Steve Jobs was a man I never met but his influence had a profound effect in my life. The Apple IIe was the first computer I ever saw and later the first computer I took apart. I learned my first programming language on a Mac Classic. My first job out of college was a Mac technician and as I write this I have an iPhone, iPad AppleTV and Mac Pro in my house. These are extensions and memories of what Steve Jobs has left in my life.

I have been a Netflix subscriber for a few years now since the Xbox 360 added the NetFlix app. I decided to try the Free 30 day trial and I was hooked not by the DVD rental but by the streaming. I believe at the time I thought I was going to need 2 DVDs so I would not have to wait on one when I was sending them back but this did not turn out to be true. The content on NetFlix streaming is not the best but it is good enough for me and my family. I have 4 small kids under the age of 10 and they like the ability to choose the episode they want to watch. Now that they have added the Marvel Cartoons like my favorite The Amazing Spiderman it has been even more enjoyable to sit down and watch some TV with the kids. So when Netflix decided to change the pricing model I had to make a choice. Was I going to pay the extra $8 per month to be able to receive a physical DVD? The answer is NO and here is why.

I do not need physical DVDs to watch a movie. The DVDs that I would have normally added to my queue in Netflix take to long for me to get them and I have better options. I have the original AppleTV and I can rent an HD movie for $5 and start watching it in just a few minutes. I also can go to the Zune video on my Xbox and download or stream a HD movie there too for about the same price as the Apple iTunes movie. I only watch 1 or 2 movies per month that I can not get on Netflix streaming so with the added benefit of speed and HD quality I have no need for physical DVDs.

My kids are the largest consumers of Netflix streaming and I would love to see better family controls added. There are to many Movie titles and posters that I do not want my 3 year old to see but I also like the ability for him to watch Dora the Explorer when he wants. I know there is the ability to added accounts but it does not allow streaming except in the master account. I would like to set the Instant Queue on shows that I know is appropriate. My older son loves to search for new cartoons and it would be nice to lock him in to certain categories so the more adult Anime does not sneak into the TV. I know that Netflix is rolling out the Just for Kids section but this only effects the browser version. I need these controls in the iPad, iPhone, Xbox and Computer versions.

How has Netflix changed the way that you watch TV. Are you even a Netflix subscriber? Tell me in the comments below. I have gone as far disconnected my satellite and cable.

My love for fitness has been a on again off again romance over the last 15 years but the one thing that has held true is my geekdom and love for anything that has a button or blinking lights.  If a new gadget is released then I want it (I’m looking at you iPhone 5).  So to help bridge the gap I thought I would bring you some reviews of the websites I use to keep track of my Nutrition and Fitness.  These are very basic and general overviews but they should be a good start in helping you make a decision on where to invest your time and energy.

RunKeeper.com

I have been a fan of this website ever since I purchased the runkeeper pro app for my iPhone.  You can use just the website but it really comes to life when you use the RunKeeper app on your phone.  Now with GPS enabled smart phones they can track exactly where you are running.  One the website you can then examine your route and see the elevation and distance.  If for some reason you did not take your phone you can login and manually enter your route.  It uses Google Maps so you can either see the Satellite view and the normal map view.  Of course with most websites you can share your activity with your Facebook and Twitter friends.

One of the items that I have yet to try is the Fitness Classes.  RunKeeper has partnered with different running coaches that have put together training programs to help your prepare for a race.  If you want to run a Marathon in under 3:30 or you would just like to finish a 5K then they have it.    You can also join the RunKeeper Elite program and as your running you can send realtime tracking data so your friends and family can watch you during a race.  If you are a runner or would like to start running then runkeeeper.com is a great place to start.

Myfitnesspal.com

Myfitnesspal.com is a website that you can log your food and find out how many calories you are consuming.  You can also log your exercises but unless you know exactly how many calories that you burned then an estimate can be very inaccurate.  My suggestion is to use the site just for calorie tracking.

When you login you will need to setup your goals.  This will give you an idea of how many calories you need to consume during the day.  The first thing that I do is to readjust the “Macronutrients”.  These are the Carbs, Protein, and Fats.  The general rule that I follow if 40% Carb, 30% Protein and 30% Fat.  I could talk forever about the different foods and how eating quality food  is very important but for this post I will leave it here.

Once you have your settings plugged in you can start entering you meals.  The first time that you log your food it will take awhile because you will need to search for each ingredient or meal that you ate.  Once you enter your meals and a pattern will appear and you can then just click on the common foods that you consume daily.  If you want to know why you can not lose weight or gain muscle then start by logging your daily for 2 weeks.  It is not the most fun thing to do but this small daily act will open your eyes and with the help of myfitnesspal.com you will see how many carbs, proteins and fats you are consuming.

