Twitter Your Way to a Fitter Body

Usually, when you think of measuring your fitness with technology, you think of hospital machines and scary tests.

This isn’t always the case. The combination of fun, fitness-savvy technologies—there’s the Wii Fit or the myriad iPod fitness apps—is a recent phenomena. The former can take you through an interactive exercise routine and monitor your weight, body mass index and fitness level. The latter is somewhat less interactive—but it can go with you anywhere, in your pocket. Both are great for beginners or those who need some external motivation to stay active. They’re also great for techies.

With the iPhone or the iPod touch, you can download programs—known as “apps”, short for applications—that can provide you with a fitness routine, monitor your daily activity level, help you maintain, gain or lose weight,  give you fitness advice, show you how to perform a stretch or exercise, help you eat healthful foods, and more.

Apple boasts a program on its website, called iWorkout, that has 101 workout videos and many of the features already mentioned. This app can be downloaded for $ 2.99 CAD, or—if you already went broke buying the iPhone—you can get a lite version for free. The free version  includes a pedometer and metronomes to assist with timing exercise repetitions.

If you’re looking for more than a basic pedometer, there is StepTrak Lite. (Also free.) This program counts walking and running steps separately, and also totals the minutes of moderate and vigorous exercise the user gets. You reset the counter whenever you’d like. You can adjust the sensitivity of the device, and adjust the “classification bias”, which ensures the program properly differentiates between walking and running. Not interactive enough for you? StepTrak Lite is also connected to Twitter. You can log on when you’re using the app, and send Tweets about how many steps you’re taking towards your fitness goals.

Another great, free application is called Lose It! When you open it up, you have to enter your weight (be honest), height, age, and weight loss goals. The program tells you how many calories you require every day to reach your goal by a certain time—you decide how quickly or slowly you want to lose the weight—and allows you to log the food you eat and the exercise you get. There is an extensive list of searchable foods to chose from, and an easy-to-use scrolling menu to enter the quantity you ate. You can also keep track of “nutrient preferences”, and the program will tell you how much sodium, fiber, protein, etc. you are consuming. When you’ve lost the weight, you can keep using the program to maintain your new figure.

These are only a few of seemingly endless health & fitness apps you can download. From free to a few bucks per app, there will be something out there to motivate just about anyone.

Shaun Karp is a certified personal trainer. For further information call his office at 604-420-7800 or visit their web site www.karpfitness.com.

Walking Your Dog is Good Exercise

Having a dog can be like having a personal trainer.

Well—one who can’t talk or show you how to do a reverse dumbbell fly on a stability ball. But they are motivating!

According to a 2008 study published in the American Journal of Public Health, dog owners—only 23 percent of whom take their canines for a stroll at least five times each week—are 57 to 77 percent more likely to get enough exercise. Another 2008 study, published in Preventative Medicine, found dog owners who take time to walk with their dogs may average 150 additional minutes of exercise every week.

One-hundred-and-fifty minutes of exercise a week—or 21 minutes a day—can have a huge impact on your fitness level. Dog owners who spend this time walking at a brisk pace will burn 14 300 extra calories in a year. That’s four pounds—just from walking the dog. Owners who run with their pets—based on the rate of calories burned during strenuous exercise—will burn an extra 52 000 calories each year. That’s nearly 15 pounds.

Getting your kids to walk or jog with the family dog is also a great way to encourage fitness in children. Especially for parents whose children would rather play video games than a game of soccer, regular dog walking can play a role in preventing a sedentary lifestyle. It can also imbue kids with a sense of responsibility.

Before regularly exercising with your pet, some considerations need to be made. The website of the Partnership for Animal Welfare, an American non-profit, details what dog owners should have in mind.

Just as it’s a good idea for people to consult their doctor prior to beginning a new exercise routine, dog owners should consult their veterinarians before starting canines on an exercise plan. Some breeds are not suitable for strenuous exercise—think short-nosed bulldogs or pugs—as they can have trouble breathing.

If you are already in great shape, don’t assume your dog is. Gradually increase your dog’s endurance. Dogs have a tendency to keep up with their owners, even to the point of overexertion. Try to avoid exercising midday, as dogs can both get heatstroke and burn their paws on hot pavement. Never bike or rollerblade with your dog on a leash—both you and your dog can easily be injured in a fall or misstep.

Exercising with your pet is a fun alternative to the treadmill. It’s easy to incorporate into your daily routine—especially if you live in an apartment and don’t have a backyard—and improves the fitness and health of you and your dog.

Shaun Karp is a certified personal trainer. For further information call his office at 604-420-7800.