I originally started using the app a few weeks ago but found that I was not committed to doing a full complete pushup. Instead, because I was not being true to myself I was working through the program doing partial pushups. In other words I was only going half-way down instead of creating a 90 degree angle at the elbows and dropping my chest down as far as I could. I used this video for inspiration on how to do one properly:

So, with the strictest of form in mind, I have restarted the program and did the initial test and founds that I was able to just squeeze out 28 good form pushups. Not too bad considering even before I started the program a few weeks ago with bad form pushups I could only squeeze out 12.

My goal now is to do 100 good form pushups.

Stay with me as I continue on – I plan to record some video of my progress as I go along. I also am going to restart the 200 situp challenge and will the associated iTouch app and will write about that here too! Stay with me.

(Photo Credit)

This week I am traveling for business. I thought this would be a perfect time to try on the the apps I have on my iTouch to help with my workouts. I have been using the Wii EA Sports Active at home to help get some of my workouts in, but while traveling I obviously do not have that luxury. The app I have been using is iFitness.

What is iFitness

iFitness is an application that a user can place on their iTouch or iPhone and essentially is a tool to help build exercise routines to help build strength and overall fitness levels. There are at least 100 different exercises in the database and they are nicely categorized by body region to help focus on different target areas. The app provides detailed pictures and descriptions of how to do the exercises properly. Exercises range from using free weights, cables, machines, exercise balls and even no equipement!

How I Am Using iFitness

One of the features of the iFitness app is that there are a few pre-build workout plans that provide you with an overall workout over a series of days. Because I wanted to keep things simple and ensure that I was provided with a balanced workout, I chose the muscle-building program. Other pre-populated workout routines include a fat-building program, Beginner Program, Abdominal Defining Program, and Weight Loss Program.

There seems to be a good balance between upper and lower body exercises in my chosen program and each day I feel that I get a pretty good workout in. I do miss my EA Sports Active, but this program will help in a situation like this. I know of some people who use this to design and track all their workouts which will work, it is just not something that I will do right now as I am on the Wii kick!

What Could be Better

My main beef with the program is that I could not find a way to organize exercises as with weights or without weights. I do not have a readily accessible weight room available and I could see the app saving people a lot of time if they did not need to search through all the exercises to find the bodyweight only examples.

Summary

Overall, I have found iFitness to be great while I have been traveling. The workouts are well designed and there really is a huge choice of exercises to choose from. I would recommend it if you are int he market for this type of app on your iTouch or iPhone.

If you go do a search on iTunes right now for fitness you will get back a whole schwack of different apps – some free and some not.  I have tried a number of them and at this point have landed on 4 that I use consistently and have a positive impact on my workout and weight loss experience.

How They Have Changed How I Work Out

The first and most beneficial aspect to the iTouch apps is the organisational aspect they provide.  On one little device, I am able to hold the music and podcasts that I want to listen to when working out, but it also allows me to store and access information and workout programs that allow me to be more efficient in my workouts.

For example, with the 100 Pushups app, I can be anyware (my iTouch is always with me) and get my pushup workout in.  With respect to running, I simply enter in the number of kilometers I need to run for the day the night before and when I am ready to go at lunch I turn Nike+ on and away I go.

The other organisational benefit to my fitness and weight loss goals is that the programs automatically keep track of my workouts so that I have a good summary of the activities, times, distances, reps, etc. that I have completed.  Overall, they have been a time-saver.

My 5 Favorite iTouch (iPhone) Fitness and Weight Loss Apps

I say iTouch with the iPhone in brackets because all of these apps will obviously work on both devices. If you are like me and get a mobile phone from your company then the iPhone may not be a possibility so we have to “settle” for the iTouch.

The following 5 apps are the ones that I am using the most right now.  This list can change as I find new apps.

100 Pushups

Simply put, this little app guides the user through a series of workouts on the road to completing 100 continuous pushups.  It is simple in its goal yet effective.  I am doing this program because of the benefits the pushup has on fitness ability – it works out many parts of your body at once.  In addition, how cool would it be to say you could complete 100 pushups in a row!

200 Situps

Written by the same people as the 100 Pushups program, the 200 Situps program once again guides you through a program that will prepare you for the task of completing 200 pushups in a row.  I thought this was a good balance with the pushup program.  I used to hate doing ab work.  This program has provided me with a concrete goal and so far some results (no six pack but I can feel that my midsection is stronger).

With both the 100 Pushups and 200 Situps app, my only beef is that I believe the interface could be designed a little better.  When I first started using it I was slightly confused on how to record the workouts.  However, after I figured out how it all went together there has been no issues since.

