CrackBerry.com - fitnessmonth

After Mobile Nations Fitness Month What Comes Next?

Jared DiPane — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 02:31:04 +0000

Well, we made it through Mobile Nations Fitness Month in February; it is time to get back to that couch with a tub of ice cream, right? Well -- not so much, no. Just because the official Fitness Month has come to an end that doesn't mean that it is time to ditch the new habits and revert to the old ones. If you were anything like me and had a successful month of February, odds are that you want to continue the positive momentum. The reality, however, is that you may need a little bit of help to keep you going.

Don't worry, I am right there with you. While 20 pounds may be a good amount to have lost, there is still quite a bit left to go -- so the journey continues. Did you know there are a bunch of great BlackBerry applications and accessories that are available that can help you along with your journey? While we did cover a good deal of information during February, there is still a ton more to go.

With the official Fitness Month behind us, I realize that many of the CrackBerry faithful are looking for more motivation. How about instead of being fit for just one month we go for the whole year -- let's make 2012 a year of fitness. What do you think? Will you join me for the rest of 2012 and beyond as we continue to get healthier, shed the pounds and make our lives that much better? My motivation you ask? Well, I don't want to be that dad who can't keep up with his five year old, nor do I want to be a fatty in my wedding pictures that will be taking place in June. What is your motivation?

Hit the forums and let us know how you plan to make 2012 the Year of Fitness.

How my BlackBerry helped me Conquer Fitness Month

Jared DiPane — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 22:09:34 +0000

It's Health & Fitness Month at Mobile Nations

When I first caught wind of the Mobile Nations Fitness Month my initial excitement was quickly overcome by a fear of not sticking to it, and ultimately, failing miserably. I knew the challenge was one that I had to grab by the horns and give my all to -- and I did just that.

Making such a huge life change like completely revamping my eating habits, the way I exercised and the way I felt about myself was not going to be easy by any means. With the help of my good friend, Mr. BlackBerry Bold 9930, I knew I was ready to make a change. Let's jump past the break together and check out how the Fitness Month went for me, the challenges I faced and how I was able to make changes to ensure that I did not fail.

Review: NoiseHush NX80 Stereo Headphones

Alicia Erlich — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 21:55:40 +0000

It's Health & Fitness Month at Mobile Nations!

"The NoiseHush NX80 Stereo Headphones are a solid pair of headphones that merge style, comfort, and quality for a reasonable price"

In Short:
"Crystal clear sound and the tangle free cord make these a must for those on the go"
Should I Buy?
"Shut out the world and immerse yourself in your music" BUY NOW

Fitness Month is almost over and now that I've got my exercise program in place and my music to keep me going, it was time to choose the best headset to stay in place during my workout. Now I've been using the Motorola S10HD Bluetooth Headphones but during long workouts I need something that can last without conking out because of battery life and still be able to block out the extraneous noise of the gym. I've never been a fan of the in-the-ear design as they tend to give me an earache, but in this case I've made an exception for the NoiseHush NX80 Stereo Headphones.

Quick Review: Recipe Box for the BlackBerry PlayBook

Ryan Blundell — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 18:31:23 +0000

It's Health & Fitness Month at Mobile Nations!

"Awesome recipes and love the way they are sorted for easy choice. Thank you!" - NickyJ602 App World review

During Fitness Month at Mobile Nations, we put the majority of our focus on fitness and caloric tracking. Jared did mention how he uses his BlackBerry to eat better. One of the biggest stigmas is that dieting restricts your food selection; this couldn’t be further from the truth. I can confess that I used to think like that and would have an incredibly difficult time trying to come up with a meal plan every week. We would end up having the same meals each day of the week, every week. With that mindset, no wonder the urge to cheat on your diet is so high.

The truth is that there are so many delicious and nutritious recipes out there. If you have a BlackBerry PlayBook, you can find many recipes with the Recipe Box application. With over 700 recipes to search through, you’re sure to find a huge selection of meals to enjoy, while making sure you’re not adding inches to your waistline. Keep in mind that Recipe Box is only available in Canada.

