App reviews

Over the next few months, I'm going to do some app reviews, specifically for iPhone but I believe most of them will also be available on the Droid platform. The apps I plan on reviewing, and utilizing, will be among my favorites (and I'll throw in some not so favorites) that I currently use or have used in the past. I like to alternate my workouts, so often, I will delete apps off of my phone until I'm ready to use them again. Here are the apps I know of so far:

• JEFIT
• My Fitness Pal
• Nike Training Club
• Gym Boss
• Map My Run
• Runtastic
• Map My Training
• Nike Fuelband
• Fitocracy
• StrongLifts 5x5
• Zombies Run
• Fooducate
• Lose it!
• C25K

A couple of these I will be using for a month, or until certain completion dates, such as C25K. I'm not a runner, and trying to get back into it and thought, so many people have had success with these apps, why not try it!

At home workouts

Back on Pointe

The girl that runs this tumblr is great! She's a dancer and in college, but she dabbles in various areas of fitness and is super supportive, and sweet. The link above links to various monthly challenges, and workouts she has that are in the challenges. I think of them as general guidelines on weeks I don't have the motivation (or haven't made my own similar calendar) and do my own workout.

BodyRock
An at home, workout movement, it has gotten a little too sexual for me to watch with my kid around (I get distracted by her skimpy outfits and wonder what kind of bra she's wearing for her chest not to bounce!) but the workouts themselves are great if you want a quick, HIIT/Tabata, style workout. Some of them do require expensive equipment such as UGI balls and Equalizer's, and sand bags, but I have found it fairly simple to modify most of them.


Zuzka
The original BodyRock girl! Zuzanna was booted or left, who knows, and formed her own channel and website with a production company. I enjoy her workouts because she does the full workout with you, utilizes things that are generally readily available at your home, and uses free weights.

Blogilates
The host is an upbeat, crazy perky Asian girl who focuses on Pilates in a fun, pop music oriented way. She also occasionally does stretching videos and HIIT workouts, the latter being my favorite. I prefer weights lately, but her workouts are definitely fun and a few will leave you very sore the next day, primarily her ab and butt workouts!

Tara Stiles
True Yogi's will take issue with her, but if you want quick stretches via yoga moves, without meditation or chanting, she's the girl. I have done one of her longer videos and loved it but the mini ones are fine for stretching.

BexLife
Rebecca dabbles in a bit of everything, meditation, yoga, HIIT, and an assortment of other things, while discussing her plant based, and farm based life. Her HIIT workouts are my favorite; even my boyfriend enjoys them!

There are obviously tons more to be found on the internet, but these are the ones I can think of off the top of my head that I have used in the past and would recommend.

GNC vitamins-review

Women's Mega Ultra plus energy.

I purchased these at Sam's Club in a two pack (was $10 cheaper this way than at GNC). I have some trouble with vitamins, they tend to make my stomach hurt or a headache. I am sensitive to artificial sweeteners, so this is the cause of the headaches. I thought I'd do a review of these since I know women are always on the hunt for great multivitamins and these were good. If you are sensitive to caffeine, these would not be ideal for you as they do provide an energy boost.

Pros: Easy to swallow, simple, 2 a day, energy boost with caffeine and natural energy supplements, my skin cleared up and nails/hair, grew faster, didn't leave a weird taste/residue

Cons: Dyed bright yellow, weird chicken broth type taste to the tablets, slight headache (again, probably due to sucralose), if you're sensitive to caffeine or take it with caffeine, you might get slightly jittery

Overall, I like them and will continue to take them until I run out which is one more bottle.

My 30th birthday!

Today I am 30. It hasn't completely sunk in for me yet, but it's getting there and I'm a flurry of mixed emotions. On one hand, I am a mother to an awesome 10 year old little guy. He has his crazy moments, but on the whole, he is a very sweet, good natured, child. I have a degree and am applying to graduate programs to start in the fall or next spring. I am in a happy, healthy, loving relationship for the first time in a few years to someone who has been my best friend for 10 years. And I have an insanely supportive family who has been there for me while I've been through so much the last few years.

And most importantly to this blog, I have gotten my health/fitness more in control. I have lost 20 pounds in a year with some setbacks due to being sick. I have discovered activities that work for me and that I love, even though I alternate it on a monthly basis because I love to be engaged, love to keep things different, and keep myself, as well as my body, guessing. One month I am solely focused on lifting, another Pilates as well as accessory work with lifting, yoga, hiking, HIIT. Whatever randomness pops up.

My boyfriend and I on a hiking trip to Pedernales Falls State Park. We were lying down on a limestone rock hence the awkward picture! And below is one of the areas of the park. It was relaxing being in the middle of nowhere, where our cell phones didn't even have reception!

And my munchkin tried sledding for the first time over the break and was in love!

I am really excited to see what this year, and the future hold and I have new goals which I will make a post about later.

Challenges

I'm not a person who makes New Years resolutions. It just seems like a set up for failure for me personally, though I know others who thrive on it. I do however enjoy making monthly, and sometimes weekly/daily goals. I've taken the idea from various challenge calendars such as the one below.

This was for a plank challenge from a tumblr (my-fitness-fight) and I adapted it for my needs and added additional challenges. Mostly, I incorporated photo challenges

And then add random challenges throughout the week, such as try a new yoga class/video, look up a random exercise and incorporate it that week, try new stretches, watch a movie, go a day without technology, and so forth. It becomes fun, and challenging for me and keeps me interested so I don't get bored with my routine.

Squats love

I love squats!

Happy New Year

Very delayed and I realize it has been two months since I have posted! Shame on me for sure. I will be back and have several ideas for posts I will be writing up soon. I had started a few and was sidetracked with family, my son, and job hunting. But mostly, my birthday is on Monday and I will be 30! I'm obviously excited for this rather big milestone and also incredibly nervous but I am looking forward to it and looking forward to 2013 with much more enthusiasm than previous years. Hope everyone is doing well and I promise there will be posts, personal and fitness, recipes and possibly a couple of giveaways as well as reviews coming up soon.