GymPact: Get Paid to Work Out Posted by Meagan on April 17, 2013 No Responses » Apr 172013 Staying motivated is one of the biggest hurdles people face when it comes to working out, especially for those who are just beginning an exercise program. As someone who has been a (fairly) consistent runner for almost two years now, even I struggle to get myself out of the door. A training schedule for an upcoming race definitely helps motivate me, but still, talking myself out of going for a run is much easier than I would like it to be some days. Now, however, thanks to GymPact, not only do I have to consider the detriment to my training when I skip a run, I also have to consider the financial cost. Continue reading “GymPact: Get Paid to Work Out” » Technorati Tags: Android, app, application, exercise, GymPact, iOS, motivation, running
Amiigo: A New Generation of Wearable Sensors Posted by Meagan on January 18, 2013 1 Response » Jan 182013 When it comes to activity trackers, it is getting a little difficult to get excited about the release of yet another one. As Steve pointed out in his post on the 2013 CES, the market is starting to get a liiiiiittle crowded. Add to that the fact that so many companies are focusing on wrist-based sensors (e.g., the new Fitbit Flex, the Basis Band, the very popular Nike Fuelband), which, after our negative experience with the Jawbone Up, Steve and I remain very skeptical of (Hundreds of “steps” counted for moving my arms while driving? I don’t think so.), and you can understand why, when we got an email from Dave Scott, one of the founders of Amiigo, I was not immediately pumped to hear another activity tracker pitch. Boy, was I in for one heck of a surprise and boy, am I excited to share the Amiigo fitness sensor with you today. You think you’ve seen it all when it comes to activity trackers, and then something truly innovative like the Amiigo comes along and blows you away again! Continue reading “Amiigo: A New Generation of Wearable Sensors” » Technorati Tags: activity tracker, Amiigo, Amiigo Fitness Sensor, exercise, fitness, fitness sensor, running
Nutrition Experiment: Wrap-up Posted by John on November 30, 2012 No Responses » Nov 302012 An amazing thing happened today. I came home from work, had a light snack, took my time getting ready, and went for a run. And it felt great! Okay, not profoundly great. I didn’t run super far, set a new PR, or got somehow transformed into a sleek thoroughbred. No, I was sweaty, tired, and my legs burned as I sprinted down the last block towards my house, but I couldn’t help but smile. The source of my sweaty smile and sense of accomplishment? My newly completed nutrition experiment. After analyzing what I ate, crunching the numbers, and making some simple fixes to my life, I can call this experiment a success. I’ve learned a great deal over the past few months, and I’m excited to share my new wisdom. Continue reading “Nutrition Experiment: Wrap-up” » Technorati Tags: carbs, diet, exercise, fats, healthy eating, nutrition, nutrition experiment, protein, running, running tips, training tips
Zero to Hero – Ready…set…hang on a second, my shoe died. Posted by Jason on October 29, 2012 2 Responses » Oct 292012 Hello, my name is Jason. I am not a runner. I am running a marathon in 12/2013. Here are my stats- Height: 5′ 11″ Weight: 193 Physique: Dumpy, at best. Style: Whatever causes shin splints and calf cramps. Diet: High carb, high fat, high sugar rush Longest Distance: 6.21 miles Continue reading “Zero to Hero – Ready…set…hang on a second, my shoe died.” » Technorati Tags: 10k, diet, exercise, marathon, running, running tips, training, training tips, zero to hero
Nutrition Experiment Week 2: Fats Posted by John on August 17, 2012 No Responses » Aug 172012 OK, so now that we’ve established a baseline, it’s time to have some fun, and do some research. This week is all about fats. Fats are used by the body to maintain the cell membrane, aid in the absorption of fat soluble vitamins, and provide fuel and body cushioning, among other things. This being said, as a running fuel, fats are not ideal. Fats take many more steps for the body to breakdown into the magic stuff ATP, and then carbs, which reduces metabolic efficiency. Not ideal, but good in a pinch. Continue reading “Nutrition Experiment Week 2: Fats” » Technorati Tags: diet, exercise, experiment, fats, fitness, nutrition, running diet, running experiment, running nutrition, running tips
This is Why We Run Posted by Steve on March 6, 2012 No Responses » Mar 062012 Anyone who knows me in the real world will tell you that I rarely hold back in regards to my diet and, for the most part, I still eat what I want. I am lucky to have an average frame, a decent metabolism, and no major health problems contributing to weight problems. That being said, my recent 25lb weight loss was not by accident, nor was it some kind of magical occurrence. Although I did cut back on calories, I wouldn’t attribute my weight loss to “dieting” in the traditional sense of the word, because other than switching to diet soda, I made little sacrifice in terms of the types or sometimes even the amount of food I was eating. Running has proven to be the best solution for me. Who wouldn’t want to be able to eat cake and still lose weight? That’s not to say that you should drive to Pizza Hut, eat an entire large pizza, and then just run it off (which would take roughly 14 miles, and would probably result in you losing that pizza partway through said run). I also recognize that many people are trying to shed much more than the 25 pound goal I started with and that being aware of what you eat is an important part of a weight loss program. However, the occasional night of pizza and beer is not going to derail your weight loss progress, and I am a firm believer that, within reason, we should feel free to indulge our cravings. Continue reading “This is Why We Run” » Technorati Tags: Biggest Loser, Cheat to Lose, diet, exercise, fitbit, running, weight loss
I’ve Run Everywhere, Man. Posted by Meagan on December 7, 2011 No Responses » Dec 072011 Dancing with wolves? No, but how about running with bison? Yellowstone National Park, August 2011. OK, so maybe Johnny Cash wasn’t doing too much running in all of those cities he sings about, but sometimes I feel like I might be able to give him a run for his money in terms of the amount of traveling I do! As a graduate student, I often find myself spending significant stretches of time on the road. It might be a conference in San Francisco for a week, or 2-3 weeks of field work in a more remote location, but regardless of the location, I struggle with the concept of how I’m going to motivate myself to get in a few runs. Running while on the road is hard for a lot of people. You have to shove your running gear into an already-cramped suitcase, potentially navigate an unfamiliar city on foot, and, the most difficult part, break yourself out of conference-/fieldwork-/vacation-/whatever-mode long enough to log some miles. Of course, when I start a trip, my brain knows that I would regret missing out on a week or more of running because of the negative impact it would have on the progress I’ve made. However, try telling that to me after I’ve spent a day on my feet at a conference or sucked down a few daiquiris poolside and I would bet my brain will have forgotten that I ever wanted to run at all during my trip. Added to that is the fact that I’m typically a fairly casual runner, even when I’m at home. That’s not to say that I don’t try to push myself to increase my mileage or speed, but I don’t necessarily stick to a very strict schedule. I run when I feel like it and I run to enjoy myself. Because I run with a partner, and will run with him on days I wouldn’t necessarily want to run on myself, I manage to get a decent number of runs in during the week between the ones we go on for me and the ones we go on for Steven. What happens when I’m without my partner, though, and out of town? Continue reading “I’ve Run Everywhere, Man.” » Technorati Tags: exercise, fitbit, fitness, motivation, running, travel, vacation, Yellowstone