Standing Desks - Why I Use One; Why You Should Too

Kevin Michaluk — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 04:10:34 +0000

CrackBerry Kevin's Favorite Mobile Health Accessory is his Standing Desk! Learn About Standing Desks, his Anthro Elevate Adjusta Standing Desk and More!

With Mobile Nations Fitness Month coming to an end, I just *had* to write a quick long post on the "mobile health accessory" I use the most every day. That honor goes to my standing desk. I know, I know... you probably don't think of a desk when thinking mobile health, but my Anthro Elevate Adjusta does roll on wheels and move up and down, so it passes the mobile test as far as I'm concerned (granted it won't fit into my pocket that well when I leave the office).

The concept of standing at a desk while working isn't new. Many famous people in history like Leonard Da Vinci, Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and Winston Churchill reportedly preferred working while standing to help get those creative and writing juices flowing. Over the past couple of years there has been a lot of buzz about the health benefits of standing desks, driven by research that concluded the longer you sit, the shorter your life is (all other things being equal). I don't pay too much attention to research as I know it can be argued and manipulated pretty much any and every which way you want, but as someone who's been working at a desk daily since graduating university in 2004, the notion of being a little more active and vertical during the work day intuitively made sense.

Review: Arkon Handlebar Mount with Water Resistant Holder - Enter to win!

Michelle Haag — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 20:46:05 +0000

It's Health & Fitness Month at Mobile Nations!

"The Arkon Handlebar Mount with Water Resistant Holder is a versatile option for keeping your BlackBerry or other device handy while on the move."

In Short:
"Easy to install and use, keeps your device accessible and protected from the elements."
Should I Buy?
"If you're an avid bicyclist, this case will become indespensible." BUY NOW

If you are an avid bicycler or motorcycle rider, you may wonder where to put your BlackBerry while you're riding. Tucking it away in a pocket or compartment works just fine most of the time, but what about when you need to see your screen for GPS, maps, music, or a workout app like Endomondo? The Arkon Handlebar Mount with Water Resistant Holder is a great solution to this situation. This sleek, removable case not only keeps your BlackBerry (or other device) in plain view, it also protects it from the weather, dust, and scratches.

Fitbit Review

Jared DiPane — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 20:11:34 +0000

It's Health & Fitness Month at Mobile Nations

"With Fitbit you can track your steps, sleep and much more by simply remembering to carry one small unit with you."

In Short:
"Kickstart your workout routine with ease."
Should I Buy?
"It is a great device, as long as you remember to use it." BUY NOW

One of the hardest things I have done in my life to date was trying to get back into shape; I have tried to change nearly my entire lifestyle to become much healthier. I don’t know about you, but for me, finding motivation to get back into a normal exercise routine and eat healthier was something I would always think to do. I would usually try for a week or two and then fall back into the same old rut of not following through. When looking around for various ways to try to kick start my health and get myself more active I began hunting a pedometer – something to raise my awareness around how much I walked (or didn’t for that matter).

While there are plenty of options -- many ranging widely in price from as low as $10 to others that are up and over $100 -- one that continued to stand out in reviews and advertisements was the Fitbit Ultra Activity/Sleep Tracker. So, like anyone else who is intrigued and looking to try something out, I went out and purchased one. Could a little companion that you clip on your belt really kick start a healthier lifestyle and make things change for the better long term? Let’s hit the break and take a look at how this small object made such a huge impact in my fitness success this month.

Review: Jawbone Jambox - a wireless speaker for all your audio needs

Kerri Neill — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 17:09:12 +0000

It's Health & Fitness Month at Mobile Nations!

"The Jambox is an all-in-one Bluetooth speaker, speakerphone and entertainment enhancer."

