Dieting and exercise used to be something you struggled with on your own, but in today’s Internet-savvy world, there is not much you do alone anymore. If you’re smart, you can ensure that as technology grows, your waist will shrink. Social media and the latest gadgets may be enough to finally get you moving. Take advantage of all the Internet has to offer, and network your way to a healthy lifestyle using social media and apps.
Tips for a Healthy Lifestyle using Social Media
Keep a Journal
Losing weight is a math game. You must burn 3,500 more calories than you eat in order to lose one pound. A journal is an effective way to monitor your progress, and you probably carry something around that can do the job. Smartphone applications provide nutritional information, including calories and fat content for most foods; some even report dietary facts for restaurant dishes. As you get ready to eat, pull out your phone and note what is on the plate. The program will do the rest.
You can turn to the same applications to track your activity level. Whether you are kickboxing or going for a jog, the program will calculate the calories you burned. By the end of the day, you will know exactly how close you are to that one pound.
Play Your Way to Fitness
Technology has gone way past slim laptops and cool phones. These days, you can find a gadget for just about everything. If you are one of those people who think exercise is boring but gadgets are fun, you are in luck. Electronic devices can turn exercise into a game. From wrist bracelets that monitor your activity to music players that encourage you to move, the right device will help you burn off the fat.
Fitness does not always mean going outdoors either. Game consoles like Wii and Xbox 360 offer programs that make exercise fun. You can take a run in your living room or compete with an imaginary computer partner in a game of tennis. Use the Internet to exercise with a friend via a video chat or participate in an online program.
Role Playing on the Run
If jogging outside bores you, look for mobile applications that put you in the middle of a story while you workout. Instead of playing a game, you become part of one with fitness-based role playing. In one program, you pick up supplies at different milestones as you jog to chase zombies. When you get home, continue the game using the supplies you earned during the run.
Social Networking
Whether you are into Facebook, Twitter or Tumblr, you can make exercise and dieting part of your social networking. Set up a group of friends or followers and start a competition. Each player can post their progress daily in their status and upload pictures as motivation. Social networking means you do not have to work the program alone. Use hashtags and pokes to remind everyone to exercise and eat right. When you are considering that hot fudge sundae, grab your phone and log on. Someone will talk you out of it.
You can expect your options for fitness to improve as technology continues to improve. Games and applications are going to get more sophisticated and helpful with tools like reality glasses and enhanced tablet computers. Leave it to technology to make fitness fun.
Author Bio: Jessica has been a techie for years. She recently discovered fitness technology and has been gaming out on the elliptical for months now. Her passions include cooking and writing, and she blogs on behalf of Sears and other brands she loves.
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