Livestrong.com Calorie Tracker

It works by establishing a calories per day goal based on your height, weight, and your activity levels.  With that goal in mind and presented strongly within the app, you record what you eat during the day and the app keeps track of the calories.  With this, you can see where you may be over or under your calorie counts.  You can also see your problem areas.

The biggest problem I have with the Livestrong.com Calorie Tracker is that you need to be connected to Wifi or your cell network to get the calorie data.  Not a huge issue for me, but a pain if I am away from WiFi for any real length of time.

Nike+

I spoke about this project earlier.  In this post I am going to refer to the specific app that the Nike+ places on your iTouch.  Every time I run my iTouch comes with me.  Having an app on the device that guides my running workouts has been great.

As I mentioned above, I simply enter in the running workout I am going to be doing that day and a voice comes through the speakers updating me on my progress and how much further I have to go.

When I am back home, I plug the iTouch into iTunes and that syncs my latest workout with the Nike+ website where I am then able to track my runs and see my progress.  It all works very well.

The one thing that I have found that I do not like is that there is no way to upload a coaching program through Nike+ onto the iTouch.  On the Nike+ website you can get a training program – a 10-K program for example – and then print that program out and follow it on your path to completing a 10-K race.  It would be very nice if you could upload that program to your iTouch and all the runs would be on your decive, taking you through the whole program from start to finish.  Even better would be a coach talking to you through the deive tell you to speed up or slow down depending on your pace and just providing encouragement along the way.

iFitness

Fitness is more of a database of weight-lifting exercises than anything else.  It does allow you to track the exercises you complete in terms of reps and weight but the real value I have found is providing me with suggestions for weight-lifting exercises that I can do to keep changing things up.  As we all know, you need to keep your body guessing and the best way is to change up your workout program from time to time.

There are hundreds of exercises listed with full instructions and images on how to complete them in proper form.  A user can also add their own exercises to the database if there is one they like that is not listed.  Overall, this has been a pretty useful app.

What Are Your Favorite Fitness and Weight Loss Apps

Those are the iTouch apps I have been using regularly lately.  However, I am always on the lookout for more so please use the comments section to let me know what suggestions you have!

I was in Berlin this past weekend and made a new purchase to include in my digital weight loss toolkit.  It is the Nike+ and I did my first run with it at lunch today.  So far I have to say that I am impressed.

How the Nike+ System Works

To best describe the Nike+ would be to break it down into its three separate components.  The first component is the little shoe fob that fits inside of a specially designed Nike running shoe. The fob fits into a little cutout under the liner of the show so that you would never know it was there.

The next item is the iPod itself.  Depending on your version of iPod you may or may not need a tiny plugin chip that clicks into the same spot where you plug your iPod into your computer.  Most new iPods (iTouch, iPhone, Nano) has the software and receiver built right into the iPod so this adapter is not needed.  An image of both of these are included to the left – the receiver is on the left and the fob that goes in your shoe is on the right.

The third item is not so much of a physical device, but a specially designed website at NikePlus.com.  On the site you can review your prior runs and set goals, or training programs for specific goals such as running a half-marathon.  I liked the website – it it very aesthetically pleasing and it will be fun to see my progress over time.  The image in the header of this post shows a screen shot of my first run.

To make the system work, you simply put the fob in your shoe, go into the Nike+ settings on your iPod and activate it.  The system does the rest, walking you through the set up.  When you connect your iPod to your computer, it recognizes that you now are using Nike+ and asks if you want to send it to the Nike+ website.  I did and ti worked fine.

My Experience and First Run

As I said, I did my first run with the Nike+ today over my lunch break and it was nice to use.  I set up just a quick 4K run right on my iTouch, hit start, and away I went.  Every half-kilometer (I am in Europe) a ladies voice came on to tell me how far I had gone.  As I got closer to the end, the same voice began telling me how far I had left.  I guess this is supposed to be a psychological thing (i.e. not long now!).

Area of Improvement

The one thing that was glaringly obvious to me was that there was no way to trasnfer a workout or training program (say a half-marathon training program) over to your iPod.  You need to actually go to the site to see what your next training session will be and then enter those details into the iPod Nike+ app.  I think this needs to be an area of focus for Nike if this thing is really going to be effective as a training tool

Will I Continue to Use It

I like the Nike+ and will continue to use it for the foreseeable future.  I am actually going to set up a training program for a 10K this weekend on the website and work towards that.  That should allow me to really run the system through its paces and then report back on how it has done in keeping me working towards that fit and healthy lookin’ body.