In Short:
"You can pair pretty much any Bluetooth device and get out of this world audio."
Should I Buy?
"It's a "want" item at a price tag of $199 but I don't think you'd regret the purchase." BUY NOW

Ok, as a female, talking about weight, regardless of your size, is ALWAYS a touchy subject. With it being Health & Fitness Month across the Mobile Nations family of websites, I decided it was time for me to get back into my routine of diet and exercise to hopefully lose those dreaded extra pounds. I'm a music lover and have to have it playing regardless if I'm doing my P90X workout at home, driving, cooking or whatever. My problem is I absolutely despise headphones. They never fit comfortably in or on my ears and I've tried different speakers for my MP3 player and BlackBerry devices. All of them either have some kind of background static or just don't sound "right" to me. A friend of mine introduced me to the Jawbone Jambox extolling it's virtues and different uses so I decided to give it a try. Keep reading after the break for the full review!

Quick Review: Gym Technik for BlackBerry smartphones

Ryan Blundell — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 16:59:44 +0000

It's Health & Fitness Month at Mobile Nations!

"Omg, no more pen and paper at the gym!!! No more looking like a geek that brings books into everything!" - CJbardsley App World review

When it comes to getting fit, I suggest you accept any help that you can get. Especially when you’re starting out, it’s extremely important to maintain that motivation. If you don’t you might fly off of the back of a treadmill and land right back on the couch. Being resourceful folk, we do know that we can always lean on an application to help us stay on the straight and narrow. If you have a busy work and/or family schedule which causes you to come up with excuses as to why you don’t have time to figure out a workout schedule, you definitely need the support of a great fitness application.

Now we can’t get through Fitness Month at Mobile Nations without one of the most popular fitness applications amongst BlackBerry smartphone applications – Gym Technik. For years, we’ve covered its numerous updates for good reason; it is, in my opinion, the best workout partner to have by your side. Seriously, it helps you plan your workouts from their impressive library of routines, see written and video instructions for proper execution, upload progress photos and provide an in-depth way to track your results. Now I have reviewed this in the past but, with it being Fitness Month and all, I think it’s important to go over it. So check out the past reviews, and everything else Gym Technik, then have a look at what’s new.

Quick Review: SanDisk 32GB microSDHC

Alicia Erlich — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 16:14:21 +0000

It's Health & Fitness Month at Mobile Nations!

"The SanDisk 32GB microSDHC card offers maximumum storage for your BlackBerry device and is perfect for die hard media users"

In Short:
"Turns your device into the ultimate media machine"
Should I Buy?
"While it stores all of your files, pictures, music and videos, not everyone will need this much memory" BUY NOW

Fitness month is in full swing here at Mobile Nations and when creating a daily fitness routine how could I not include my BlackBerry? It's a permanent fixture during my workout for many reasons but most importantly: MUSIC! There's no way I'm stepping onto a treadmill or hopping on a bike without my ear-splitting, heart pounding, let's get this party started tunes. I'm nothing but a weakling standing on two sticks who'll fall off the machine (which I've done by the way) if I can't time each step with the bass beats of certain songs.

That's why I create playlists in my music library that are tailored to my specific workout and its duration. Trouble is there's a small little issue of storage when it comes to porting over my media library. The device's built-in memory and the 4GB SD card that came with my Torch 9800 just isn't enough. I decided to take the plunge and go all the way with a 32GB. My friends called me crazy, I said bring it on. With all of my custom ringtones, personal documents, cached radio stations, and my workout playlists there's no such thing as too much memory.

Quick Review: Pocket Trainer for BlackBerry smartphones

Alicia Erlich — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 23:32:45 +0000

It's Health & Fitness Month at Mobile Nations!

I'll be the first to admit I'm not in perfect shape; my expanding waistline is a pretty good indication of that, so fitness month came at just the right time. Now while I joined a gym I'm clueless when it comes to picking the right equipment, how long I should do it for, or if I'm even doing it right. While my co-worker suggested I take advantage of the gym's personal trainers my bank account says there's has to be a cheaper way to learning the basics or maintaining a balanced exercise regimen. After scouring the health and fitness section of BlackBerry App World I think I found the answer I've been looking for in Pocket Trainer by Core Interaction, Inc.

