Two new weight-loss products that use text messages launched this summer: Self’s Diet Tapper and textWeight. Both send you regular messages that are intended to keep you on track and motivated to reach your weight loss goals. I signed up for three weeks of both services to see how they compare.
Basics
Beyond the fact that both services utilize text messages and provide weight-loss tips, the similarities don’t go much further.
TextWeight asks you to send in your weight, and with the data you reply, creates a graph of your weight loss progress. Each time you send in your weight, you will receive a tip, which will be on a subject that you have identified as an area you need to improve to lose weight. You can log into textWeight.com to see your progress or modify your settings, such as how often you wish to be texted.
Diet Tapper will send you five texts (or “taps”) per day. You will receive three meal suggestions, a drink suggestion and a workout suggestion. Many of these messages have links to a specific page on Self’s website, directing you to a more detailed workout or a full recipe.
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For the text-obsessed, there’s a new diet plan that keeps you accountable using text messages. This week, Self magazine launched Diet Tapper, a plan that texts you meal inspirations and other tips five times per day. The service costs $2.99 per month and also includes online access to an “exclusive new diet plan,” that apparently includes a library of meal and workout suggestions. Subscribers will also recipe a “Recipe of the Week” newsletter via email.
Self’s Diet Tapper page provides sample texts such as: “A protein-packed lunch for 450 cal. Protein eaters burn more fat. Think poultry, fish, legumes or lowfat dairy” and “Set your sights on 45 min of cardio. Get inspired with our favorite workouts.”
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Beyonce is known for several reasons, including her high-energy songs, fantastic acting and performing, and most definitely for her bootylicious body. The singer has always had curves and legs that inspire me to get my booty into the gym. When I am not really feeling like doing a workout, I can just blast one of her songs on my iPod and motivation instantly strikes.
So how does this gorgeous woman stay in such great shape? It takes a lot of dedication for Beyonce to look the way she does. When she is getting ready to go on tour, she spends nine hours every day working on the choreography for her shows while wearing 5-inch stilettos. She goes to the gym five times a week with her personal trainer. Like I said, the girl is definitely motivated.
If you are like me, you are wondering how she stays so motivated. Beyonce has a painting of an Oscar award at her gym so she can literally run towards one of her many goals.
“I look at it, and I’m OK, I have to stay in shape,” Beyonce said.
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This past Saturday, I had the pleasure of attending my first Workout in the Park, hosted by Self magazine in Central Park. The day is a great opportunity for people of any fitness level to try out new workouts, get some fitness swag, and spend a healthy Saturday in the sun.
There were three workout areas: the main stage, the quiet zone for mat work, and the toning zone. I started my workout in the quite zone, for a Pilates Fusion workout on the mats. Then I headed over to the main stage for Retro-Robics, featuring 90′s hip-hop moves, followed by a LaBLAST class inspired by dances featured on Dancing with the Stars. Some of the other workouts included Cardio Tai Box, Yoga Body Sculpt, a Masala Bhangra dance class featuring Bollywood dance moves and a sing-along Glee Club workout. All of the workouts were provided by Crunch, so if you want to try one of these routines, check the class schedule at your closest Crunch location.
Although I’m a regular runner and occasional yoga practitioner, I was definitely sore in the best way on Sunday. The event was a great reminder of the importance of trying new physical activities and mixing up your workout routine: there may be muscles you’re not using if you follow the same workout every day. The crowd was enthusiastic and the turnout for the event was pretty impressive. Although there were several hundred attendees, everyone seemed to be in a very good mood.
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Starting today, there’s a whole new way to read Self magazine. The popular fitness and health publication announced the launch of their iPad app today, which will not only allow readers to get Self on their iPads but also interact with the content. The app itself is free, and features workout videos, weight loss plans and healthy recipes.
The first completely digital edition of Self magazine will be the April issue, the full version of which is available through in-app purchase for $3.99. In addition to health and fitness content, Self also offers a variety of celebrity interviews, fashion articles and beauty advice. The new interactive component of the magazine will allow users to watch how-to videos, get live Tweets and a regularly updated news feed.
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