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The Best and Worst Android Apps for Health and Fitness

app review, fitness, health, management, nonbh

The Best and Worst Android Apps for Health and Fitness


Disclosure: I am participating in the Verizon Health and Fitness Voices program and have been provided with a wireless device and six months of service in exchange for my honest opinions about the product.

So you remember that I am in the Verizon Health and Fitness Voices program, right? I know, after the whole craziness going on lately I haven’t been super talkative, but I’m recuperating. I am a very emotional person and there are times when hurting because other people hurt is not a convenient characteristic, but I wouldn’t change it for the world. At any rate, I thought I would wow and awe you with a post about the very best and very worst Android apps for health and fitness that I have been using on the Motorola Droid RAZR HD that I am testing out as part of the program. So without further ado…

Five Best and Worst Android Apps for Health and Fitness

The Best (in no particular order)

  • MapMyRun – I absolutely love using MapMyRun and I even sprang for the VIP version so that way I can have help on routes. For someone who is geographically challenged (trust me, you don’t have to be around me long to figure that one out!), but who can read a map, having a tool like this makes running outside way more fun. Of course, I still manage to miss my turns on planned routes, but that’s mostly because I try to memorize the map and hello – my memory is not my finest point!
  • Songza – Do you ever find preloaded apps on phones that you actually try AND like? For me, this was a first. Songza came preloaded on my phone and I was very intrigued by it. Actually, I was initially going to just delete it like other preinstalled apps, but I took a minute to check this one out first and I’m glad that I did! Songza has an awesome Concierge feature that helps you to choose a music playlist. Here’s what my Concierge screen says now –

concierge screen of songza on motorola droid razr

So you just pick whatever you feel like, turn on your map and run!

  • Sworkit – One of my fellow bloggers (Emily from Fit and Free with Emily) in the Verizon Health and Fitness Voices program mentioned this app when we were in the meeting in Chicago to receive our devices – and let me tell you, she was right. It is a total winner. Sworkit is this really neat app where you enter what kind of workout you want to do (strength training or yoga, cardio & more), and then you can pick a specific workout or my personal favorite – anything goes, and enter how much time you have for your workout. The app leads you through with instructions, a timer, and even has breaks scheduled for you to catch your breath. It’s awesome and a great way to fit a workout in whatever time you have available!
  • MyFitnessPal – I’ve used MFP on the PC for a while, but being able to use it on my phone is even better! I can track my calories and exercises on the fly and since I already have my normal meals entered into it, I can do it quickly and without too many taps. I love how MyFitnessPal tracks water too because that is one area in which I am not always awesome – and it’s crazy because it’s just water! Totally not difficult to drink, ya know? So yeah, big fan of this one too.

The Worst (also in no particular order)

  • Candy Crush Saga – if you have not already started playing this game, DON’T! I kept seeing (and hearing in person!) about this game and how my friends are playing it. I had started playing it a while back on my laptop and stopped because – hello, it’s candy and that’s like the opposite direction from where I want to be! But in the end, I gave up and started playing it again, which was easy because it’s a super cute app on my phone… which is where the trouble comes in. This game is totally addicting! Instead of spending 15 minutes trying to beat a level, I should totally be hanging out with my pal Sworkit!
  • Pinterest – I love Pinterest. I may be a Pinterest addict. It’s amazing for spending a few minutes to find great ideas for DIY projects, crafts, food, recipes, activities with kids, home decor, gardening, workouts, hilarious quotes and pictures… is there anything you can’t find on Pinterest? But let me tell you what else it is – like Candy Crush Saga, Pinterest is also very addictive. Again, while I could spend 15 minutes pinning sweet gardening ideas and organization plans, my time would probably be better spent putting on my running shoes and getting my butt out the door!
  • Ruby Blast – Another addictive games that my friends are playing. I just had to install it! These games help me to stay awake on days when my boys refused to sleep at the same time during the night, but on your average ordinary day they are time wasters that totally have a place – just not BEFORE workouts! I have a rule that I really need to follow more often to workout first and then goof off on my phone!
  • Facebook – My husband makes fun of me for this one because I can be walking around the house, making dinner, and then I get sidetracked by Facebook and suddenly a burn dinner. Yes, this has happened this week. In fact, it happened today. Oops… But yes, Facebook is one of those that I should have parental locks on until after I’ve burned so many calories in a day!

Undecided – Best or Worst? You Decide!

