Sometimes PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) seems a bit extreme. On the other hand, you really can't argue with the goal of this app. If you're shopping and you need to choose between a couple products, why not select the one that's cruelty-free? PETA's BNB app (Be Nice to Bunnies) is a cruelty-free guide that gives you instant access to a database of companies that do and companies that do no test their products on animals. Plus, 15 percent of every $1.99 download goes to further PETA's work in behalf of animals.
Apps: Lifestyle
Lose It
Category: Healthcare & Fitness fitnow.com
I turn to the Lose It app to help me monitor my diet and track my workouts. All you have to do is enter the foods you’re eating and your physical activity and Lose It will tell you if you are within your daily caloric budget. Yet another great reason to use an iPhone!
Phanfare Photon
Phanfare is another photo-sharing Web site that lets you store your photos and videos online, and access them wherever you are. Their Photon app lets you take photos with your iPhone and upload them wirelessly to your Phanfare account. You can create albums, add captions, write album descriptions, and share your photos and videos with friends and family.
SnapMyLife
The SnapMyLife app for the iPhone lets you take pictures and share them with family or friends via the SnapMyLife photo site. You can share your day in photos, keep up with friends or family, or check out someone’s life on the other side of the world. Post a photo, comment on pictures, or make a “friends” list of people whose pictures you like. New features are added frequently—check it out!
SnapMyLife
- Free
- snapmylife.com
Quit Smoking
Quit smoking!
By now, everyone should know that smoking has all sorts of negative effects on your health. However, those who have smoked all their lives often have trouble quitting. I checked out an iPhone app called GottaKickit.
GKi lets you set the number of cigarettes you’re allowing yourself to smoke, and then the app tells you when you can take that smoke break. The interval is gradually increased, and eventually you are on your way to becoming smoke-free. You indicate that you’re having that cigarette by flicking the flame on a virtual lighter, and then the app tells you when your next smoke is due.
Fueling your Body
In an attempt to incorporate fresher foods into my diet, I’ve become a “localvore” whenever possible. That means I attempt to eat fresh foods grown in my area when I can find them. How do you find out what’s fresh in your area? If you’re an iPhone user, you can go to the iTunes App Store and search for “What’s Fresh”. This app uses the iPhone’s GPS capabilities to determine your location and lets you know what fruits and vegetables are currently in season in your area.
Get Healthy, Stay Healthy!
These iPhone apps help you find fresh food and quit smoking.
In the last issue, I wrote about losing weight with the iPhone by using apps such as Edibles Food Journal and Restaurants (“Lose Weight with the iPhone,” page 64, Vol. 1, No. 2). Losing weight is great, but it’s not the be all and end all—getting healthy should be your real goal. For example, your food decisions shouldn’t all be about calories and carbohydrates; you should be concerned about the quality of the food you eat. Note also that healthy people exercise regularly and tend to have a higher muscle-to-fat ratio. Muscle is heavier than fat, and as you build more of it, you might not lose as much per week.