Quick Review: OnePound for the BlackBerry PlayBook

Ryan Blundell — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 14:57:53 +0000

It's Health & Fitness Month at Mobile Nations!

"I know I will reach my ideal weight of 87 kg quickly using this" - baz1001 App World review

Okay scale, you hate me and I hate you. That being said we’re going to have to put aside our differences if we’re going to get through this. We both want to see the numbers drop, trust me, I know. The problem is that I think I’m putting more into this than you are. Sure, you’re measuring my weight and displaying it for me (while silently laughing at me), but I’m the one trying to lose it and figuring out my progress. That’s it, I’m bringing in an assistant, don’t try and stop me. Its name is OnePound and it’s going to help crunch the numbers for me. It’s going to let me to focus on diet and exercise, while it keeps track of weight loss, calculates my BMI and charts my journey to skinny town. What about you? Well, why don’t you just sit there and let me stand on you – without screaming for once?

NoiseHush NX26 HD Stereo Headphones [Accessory Review]

Jared DiPane — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 22:35:17 +0000

"NoiseHush combines comfort with quality and puts in all in one afforable package"

In Short:
"Quality, comfort and price make them a no brainer"
Should I Buy?
"Don't sacrifice quality, allow your music to sound its best." BUY NOW

With Mobile Nations Fitness Month well underway, and my healthy eating in place, and my motivation at an all time high it was time to grab (against my own word) a nice pair of headphones that would help reduce the background noise to keep me focused. A huge part of my work out routine is my music playlist, and I am extremely particular when it comes to audio quality when listening to the music, but at the same time reducing background noise is equally important. When on the elliptical or on a run the last thing I want to be hearing is noise from my feet hitting the ground or the subtle squeaks of the machine, and the NoiseHush NX26 HD Stereo headphones do an excellent job of just that.

BlackBerry Fitness Accessory Roundup - Leave a comment for your chance to win!

Adam Zeis — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 19:09:33 +0000

It's Health & Fitness Month at Mobile Nations! Leave a comment and you could win a fitness accessory for your BlackBerry!

Finding the right accessories for using your BlackBerry as part if your workout routine can be a pain, so we're here to help. There are some awesome accessories that can help get you running or better help integrating your BlackBerry with your workout routine and we've got plenty. No matter if you need some sweet earbuds or headphones for music at the gym, an arm band to carry your device on a jog or even a case for when you're taking a dip in the pool - we have you covered. Check out the full line of fitness-related accessories available at ShopCrackBerry.com, and if you pick something up this weekend you can even save 15% during our Presidents Day Sale. Keep reading to check out all of our great fitness accessories and enter for a chance to win one!

Mobile technology and fitness: How much is too much?

Adam Zeis — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:48:41 +0000

It's Health & Fitness Month at Mobile Nations!

When we came up with the idea for the Mobile Nations Fitness Challenge I was pretty damn excited. I've never been one to go crazy with exercise, and as a blogger I pretty much sit in front of my computer for 9+ hours a day with only a few short stretches of actual exercise. I was eager to have a motivating factor to make me want to get up and do things to be healthier and get myself in shape. I've come to that point (as Kevin calls it "rock bottom") where I realized I would only get worse if I didn't actively do something about it. As part of the Mobile Nations Fitness Challenge I made a plan to eat healthier, exercse more and just be a better me.

Being the geek that I am, I looked for ways to integrate technology into my plan so I could keep myself on track through the process. We've been over some apps and various ways to use mobile technology to compliment these plans, but I think there's a point where enough is enough. Just how much technology is too much? Keep reading for my thoughts on using technology in your workout and dieting routines and just where I draw the line.

How I use my BlackBerry to keep motivated while getting in better shape

Jared DiPane — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 21:32:39 +0000

It's Health & Fitness Month at Mobile Nations!

Trying to keep myself motivated during Mobile Nations Fitness Month has been the hardest part of the process for me personally. Changing my diet wasn't quite as difficult as I thought, and while getting in better physical shape has been a bit of a challenge the hardest part is how to keep pushing myself to do better. When I first started off I was doing 15 to 20 minutes a day of activity and struggling through that, but once that started getting easier I knew it was time to make it more challenging on myself, but I lacked the full motivation to get that done.