  • Hootsuite – I couldn’t quite decide if this should belong in the best list or the worst list. On one hand, I love that Twitter keeps me in the fitness loop and I have a great support system on Twitter thanks to the Mamavation girls who check up on me and make sure I’m still moving. However, it is just like how I use Facebook and I can totally waste time on it too!

In Conclusion

While I highly recommend that you check out the apps listed under BEST, I can’t give you a recommendation one way or the other on the worst apps. I love them all, and I do think that there is a time and  a place for them, but until I have my routines better laid out it’s probably best for me to steer clear of them until after my workouts. Having all this power and connectivity at my fingers is definitely thrilling and addicting, but it also makes me wonder about how I’m spending my time and if I wasn’t doing better at time management before I had the tech. I think this is a lesson I should probably learn early that way when it comes time to guide my children I have half a clue! I know they will be more exposed to technology than I was at their age, so I should prepare, right?

If you were expecting a list of which Android health and fitness apps to not install on your smartphone, I apologize for not addressing that in my worst list. When I come across an app that doesn’t do it for me, I usually just go ahead and delete and don’t take the time to remember what it was – after all, there are enough things bouncing around in my mind already! But I can say that if you try the ones on the best list, you probably won’t be too disappointed because they are awesome, unless that’s not what you’re looking for, and then you’re totally on your own until I come out with another list!

2 Comments April 30, 2013

Pullups Madrinas del Baño

latina, nonbh, parenting, review

Pullups Madrinas del Baño

I have an announcement.

I know, you’re waiting in breathless anticipation, right?

pullups every flush

I am delighted to announce that I am participating in the Pullups Madrinas del Baño campaign! In this campaign, I will have an opportunity to learn from two outstanding Hispanic potty training authorities, Dr. Andres Cotton and Jeannette Kaplun. Dr. Cotton is a father of three with 16 years of pediatrics experience who has a private practice in Miami and serves at Miami Children’s Hospital. Jeannette is a leading Latina mom blogger, parenting expert, and mother of two. I will also be putting Pullups potty training products to the test and sharing with you my potty training tips, tricks, and advice!

Tank looking at Pullups stuff

My son is checking out the Pullups products – he looks excited!

From potty training my first son, I l earned a few important lessons, and now it’s time to work on potty training with my youngest! One lesson I learned was to be consistent. Unfortunately, that is not one of my strong suits. I used to set up multiple alarms on my cell phone to put him on the potty, but those didn’t always go off (I’m talented, I know!). I’m really excited to use the Pullups Big Kid App this time around, and here’s some info about it –

Available for both Android and iOS devices, the app contains all the tools and information needed to enhance the training experience – from games and 3D technology, to rewards for their child as they reach Big Kid® success.

Another lesson I learned that I will definitely be using this time is to celebrate every time – and that coincides nicely with the Pullups Every Flush program! Celebrate their first, second and every time they go to the bathroom… because when you least expect it, they’ll succeed. My son is just getting started with potty training, and I’m sure it will be a little frustrating sticking to the process, but very rewarding when he learns! I’m looking forward to finding more ways to celebrate his potty milestones than I did with my first – I think having his older brother cheer him on will really help too!

Check out Pullups on Facebook to learn more about Every Flush and Madrinas del Baño! You can also chat about potty training on Twitter with PullupsBigKid. And don’t forget to check out this video from Pullups.

This is part of a compensated campaign with Latina Mom Bloggers and Pull Ups.  However, all opinions expressed are my own.

1 Comment March 1, 2013

#fortwayne, nonbh

Phineas and Ferb LIVE in Fort Wayne!

My son is a HUGE Phineas and Ferb fan, and I’ll be honest – I totally love watching the show too. As a science/math kid myself, I love seeing my son watch a show all about inventing and building, where there is no such thing as impossible, and the kids are never too young to do something. It’s awesome. They do such a variety of things, from inventing a backyard spa to being one hit wonders, but my son’s favorite part is Dr. Doofenshmirtz and the ‘-inators’ that he makes. I think it’s hilarious that my son loves the villain – he’s even renamed the toy room as his lair. Even the villain in Phineas and Ferb is awesome, which is part of the reason that we’re totally fine with him watching the show. But we have a super secret right now…

My husband’s birthday is this week, and as part of a promotion I’m working on with Feld Entertainment, we have the most awesome birthday present planned – in the birthday card that my son has already signed, we’re going to put in tickets to Phineas and Ferb LIVE because they’re coming to Fort Wayne! Next Friday, on October 26th, we’re heading over to the Memorial Coliseum to see Phineas and Ferb live, and the best part is that my son has no idea. It’s an awesome birthday present for dad, because he gets to take the boys to a really cool event. Plus, we did get him a real birthday present too…

