Finding Fitness. #VZWA

There has been a lot of chatter (much of it negative) about the lack of apps in the Windows store as compared to the options for Android phone users, so I'd like to put something positive out there and share one aspect of my experience with the Windows 8x phone so far.

I have uncovered a decent handful of apps that are helping me find my way back to fitness in the new year.  And I expect as I keep digging I'll unearth a lot more.

As you may already know, I really like to either try an app before I purchase it, or I strictly opt for free apps, especially since I am testing this phone as a Verizon Wireless Ambassador and don't know whether or not it will ultimately be mine when all is said and done.

So the following apps have been easy to use and access, and FREE:

12 Days of Fitness
* At first glance it looked like it was going to be 12 different exercise recommendations to give me new ideas. When I finished the 1+ mile today and checked it off, I looked ahead. Day two has something new, but it also INCLUDES the mile! These people might be crazy ... or they just don't know me at all.

Edomondo
* I've used this before on my bike. Haven't tested it out on the Windows 8x yet, but it's a pretty decent app in my opinion.

Runtastic
* Used this for a 1.5 mile walk and it worked really well. The only thing is it doesn't seem capable of running on the phone's front screen. So I couldn't check my status without swiping, and sometimes entering in my password, which if I were running would have been a bigger issue, but was still kind of inconvenient. I did have some issues logging into it, as well. It kept saying I had an account, but wouldn't let me post an update to facebook, which I do like to do now and then. The store does have a Pro app for $4.99 but I'll probably give it a few more test runs before I decide whether or not to purchase it.

Total C25K
* This is absolutely comparable to the C25K apps I've tried from the Google Play Store. There is a fantastic option for the music to stop when the app is giving you your alert, which can be a huge help for the switch from running to walking and back again.

Water Log
* Admittedly I haven't used this yet. I'm excited it's there, and I downloaded it when I first got the phone. Pretty much all I drink is water so I've been lazy at checking it out. Soon!

MyFitnessPal
* I've never found this to be as easy for me to use as LoseIt (which I can't get in the Windows store) but they do have info on a much larger and more specific variety of foods and restaurants, so it could be worth a try.

I just downloaded these apps for free, as well, but have not tested them yet:

Calorie Counter
* I think this might be fairly comparable to LoseIt, which I have been using on and off (and currently on again) over the past two years. And looking further into it I see that it includes nutrition information for a huge list of restaurants, and nutritional content of many supermarket brands. Huge win there!

Fast Food Calories
* At first glance this app includes information for places I do sometimes eat at, like: Wendy's, Subway and IHOP. Oh no! And Dairy Queen. EEK! McDonald's, Burger King and Arby's are in there, as well. The list goes on, but I think I'll stop there.

There are some other apps in the Windows store that might benefit others, but I'm going to skip for now. Things like the Gym PocketGuide, which looks like it might tell you where gyms are in your area but is supposed to give you basically a dictionary of exercises. It's free, so I might come back to it.

WeightWatch is an app that looks similar to the aspects I like of LoseIt, MyFitnessPal and Calorie Counter. There appear to be free heart rate tracker apps - I'm not sure how you'd use them - but hey, they're free, so go for it if you're motivated to.

I will add that as difficult as the buttons are on this phone, while running last night I somehow managed to lower the volume of my music, WITH gloves on. I can't even figure out how that happened because turning this phone, or the camera, on with the tiny buttons on the side of the phone has been difficult, to say the least.

So while I've had my share of complaints, and a minimal share of positives up til now, I'm pleased to say that this aspect of using the phone has started working for me. Maybe I'm just pushing harder at figuring it out? I don't know. I'll take it, though. I like it when things work right!

I haven't really reviewed the camera yet, and I have been having some so-so experiences with it, but this is the shot I took today on my run. No filter and I only watermarked it. Pretty, right? It's daytime but the way the sun was situated the ground looks so dark. I love it, though.

Oh! The music! I forgot about the music ... stay tuned for more on that next time.

*I am participating in the Verizon Wireless Ambassador Program. Verizon Wireless has provided me with a wireless device and three months of service in exchange for my honest opinions about the product. 

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