How I use my BlackBerry to get in better physical shape

Jared DiPane — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 21:50:59 +0000

It's Health & Fitness Month at Mobile Nations!

Back in high school I was able to run three miles in under 21 minutes, sprint the length of a football field and now I can barely run a mile without wanting an oxygen tank. After starting to improve on my eating habits I knew that I needed to get myself back into better shape physically as well. Getting back into cardio activities is a daunting task that takes a lot of determination, and a whole lot of self motivation, but the results can be huge.

In todays society many of us work long hours, have plenty of activities with the kids to take care of and often times the gym is not an option that works well. My life happens to fall into this category, the gym is out of the picture with my work schedule and all the other personal stuff going on daily so I knew it was time to take matters into my own hand, and use resources available in my daily life to help get on the right track.

Just because you can't make time for the gym on a daily basis doesn't mean that you can't take matters into your own hands, and luckily there are a few great BlackBerry applications that make this much easier. With Mobile Nations Fitness Month underway I knew it was time to take it to the next level, so let's continue together to see how I have been working towards my goals.

How I use my BlackBerry to eat healthier

Jared DiPane — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 20:03:08 +0000

It's Health & Fitness Month at Mobile Nations!

With the Mobile Nations Fitness Month under way you are likely trying to find all the ways to utilize your BlackBerry smartphone to help keep yourself on the right path. Back at CES 2012 I found myself in a conversation with Adam and Kevin about getting healthier for the new year, devoting time to health and getting more fit, and it really struck home -- it was time to get my health back in my hands. Unfortunately now-a-days it is far easier (and cheaper) to grab a burger and fries from McDonalds after a long days work than it is to go home and make yourself a well balanced meal.

I knew that the convenience was just something I was telling myself to make myself feel better, and that there was really no excuse for me not to be healthier and in much better shape than I was. It was time for a change, and a big one at that. Since my BlackBerry device is almost always with me it was obvious that I should take advantage of that fact, and use it to my advantage, so I did just that.

TrackNSlim for BlackBerry smartphones tracks and reports on your eating habits

Ryan Blundell — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:07:24 +0000

Get fit with CrackBerry during Fitness Month at Mobile Nations!

Fitness month at Mobile Nations and CrackBerry has gotten many into a get fit frenzy. I’m feeling a renewed drive to start my journey back up and reach my weight loss goal. One of my biggest problems is that I tend to forget to keep an eye on my caloric intake. Is what I’m eating healthy enough? Do I really know if I’m taking in enough calories? Can I afford to have the pretzels that I’m thinking about as I’m writing this? Probably not. It isn’t easy for everyone to remember how many calories you need or eat, or know the nutritional values for food from restaurants. A guide is all that some need to stick to the plan and drop the pounds. A guide like TrackNSlim will do just that.

This application is an effective way to set goals yourself and see how well you’re sticking to them. To set up, you enter in your weight, diet and the thresholds (calories, fats, sodium, sugar, etc) you want to work with. Now here’s what I like; TrackNSlim has a huge list of food and their nutritional values. So all you need to do is select and quantify. I’m a visual learner – I need to see how I am doing and view charts, like pie charts, to learn where I can improve (mmmm, pie charts). A daily progress screen will indicate how close you are to reaching your thresholds and will also show you when you are over them (otherwise known as being in the red).

BlackBerry Health & Fitness Tip: Use your Smartphone or PlayBook's Video Camera to Record "Push-Up Challenges"

Kevin Michaluk — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 23:31:37 +0000

[ youtube video link for mobile viewing ]

We're not quite one week into Mobile Nations Health & Fitness Month and already I've encountered my first major challenge... going to a BlackBerry DevCon Europe. Getting into a healthy routine of eating healthy and exercising regularly is hard enough at home as it is, and attempting to maintain it while traveling is even more difficult. And at a BlackBerry reception, where free drinks flow and tasty apps pass by you every minute, well, it's basically impossible.