Phineas and Ferb LIVE in Fort Wayne

Here’s some more info about the show:

“Mom! Phineas and Ferb are going on a live tour!” Join the Danville Tri-State Area Gang for a high-energy ride through their wildest invention yet in Disney’s Phineas and Ferb: The Best LIVE Tour Ever!  The beloved characters from Disney Channel’s animated series embark on a bold escape from the television screen to a live action adventure – right in your hometown! This exciting live stage production performs at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in FORT WAYNE, OCTOBER 26, 2012.

I hope we’ll see you down at the show! For a few years now, I’ve been thinking about making more of a local focus on my blog, and I’m so excited that this show will be our first in that new direction. Click here to purchase tickets! Just think – we’ll be seeing this in less than a week!

Disclosure: Feld Entertainment has provided me with free tickets for aiding in the promotion of this show, however we truly are fans and would’ve attended regardless.

Leave a Comment October 20, 2012

nonbh, review

Fun with Trident #seewhatunfolds

I don’t know if you’ve tried the new Trident flavors yet (but I have, and they’re totally delish!), but they have one of the cutest advertising campaigns going on now on the #seewhatunfolds hashtag. Trident GumTrident is asking people to talk about when they were last swept away by fun, especially the fun that’s sparked by the new flavors! For me, it’s really difficult to be swept away by fun because that means letting myself off my own reigns a bit! Somewhere between high school and parenthood, I started to become more reserved and to hold more of myself in. I realized this when a couple of friends of mine were encouraging me to share more of myself with my other friends – they both say that I have a great personality, and lots to offer, but that I hold it back. When I tried this Trident gum, it reminded me of the last time I really chewed gum often, and that was in high school. I definitely was carried away by fun back then!

Trident SpanishTwo of my favorite moments when I was carried away by fun both involve walking on the roof of a building, so maybe I shouldn’t spill all the details? One was with a group of friends and we watched a movie. The hard part that time is that I had to climb a tree that night, and I had forgotten that I donated blood the same day, so my arm really hurt when I was climbing! But I was able to overcome and got up the tree to watch a movie on the roof. Ah, those were the days! The other time that popped into my head was when I watched the moon with a friend and learned about the corona around the moon. It was super fun! We had a great time that night, and I think that some of the events were even caught on film – like jumping into a dumpster… but that’s not really the important part of this post, is it?

These days I don’t do anything as wild. Something about knowing that I’m responsible for my boys keeps me at least being sane in my fun. These days a big night out is a night out with the girls, and sometimes we even get a little wild with margaritas! Another option is coffee, you know what happens when you have coffee? You can do stupid things faster! I saw a sign that said that today and it was hilarious! So anyway, the point is, having fun and being swept away by it is awesome! And the #seewhatunfolds campaign is perfect for inspiring you to have more fun – and to tell everyone about what you do!

This fun video is brought to you by great-tasting Trident Gum. Trident: See What Unfolds. Presentado por el increíble y sabroso chicle Trident. Trident. Ábrelo, a ver qué pasa.

So tell me, when is the last time that you were swept away by fun? Have you tried the new Trident flavors yet? I would love to know what you think of them!

This is part of a sponsored campaign with Latina Mom Bloggers and TRIDENT. However, all opinions expressed are my own.

Leave a Comment September 24, 2012

nonbh, parenting

Parenting is Like Guerrilla Warfare

Parenting is like guerrilla warfare – we embark on small, infrequent battles independently while trying to out-think and outsmart our children. After all, if we didn’t they’d be running around in the buff coated with chocolate and candy, right? Maybe that’s just my kids, but I’m sure other parents can relate to having more problems than answers with their kids. [Read more…]

Leave a Comment February 23, 2012

Weeknight Meal Special Challenge

homemaking, nonbh

Weeknight Meal Special Challenge

We joined the Weeknight Meal Special Challenge this week with Bertolli Meal Soup, and I would love to share with you how we made our weeknight meal special! I tweeted my top tips about it too, but in case you missed them here they are, in living color! [Read more…]

Leave a Comment February 9, 2012

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My name is Joanna Liberty, although you may know me online as way2gomom. I'm an at home mom to 2 very rowdy boys, and I love to crochet, garden, learn how to be healthier, and write! Thanks for checking out my site, I'd love to know what you think!

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