Reality of You

Real talk about health, fitness, and weight loss.

21 Comments

App Workout Challenge Day #4: 7 Minute Superhero Workout!

APP WORKOUT CHALLENGE

This is part of the 30 Day iPhone App Workout Challenge. Join and read all the posts here.

Are you ready to save the world and get fit while doing so?? Six to Start, the company that made Zombies Run, also made today’s intense workout where you complete HIIT moves in order to save the world from perilous scenarios! I hope you’re ready to go because today’s workout is going to be intense!

sixtostart7minutehiitappreviewApp to Download: 7 Minute Superhero Workout ($2.99 in the app store)

Workout Length: 12 minutes

Type of Workout: High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)

What you need: A wall to sit on, somewhere to place your ipad/ipod/etc. [Read more…]

11 Comments

App Workout Challenge Day #3: FitStar Yoga

APP WORKOUT CHALLENGE

This is part of the 30 Day iPhone App Workout Challenge. Join and read all the posts here.

Welcome to day three, you fit people you! Now that we’ve run from zombies, done crunches like we were in a 90’s infomercial, and ate protein pancakes to help aid recovery, it’s time to do some yoga.

I’ve written about the benefits of yoga in the past, and today we’re doing yoga with one of my favorite yoga instructors, TARA STILES! For those of you who did the 30 Day Youtube Workout, you’ll remember doing several weight loss yoga and strength training yoga routines.

Well, Tara Stiles is back with an app that offers personalized yoga routines that grow with your ability.

Let’s get started!fit star yoga

App to Download: FitStar Yoga (free in the app store)

Workout Length: 40+ minutes

Type of Workout: Yoga

What you need: Yoga mat

About Fit Star YogaFit Star Yoga Review

I like this app because during the workout, you can tap the screen to let the app know that a pose is too hard for you, and at the end of the session you can let the app know if any of the poses were too easy.

Future workouts will be adjusted to meet your exercise level.

This app is also great since you can also change

Today’s Workout

Do the yoga intro, and then one yoga workout of your choice. This app offers great themed yoga that keeps the sessions interesting. Since the app is so personalized, it’s up to you to decide what you want to do, just make sure you’re challenging yourself.

Today’s workout is about recovery as well as improving your flexibility, balance, and strength.

One of the things I’d suggest if you’re up to it is to try and make yoga a daily practice. If you’re up to it, I challenge you to do yoga each day for the rest of the 30 day challenge in addition to the rest of the daily challenges. It’s a great stress reliever and without yoga, there is no way I could stay sane.

Also, for those of you doing this challenge in real time, happy fall! I finally got to break out my favorite sweater since it went from 85 to 60 degrees overnight here in LA. (Los Angeles does seasons like college students do essays — haphazardly and overnight.)

Good luck and see you tomorrow!it's fall clothing yay

-Amy

8 Comments

App Workout Challenge Day #2: CARROT Fit

APP WORKOUT CHALLENGE

This is part of the 30 Day iPhone App Workout Challenge. Join and read all the posts here.

Welcome to day two, fitness fanatics!

Today’s workout is brought to you by CARROT Fit — and we’re doing interval training!

If you’re curious about the benefits of interval training, read this post. Interval training is truly one of the best ways to burn fat, get lean, and get a great workout in the same amount of time it takes to heat up an unhealthy TV dinner.

Today you’re also in for a treat — CARROT Fit strings together a hilarious, motivating set of workouts and keeps you entertained as you’re dying from the intervals.

Let’s go!

App to Download: Carrot Fit ($2.99 in the app store)

Workout Length: 7-14 minutes (see the bonus challenge to make this workout even more challenging!)

Type of Workout: Interval training

What you need: Chair, wall, and hand weights (optional — to make it more challenging)

About Carrot Fit

Today’s Workout

CarrotFit Review best fitness appsToday you’re doing SEVEN MINUTES IN HELL with one of the most hilarious fitness apps out there. Once you download the app, do seven minutes in hell TWICE in order to complete today’s workout.

Things to remember:

If you’re not familiar with the form for basic lunges, squats, and wall sits, you may want to review them on your own. CARROT Fit will go over form with you, but if you’re new to fitness I would recommend looking up the form ahead of time.

What you’re in for today:

A lot of sass, fun, running from ostriches, jokes about ’90s infomercials, and a fun workout. Good luck and tell me how it goes!

best fitness apps carrot fit reviewBonus Challenge

If you survived Seven Minutes in Hell, I challenge you to do it again — this time with WEIGHTS!

Use dumbbells of your choice for the squats, lunges, wall sits, and crunches.

…

 

NOTE: While I think this app is worth the price, I know some people don’t want to buy apps at all. The alternate workout for this day of the challenge can be found here. 

Congrats! You’ve survived DAY TWO! Can’t wait to see you all tomorrow!

-Amy

4 Comments

App Workout Challenge Day #1: Zombies Run

APP WORKOUT CHALLENGE

This is part of the 30 Day iPhone App Workout Challenge. Join the challenge and read all the posts here.

zombies run reviewWelcome to the 30 Day iPhone Workout Challenge!! Today’s the perfect day to use your phone for something other than Instagramming latte art.