There are several other websites like fitday.com, dailymotion.com, nikeplusactive.nike.com and many others that I did not cover.  I have used Runkeeper and Myfitnesspal and they have worked very well for me.  I would like to know what website do you use to help you in your fitness journey.  Leave a comment below.

I heard a phrase the other day “A person starts by having habits then the Habits have the person.”  This is so true and we all have habits both good and not so good.  The trick is to become of the Habits that we want to change and find ways to make changes or even break these habits.  It takes approximately 21 days for a new habit to set in.  After this magical 21 days you will not have to think about it as much to perform the same activity.

It does not matter if you are trying to lose weight, start a new workout routine or you want to read more books these 3 tools below will help you change or create new and better habits.  Imagine by the end of this month you could be locked into a new Habit that you have created.  It is in your grasp so lets get started.

1)  Get more Sleep.

Millions of people are not getting the sleep that there body requires and when they do sleep it is not a quality sleep so we wake up tired and unfocused.  Bad sleeping habits lead to a myriad of health problems and has been linked to obesity, ED and even marital problems.  There is not a magic number but there are some guidelines that we can go by based on your age.

So tonight start with a set bed time and do not deviate for 21 days.  It is also recommended that you do not eat or exercise within 2 to 4 hours of your bedtime.  The increase in blood flow will disrupt your REM cycle.

2) Write it Down

Creating a log of the habits that you want to change is one of the quickest and best ways to keep track of your progress.  When I have a new client that is looking to lose weight the very first thing I will have them do is to start writing down everything they drink and eat.  This simple step automatically brings your habits to the front of your mind.  When there is a sheet of paper laid out after the day for you to see that you are eating 3 honey buns and drinking 4 moutain dews in a day (this was my experience) it will be a shock.  The only cost associated with this is a small notebook and pen.

3) Have an Accountability Partner

We make promises to ourselves everyday that we do not keep.  How many times have you said “Self, tomorrow you are waking up at 4am and getting your workout in before the kids get up!”  Then the next time 4am rolls around you roll to the other side of the bed and just say “Maybe tomorrow.”  Now if you had a friend that you knew was going to be knocking on your door at 4am reading to workout that would change things.  Find someone that you can talk to about the challenges and changes you want to accomplish.  It is best if you can talk, text or email them everyday for that needed encouragement.  If you can not find a person local or you would just like to have another accountability partner please contact me.  A little secret I will let you in on is that helping you actually helps me.  I know that if I am not eating right or working out then how can I encourage or help someone else to do those things.

If you start with these 3 habits then there is nothing you can not change over time.  These are very easy things that you can do but the danger is they are also very easy things that you can not do too.  So tonight set your bedtime, write down what you did that day and find an Accountability or Success Partner.  So tell me what habits would you most liek to change in your life?  Leave a message in the comments.

In my state of Alabama we have the sad distinction of being the 2nd Fattest state, and that is not a ranking we should be proud of. According to CalorieLab in 2011 Alabama has a population that is 33% obese. When you dig into the statistics even more Alabama is the overall fattest state when you combine the Overweight and the obese for a total of 70% of the population. These are staggering statistics that will take generations to reverse but the key is to start now.

I am currently sending in my Specialist in Fitness Nutrition Certification final so I can better help the clients in my personal training. These individuals are working on goals to lose weight or to get ready for a specific event. The clients that I see now have a belief that “dieting” is a temporary thing and when they reach their goal they can just go back to the old way of eating. The first goal is to train my clients to use real food and to cook for themselves the majority of their meals. It is easier for them to eat something out of the box instead of preparing a meal.

My clients also have a sense that eating “healthy” is a very complicated thing and that it will cost a lot more. I start by having them keep a food journal for a week without changing anything in the way that they eat. This exercise allows them to become aware of what they are eating and will show me what kind of foods they tend to like. At the end of the week I take the food journal and work up a basic meal plan that includes the types of foods they like and I’ll make the substitution for whole food sources whenever possible. Depending on the client this might be a very gradual transition so that they can see quick success in the way they feel and perform at work and other activities.

It is a challenge in Alabama because so many people are overweight and obese that a person of normal weight will appear “skinny”. The food choices will also seem weird if they are not fried or cover in some way. It is a long journey but it is worth the effort to be able to help just one person live a healthier life by helping them with their nutrition.

*Source of stats are from Calorielab.com