Wanting to indulge a little bit but not fall of the bandwagon completely (there's a lot of work to be done on my workout plan), we put into play a new mobile fitness tip tonight. The PUSHUP CHALLENGE. On Video. The premise here is simple. If you indulge, you drop and do a set of pushups. And if you're in a group people, you go head to head with a friendly opponent and capture the event in HD. It's as simple as that. Sometimes you don't need a health & fitness app or accessory to get results... you just need to remember to take advantage of the awesome functionality that comes with your phone right out of the box. Use that camera!

Monday Brief: WP8 Features, Fitness Month, Free PlayBooks, and an iPad 3 Giveaway

Ashley Esqueda — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:33:17 +0000

Youtube video link for mobile viewing

ZEN and TECH 32: Mobile Nations Health and Fitness Kickoff!

Bla1ze — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:25:42 +0000

Georgia and Rene are joined by CrackBerry Kevin Michaluk to kickoff Mobile Nations Fitness Month. We break down how best to get started, set attainable goals, and get results, and address some of the most common questions and misconceptions. This is ZEN and TECH!

Our podcast feed: Audio | Video
Download Directly: Audio | Video
Subscribe via iTunes: Audio | Video

How to use Evernote to track your diet, fitness and other goals

Adam Zeis — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:21:46 +0000

It's Health & Fitness Month at Mobile Nations!

When we came up with the idea of a Mobile Nations Fitness Challenge while at CES this year, I instantly started thinking about how I could best use my mobile devices to help reach my goal. Ultimately I am aiming to lose weight on what I'm calling my "no more fat kid" diet. While there are plenty of fitness and health oriented apps out there for BlackBerry, I really wanted to just keep track of things on my own. I don't need fancy graphs or reports to tell me what I'm doing right or wrong, I just want to see my progress how I lay it down. Evernote couldn't be a better solution for this. I already told you how I use Evernote and why I love it and now for the course of my diet I can keep track of my meals, my weight, my workouts (or lack there of) and whatever else I need. Keep reading and we'll take a look at just how easy it is to use Evernote to keep track of your goals.

BeBold: CrackBerry Kevin's Day 1 Sexy and I Know It Work Out! (Warning: Don't Watch This!)

Kevin Michaluk — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 02:21:36 +0000

Ongoing BeBold Contest: Want to show off your BlackBerry passion on video? Email your own #BeBold commercial/video in to editorial@crackberry.com and if we like it we'll run it on the blogs and make ya famous (and give you some sweet prizes!).

[ youtube video link for mobile viewing ]

There's a fine line between passion and stupidity, and over my years of CrackBerry blogg'n I've had a lot of fun walking that line and occasionally crossing it. Between BBM Stress Tests, Wearing PlayBooks on Gold Chains and Buying $500 BlackBerry Apps, it's not easy dreaming up new things to keep CrackBerry Nation entertained between the posts that keep you informed (like a first look at a BlackBerry 10 phone or interviews with RIM's CEO).

February is Health & Fitness Month at CrackBerry and Mobile Nations; Learn how to leverage your mobile devices for a better you!

Kevin Michaluk — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:17:12 +0000

Inform. Englighten. Entertain. That's our goal this month on the category of Health & Fitness as it relates to mobile devices. Over the next 28 days you'll learn how to leverage your BlackBerry and other tech to build a healthier you!

Why is February fitness month at Mobile Nations? The honest answer is because when the Mobile Nations crew got together in Las Vegas in early January for CES 2012, too many of us remembered each other looking thinner at CES 2011. It turns out running the world's leading mobile-dedicated communities isn't always good for the health. Long days at the computer and late nights powered by pizza and Red Bull eventually take a toll. We made a pledge leaving Vegas to be healthier and more fit going forward. And while our goal is to be healthy and fit for LIFE, we figured there would be no better way to kick get started on that ongoing mission than by dedicating a month to exploring Health & Fitness on our sites.