Today we’re kicking of the challenge with one of my favorite FREE running apps: the thrilling, scripted ZOMBIES RUN! Be prepared to run from zombies and experience a thrilling, immersive story that motivates you to run faster.

App to Download: Zombies Run (free in the app store)

Workout Length: 35+ minutes

Type of Workout: Running interval training

What you need: An armband to hold your phone while running, earbuds, good running shoes

About Zombies Run

The story starts with your helicopter bringing supplies to a human outpost in the middle of a zombie infestation. But suddenly — your helicopter is shot down by a rocket launcher! And now you’re running from zombies and trying to make it back to the base alive. In the first episode alone, you start to learn about the characters, wonder who shot you down, and actually feel like you’re in the story. Then, after your run you can use the supplies you collected on your run to build your base.

I love this app because the adrenaline rush is REAL you guys. This app makes running fun again and it’s what got me through the training for my first half marathon.

The video game aspect of this app will make it addicting, and it will motivate you to work out more so you can build your base and figure out what will happen next.

Today’s Workout

Today you’re doing your first mission! Before you get started:zombies run review

  • Make sure that you have something to secure your phone to your person (i.e. an armband). Running outside is more fun and energizing, and I would recommend that. It’s OK to run on a treadmill, just make sure “step counting” is on, and that you have an armband.
  • When running outside, be sure to pick an area where you can safely run from zombies. I prefer running on the track, the beach, or on a trail because you don’t have to worry about stopping at stoplights or cars when you’re trying to get away from the zombies.
  • Make sure you have your running playlist ready to go. In between mission updates, you’ll be running with your own playlist. This can be another app like Spotify, or whatever music is on your phone. Just make sure you have something dramatic, awesome, and high-tempo to keep you going!
  • You can run after the mission continues. There are two radio DJ’s who make jokes and talk about life now that the zombies are here after the mission’s over. If you feel like it, keep running to hear their witty banter!
  • Go at your own pace. This is an interval run, so you should be running at a fairly quick tempo (but not where you’re out of breath) and then giving it your ALL when the zombies chase you.

If you want to make your run more challenging, simply pick up the pace!

Have fun, good luck, and let me know how you liked day one by leaving a comment! See you tomorrow!

72 Comments

30 Day Clean Eating Challenge

30 Day Clean Eating Challenge RESIZE  

This month I’ll be posting 30 days of recipes and tips and tricks on how to eat clean!

Welcome to the home base of the 30 Day Clean Eating Challenge! I’ll be posting ALL the resources of the 30 Day Clean Eating Challenge here.

Get Started Guide

More articles on their way! Stay tuned 🙂

Benefits of the 30 Day Clean Eating Challenge

So, why not go off and just follow the Eat Clean rules on your own? Sure! That’s a great idea! …so what are you going to eat? Luckily, if that question is daunting to you, this guide will help you out!

Each day I’ll post articles and meal plans and recipes that help you plan out what else you’re going to eat, what you’re going to buy at the grocery store, and how you’re going to deal with eating out.

I’ll also be creating handy-dandy printer-friendly guides for you to stick on your fridge, on your computer, on your face — wherever helps to remind you of the rules of the challenge and how to survive all 30 days! Good luck!

Meal Plan, Rules, Grocery List

  • The Rules. The main rules of eating clean. Hang this up on your fridge to keep you on track throughout the thirty days!
  • The Basic Grocery List. This grocery list covers the basics of what you’ll need to support your clean eating lifestyle
  • The Meal Plan. Here’s a healthy meal plan for 7 days! You can repeat each week and swap out recipes you like (and don’t!) with the new ones I’ll be posting throughout the month. 
  • Basic Clean Eating Cooking Guide. Here’s a basic cooking guide for all of you new chefs!

The 30 Days

Each day I’ll be posting about everything you need to know about eating clean. Each day in August, I’ll post a new article. Good luck!

Good luck and let me know how you’re doing!

 

19 Comments

The 30 Day Youtube Workout Calendar

Youtube Workout

[LIKE THIS CHALLENGE? CHECK OUT THE 30 DAY iPHONE APP WORKOUT CHALLENGE ALSO!]

Hey all of you lovely people! Today I’ve got a great new fitness plan for you, and it’s called the Youtube Workout Calendar.

Not only are all of these workouts free to you on Youtube (just click on the links embedded in each day of the workout calendar, or check out my youtube playlist here!) but they’re also fun and challenging. This workout schedule is not just for those of you who sent me questions asking about what workouts to do to lose weight and tone up for summer, but this is also a great way to build a fitness foundation so you can stay fit and healthy for life!

I also have an additional list of easier and more difficult workouts so you guys can customize the intensity of the program.

Even if you miss the start date, you can always visit this tag on my blog to see all the posts and you can join me whenever you have the chance 🙂

The Benefits of the 30 Day Youtube Workout Program [Read more…]