The Fitness App Explosion: For Better or For Worse

March 13, 2015 by Scott "Q" Marcus Leave a Comment

Back when I first started losing weight, we didn’t have fancy-schmancy apps.

We wrote down what we ate on cave walls. You couldn’t figure out the carbs or proteins in a Wooly Mammoth by looking it up on the internet. No sirreee Bob! Kids today have it too easy.

Okay, maybe a slight exaggeration, but one of the more significant changes in health monitoring is the explosion of fitness apps of every stripe. As of last year, there were more than 45,000 fitness-related apps in the app store, giving one the ability to monitor how far he walks and with what intensity, calories consumed and burned, even heartbeat and sleep patterns, all from the convenience of code in your phone.

This trend is in its infancy.

In the not too distant future, we will look at Fitbits and other wearable trackers in the same manner as we would observe a woman wearing a bustle today. Tomorrow’s apps will be woven into our garments, creating smart clothing and “wearable tech.” At any moment, one can be aware of everything from blood pressure to the amount of salt in her sweat.

Having that type of data available 24/7 will provide countless benefits.

Not only will it allow one to adjust his or her patterns for enhanced health, but also we will be able to predict incidents such as heart attacks BEFORE they occur, giving one the ability to go to the doctor in advance of collapsing on the street. Medical information could precede the trip to the hospital, so that upon arrival, potential treatments could be tailored to the specific circumstances in advance, saving precious time and lives.

Privacy issues yet to be worked out, that’s all well and good. However, all is not rosy in “app-alachia” as there are some pretty silly fitness apps available currently, providing insights and assistance into all facets of one’s physical, mental, and emotional health. [Read more…]

Video: 80 Years of Happy

July 29, 2014 by Scott "Q" Marcus Leave a Comment

I apologize in advance for this.

I have to admit, I like(d) the song “Happy” for a long time. It’s become a phenomenon and it caught me. However, it’s now become an ear-worm and each time I think I’ve got it out of my head, it comes back to haunt me again. In this case, I’m OK with it but I have to warn you if you’ve been trying to get it out of your head, don’t watch the video.

But it’s worth it.

[Read more…]

Video: Old Man Will Never Stop Dancing

July 25, 2014 by Scott "Q" Marcus Leave a Comment

I don’t know whether this old guy dancing is more humorous or inspirational. Either way, it’s just fun.

Post by Stanton Warriors.

Find Fun Ways To Move More

June 2, 2014 by Scott "Q" Marcus Leave a Comment

If you’re able to walk, find excuses to do so.

Don’t worry about how far nor how long; just find a way to move your body a little further.

If you can’t walk, stand up for a few minutes each hour. If you can’t stand, move your arms and hold in your stomach.

Not only does getting out of your chair help you stay (or get) fit, but it burns a few calories, it reduces bone loss, and it holds back a myriad of diseases.

And remember it’s virtually impossible to feel sad or angry when walking briskly.

(Try it the next time you’re upset. You’ll see that’s correct.)

Fully Functional Fitness Apps

November 2, 2013 by Featured Author Leave a Comment

More than 70 percent of nurses are using smartphones for their job, according to a 2012 study by Wolters Kluwer Health’s Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Some hospitals, such as Cedars-Sinai and Texas Children’s, have even equipped their nurses with the devices.

Many nurses are using smartphones to get immediate access to drug reference tools, but there are also a wide range of apps available that can be used by the nursing community to help promote better health, nutrition and fitness for their patients, as well as for themselves.

We all know smartphones can be used to download entertainment or time management apps, and every business has their own app now. With technology already being used for these purposes, and to improve access to important medical information, why not use it to improve your daily life and the lives of your patients?

Consider downloading one or more of these great apps to improve your workplace and your life.

iMuscle2

iMuscle2 is an award-winning health and fitness app ideal for nurses and other healthcare professionals to use and recommend to their patients. It provides users with the ability to zoom into an area on a 3-D human body, tap on a muscle and discover exercises and stretches meant to help rehabilitate or develop that specific muscle. Once it’s identified, all you have to do is add it to an exercise routine.

Progress can then be tracked, and achievements can even be shared. There are 152 muscles that are mapped with 600 associated exercises. It’s ideal for nurses, physiotherapists and fitness instructors.

Diabetes Nutrition and Diet Tracker by Fooducate

There are currently 25.8 million adults and children in the U.S. who have been diagnosed with diabetes, and another 79 million people who have prediabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association. The Diabetes Nutrition and Diet Tracker is an excellent app to help educated patients with their food choices. The app grades each type of grocery item, and explains what’s inside each product. It also offers healthier alternatives. You’ll find diabetic-specific advice for more than 200,000 food products. Patients can discover many things about an item that manufacturers are hoping are not noticed, such as too much sugar, trans fats, high fructose corn syrup, GMOs, artificial food colorings, additives and preservatives, artificial sweeteners and more.

LifeSupport for Nurses

Many nurses today are overworked and stressed. It all builds up, causing emotional exhaustion, which can lead to illness, as well as difficulty properly caring for patients. Mental health and fitness are key factors in keeping afloat personally and professionally. LifeSupport for Nurses is an app that is designed to help prevent burnout by motivating and encouraging nurses with random inspirational quotes, providing suggestions on improving patient care, offering 24/7 support and allowing nurses to share messages with each other.

FitnessBuilder

Those who work in the healthcare profession realize the importance of good health and fitness to improve quality of life, as well as longevity. It’s also important for nurses to stay fit in order to perform better on the job, as well as to set a good example for patients.

FitnessBuilder is an app that contains nearly 800 workouts and more than 5,000 exercises, in addition to providing access to a live personal trainer for a total fitness experience. It personalizes workouts by tracking user strength and cardiovascular fitness, as well as personal statistics, such as weight, BMI and BMR.

Guest Author: Robert Davidson has always been interested in the medical field ever since the first time he saw M.A.S.H.