Getting in shape with iPhone

johnny — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 11:29:33 +0000

Over the last couple of weeks, Alina and I have been trying to get in better shape. We realized that after getting overly exhausted just by walking up some stairs, that it was time to do something.

I also came across an workout schedule app for the iPhone at around the same time, which was just what we were looking for.

So here’s my recommended list of apps if you wish to get in better shape:

(All icons link directly to the iTunes app site. Titles link to the apps web page)

#1 C25K (Couch to 5K)

This is the app I came over that made us start working out.

Description by the developer:

“C25K, is a fantastic program that’s been designed to get just about anyone from the couch to running 5 kilometres or 30 minutes in just 9 weeks.”

So we bought some jogging shoes, put on our training trousers and head out, with a goal. We were going to finish this routine, no matter what.

So far we have managed to get through Week 3, day 2, and we will be doing the final day of week 3 on Sunday. We have worked out every second day since we started, and we have not skipped a single day yet.

Results: We feel we are doing better and better. In the beginning we did a run which consisted of 60 seconds of running, and 90 seconds of walking, for a total of 20 minutes. After the first run we were totally beat, now, we can do a 3 minute interval run without much problems (Alina is having some problems with her feet acting up, but it’s getting better).

#2 Runkeeper Pro

Before we started the C25K app, I started “working out” with this app. By working out, I mean I used it for tracking my walks from town and home (which can be a bit of a workout with those steep slopes to our apartment). Basically it’s just made for tracking your run on google maps, but the latest update also added support for setting up your own interval runs.

Conclusion: One of the best tracking applications out there! It gives you audible notifications, average pace, current speed, distance you’ve ran and so on. Here’s a sample of a run Alina and I did 04.08.2009:

As you can see, it shows speed, distance and elevation on the bottom, and marks of every kilometre on the map. You also get quite a list of neat stats on the top, which are also shown on the app itself when you’re out running.

#3 Two Hundred Situps

Seeing as we wanted to get in shape, not only by jogging, but also by building some muscles, we found this app. There’s a series for these, but we decided to only go for two of them.

The app itself is very simple. You start it up, and it asks how many situps you are able to do. It then sets up a routine for you based upon what you put in. We started at one, seeing as we’re both in horrible shape. After each day, the number of sit-ups you are supposed to do increases.

Current progress: We are in a routine now which involves an interval training with between 10 and 14 sit-ups per interval. It’s hard, but we get through it.

#4 Two Hundred Squats

This is another one we just wanted to go with, as squats are fairly easy to do. It’s got the same interface as the Two Hundred Sit ups app, but with a graph as well, showing your progress.

Current progress: No problem. Squats are fairly easy, and this early in the program we’re just going through it at a steady pace. We are currently at week 2, day 1, which consists of intervals of between 6 and 10 squats. Reason for it being so easy, is because we started this one a bit later, and we’re still on the “easy” levels of the game ;)

That’s my little list of apps. Now install them, and start working out! The first, third and fourth app also works perfectly on the iPod touch, so there’s no excuse to not start if you don’t have an iPhone.

Enlightenment and evening rantage

johnny — Wed, 23 May 2007 19:20:00 +0000

I feel damn good about myself now, thanks Ste!
Ok, thing is, as i wrote in my previous post, i realized the other day that people really open up and tend to talk to me about pretty personal stuff, stuff they’d usually not talk to that many about. Seems a buddy of mine from Birmingham have had the same thing for quite some time, and had just recently realized why it was so. Here’s his theory, copy and pasted directly from msn: “we don’t mind listening, but we don’t really care either way. they can tell us, or they can’t. who cares? and they get that vibe from us”.
Basically what he’s saying is, that when people talk to us, they feel they can talk about anything because we first of all, give that sense of not really caring that much, and therefor not giving the impression that this is something we will pass on and talk to other people about. Second, people enjoy having someone or something to talk to in order to hear their own emotions. Some write diaries, other talk to friends. Either way it helps them just to hear their own voice and opinions in speech.

Once i realized that what he said made a lot of sense, i felt pretty nice. It felt like i actually helped people by simply listening to them, and acting like i couldn’t care less what they were talking about :D

For those that might be wondering, i really care about what you talk about, and i really enjoy listening to what you have to say. The more i learn about the human psyche, the more interesting it gets.

Well, after this little rant about self discovery, i can tell you that I’m so damn tired right now. I’ve been jogging around festningen in Trondheim 4 times now, and i tell ya, I’ve got the lung capacity of a maggot. I used to be in pretty good shape and I’d probably have no problem jogging at least 1 or 2 rounds before starting to get a tad tired. Now i almost passed out a couple of times.
The plan was really that we would go up there as a group, and do some playful exercise, but seems someone misunderstood, if it was me or Julian or Hanna i don’t know, but I’m usually a person that thinks exercise is actually running, jumping or doing various gymnastic exercises, but it seems they were thinking more along the lines of….well I’m not really sure what they were thinking about. Something about playing ball or something, i don’t know. Either way, they ended up walking around festningen, i jogged.
Hopefully we’ll be getting more people to join in, because I’m a sucker for jogging, mostly because i know you can really feel the difference after just a few days a weeks running. We’ll see what happens.

Now I’m just going to spend the rest of the evening in front of the computer trying to get my gallery up and running again. I decided installing a new version of the gallery web system, which is a real bitch to work with to be honest. And the fact that i have to upload 400mb of pictures really doesn’t help. First of all i just want to get everything set up properly, themes, permissions, users etc, then I’ll queue the pictures and upload them during the night. Hopefully everything will work out ok. When everything is set up the way it’s supposed to be, I’ll mail you all the account details so you can log in. Those with accounts will also be able to upload pictures for events, which will really help out in my case. It’s damn boring having to run around and copying pictures from everyone after a party :p

One last thing i’d just like to add. Seems Ingvill also will be moving out soon, so that means I’ll have to try and get not only 1 more tenant, but 2! This will be an interesting summer. I’ll probably be announcing the availability of the 2 rooms later this week or next. Seeing as the house owner here is starting to get a little anxious whether or not I’ll manage to find someone “in time”. I doubt there will be much trouble getting it lent out though, it’s a nice place, close to town, the rent is good and rooms are big so. And the best part of this, i get to pick the person moving in :D Which means i of course should try to find 2 blond, Swedish nymfos with an allergy to clothes….or something. Good times!