Geek’s Guide to Fitness
It’s a new year! That usually means that it’s time for resolutions focusing on things we want to change and improve. One big thing we always seem to see on people’s New Years Resolutions list concerns fitness.
Some of my friends have various reasons for wanting to get in shape. There’s convention season, health problems, and simply wanting to feel/look ‘better’. When I see my friends approach the area of weight-loss they tend to go about it in a stereotypical, and pretty boring manner; Slim Fast, weight loss pills, aggressive exercise plan, strict diet, joining a gym. Typically I see them get frustrated, and then it doesn’t last long. So I’ve always tried to figure out a way to make it fun, and maybe a little easier. But even still, your success will depend on your determination, and commitment. Change up your routine as much as possible. If you have a dog, make sure they are getting out for their walks, it will do you some good as well. Get a bicycle and ride it when ever possible, like on a trip to a nearby store.
In the past I’ve had posts about ‘geek health and fitness’, and this post will be somewhat of a refresher of those, with some new things added in.
Games:
Gaming can help you get in shape, while having fun!
Ingress – A game app that gets you moving, and out in the fresh air.
Just Dance
Zumba Fitness World Party
Shape Up
Fitness Apps:
Certain fitness apps are just more fun, and geeky, than others!
Zombies, Run! – Try to keep ahead of the zombies as you listen to a great story!
BattleSuit Runner – A sci-fi game to keep you active and motivated!
Fitrocracy – With this app you can earn points for every workout logged, and badges for unlocking special achievements. Which, in my opinion, makes it a bit more fun than other similar apps. There’s also a good social network to get support from.
My Fitness Pal – A calorie counter is always very useful!
I’ve also heard some good things about Nerd Fitness, but when I went to research their site it was a bit overwhelming, because it’s so ‘busy’. Too much to read, and not one thing I could find to tell me how much it would actually cost to sign up. So I gave up, but figured it was worth mentioning anyway.
Gadgets:
Omron Body Composition Monitor – with scale, 7 Fitness Indicators & 90-Day Memory. Ditch your boring scale, and get one that does a lot more than just tell you your weight.
Health o meter Digital Measuring Tape
InBody BAND
Eating Better:
You can eat healthier, without completely sacrificing all the things you love. I would suggest not overwhelming yourself, so start by cutting back on certain things (soda, junk food), and lead up to eliminating them completely. Once you cut back you’ll notice a change, you’ll lose some weight, and your attitude will improve. I would suggest dumping fast food though, it’s the nastiest stuff you can eat, and you can make yourself a simple, easy to make healthier lunch and/or dinner (it will also save you money). Food Network has a lot of easy healthy food ideas.
There are a lot of healthy snack alternatives to your favorites; baked chips, Smartfood & Smart Pop popcorn, sea salted nuts, and hummus w/pretzel thins. That’s just to name a few. Look around a little when you shop, instead of just automatically reaching for what you’re used to.
