Healthy Living: Using technology to track your progress
Research proves if you want get into shape and lose weight, you're more apt to do so if you track your progress. Now you can do it in a high tech way that’s also free. Marcie Fraser reports.
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Meet your new virtual personal trainer: CDPHP in Motion.
“We've found that there is research that shows if someone wants to do an exercise program, if they have a way to easily track what they are doing, it makes it a lot simpler and they stick with it more often,” said John Demers, CDPHP Vice President.
In the past, David Benyo used to pre-map his runs and track his exercise with pen and paper. Now, all he needs is his phone.
"The app is a tool that allowed me to start training easily. I could simply click a button, run. I could keep track of my splits, my time, where I've been, my elevations changes,” said David Benyo, CDPHP In Motion runner.
It's a free app, downloadable on most phones. Anybody can join, and connect with others finding out where and when groups or individuals may meet to walk, run or bike.
“You can actually use the app where people can come in and you can have your own community. You can arrange when you want to walk, where you want to walk,” said Demers.
It also has a nutritional component.
“It shows you what you ate and it also shows you generally the break out of what you ate. How much fat is in it, how many carbohydrates, how much protein,” said Demers.
It helps to track Dave's progress.
“If I worked out too hard during the week, it'll show me that my times are getting slower,” said Benyo.
If you use vacation as a reason not to exercise, you don't know the territory or don't know where the trails are, you will have to look for another excuse. The app works worldwide.
“25 million different hiking and walking and biking routes that are already programmed into the site,” said Demers.
Perhaps his wife benefits the most. The app can track exactly where he runs, bike or hikes. So if he wants to go off trial and there’s a problem, she can locate him.
“Live tracking to a computer or to another iPhone. She has an iPhone so she can see me where I'm at all times,” said Benyo.