Tools I’m Using
In my last post related to LoseIt, I got a handful of people asking, in comments and reblogs, what tools I’ve been using as part of my fitness regimen so I thought I’d create a separate post to do just that. Here they are, in no particular order:
LoseIt: I have to admit that since hitting my weight target I haven’t been using this much. I keep it on my homescreen more as a reminder than a day to day tool. At this point, I’ve learned a lot about how to manage my calories; frankly, given how big I am and my workout regimen, I would really have to try to exceed my daily caloric budget. That said, as part of a larger Quantified Self project I’m starting, I plan to fire this one back up.
Garmin Forerunner 405 GPS/Heartrate monitor: My first foray into heart rate monitors was a bust. I bought a Suunto t6c at the recommendation of a good friend. Turns out what they lack in a website for uploading your data they make up for in only running on Windows machines. Made a quick exchange and couldn’t be happier. The 405 is intuitive and user friendly in ways the Suunto was not. It has native Mac software, but more importantly, it uploads and stores your data on Garmin Connect. GC is an amazing site with a ton of tools for analyzing and sharing your data. If you buy a Gamin device for no other reason, buy it for access to GC. Added bonus on the 405? For the same price as the t6c you get GPS which has come in handy a number of times already (can’t wait to wear it cycling!).
WiThings Scale: I just set this up over the weekend, but so far I dig it. Set up was a snap, you can create multiple account, they have slick site for viewing your data and they get bonus points for having an iPhone app. One thing has been pretty clear already- managing to a number is a losing strategy (and not in a good way). Over the course of the four days I’ve used it my weight has swung nearly 10lbs and before you ask, yes I weigh myself at the same time everyday. I think this will get more interesting to me over time, but given I have a long standing habit of weighing myself everyday, the online tools and added BMI numbers are nice.
Runkeeper: In the past I’ve used this for tracking runs and rides. The GPS has always been wonky and it rarely captures all of the ride. Seems to be a much better tool for running than riding. I’m interested to see how much I use it now that I have the 405 with GPS.
iPod Shuffle: OK, maybe I’m reaching here, but this was an important move for me. I always work out with my own tunes and unless you like pumping iron to the latest auto-tuned R&B joint, you should too. Problem is, my iPhone is bulky and gets drenched in sweat after a good workout. Enter the iPod shuffle. Tiny, clips on anywhere and cheap enough I don’t care how sweaty it gets. I bought mine off someone on Craigslist for $25.
YouTube: If the shuffle was a stretch, how you like me now?!? Seriously tho, I think YouTube is the greatest fitness tool ever created and here’s why: anything you want to learn or improve fitness related, in or out of the gym, has an instructional video about it on YouTube. Want to improve your pedal stroke? There’s a video for that. What’s a goblet squat? There’s a video for that. What is the 300 workout? You get the point. I gotta be honest, after cycling season wound down I was super nervous about how I was going to enjoy going to the gym instead of hitting the open road. I found a series of fitness sites with detailed daily workouts, but most of the movements were pretty foreign to me. Enter YouTube. When prepping a days workout, I can search for anything I’m unfamiliar with and see it performed and explained by a pro. Rather than fear the gym, I can put together workouts that challenge me every day.
That the “tools I’m currently using” list. Here’s a list of service I’ll be trying over the coming months:
RescueTime/SLife Labs: Lest you think the Quantified Self is just about fitness check these out. I wanted to get a better sense of how I’m spending my time at the computer so I can optimize. I’ve done one week with RescueTime that I didn’t find all that valuable so I’m going to run these two side by side and compare the results.
Strava: this is one I’m looking forward to trying once I can start riding in Utah again. Upload your GPS traces, compare your times to other and battle for king of the hill. Only works with Gamin devices now, but looking forward to taking this one for a spin.
Me-Trics: They launched at TC40 a few years back. Just rediscovering them.
ZedNine: Just got the invite so want to see what I can glean from this service that I don’t get through Gamin Connect.
Sleep Cycle: Just downloaded this one from the App Store. Will need some time to see results.
This is an ongoing experiment for me so I hope to be able to share an data, services or ideas that pop up throughout the process. It exciting to see that we’ve hit an inflection point with devices and data that allow us to track, monitor, visualize and optimize all sorts of different aspects of our lives. I’m interested to see if this enhances my own life or leads to any investments for OATV. Stay tuned…
*sorry for the lack of links but tumblr stripped them out and I don’t have the patience to fetch them all again right now.
