer signals the end of the pose. Track your activity and get a daily encouraging quote with the available calendar. You can also link to Facebook and Twitter to share your achievements with your friends. Click the link below for more information:
NIKE TRAINING CLUB BY NIKE, INC.
The Nike training club app is great for a variety of 15, 30, and 45 minute circuit training workouts. This allows you to kill two birds with one stone by completing cardio and resistance training at the same time. As you accumulate exercise time, you unlock rewards, as well as bonus workouts from athletes. Videos accompany the workout routines which have different goals and levels. Each workout and each individual exercise has a countdown timer, so you don’t have to keep track of the time. If you forget how to complete the exercise, a video is available on the countdown screen. When played, the countdown timer is automatically paused. The videos include only women, but the exercises are still great for men, too. Very little equipment is required to complete these workouts! This app is convenient for a quick exercise session anywhere you go, including at home, at work, or when traveling. Click on the link below for more details:
FITNESS FREE HD BY ARAWELLA CORPORATION
This app contains a few ready-made exercise routines, but is best utilized to create your own routine. It has a huge list of exercises (700+) that can be sorted by which body part/muscle is worked, as well as, what equipment is required for the exercise. So, no matter what equipment you have available, you can construct a great workout! That means that you can improvise in the gym during those busy hours when “your machine” is being used. Pictures and written explanations depict the proper form to complete the exercises. You can even add your own exercises to the list provided. There is a timer and the ability to log notes, distance, duration, sets, reps, and weight. The exercise base includes everything from exercises that require no equipment to exercises that you can complete on gym equipment. Get variety, not boredom with this app! Check out the link below:
Try out these apps to give yourself more than just a finger exercise. Get that full-body workout and say goodbye to the ol’ iPotato!
References
Bravata, D.M., Smith-Spangler, C., Sundaram, V., Gienger, A.L., Lin, N., Lewis,
R., . . . Sirard, J.R. (2007). Using pedometers to increase physical activityand improve health: a systematic review [Abstract]. The Journal of the American Medical Association, 298(19), 2296-2304.
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