Review: Aaptiv vs. Fit Radio

For the past couple of months, I've used both the Aaptiv and Fit Radio fitness apps, and wanted to compare them so that others can determine which app best meets their needs. I first heard of Aaptiv through Pantsuit Politics (side note: my favorite American politics podcast), and I was able to get a free 30-day trial with the code: PANTSUIT. I think the usual free trial is a week, so I enjoyed getting to try Aaptiv's features over a month.

Of course, once I learned about Aaptiv, I wanted to see what else was out there, and mentions of Fit Radio came up often. I found a Groupon for a year-long subscription to Fit Radio for $18, so $1.50 a month for workouts? Sold!

Aaptiv bills itself as "audio workout classes that combine the guidance of a professional trainer with a motivating playlist." Once you download the app, the first page is of various workouts categorized by type: treadmill, outdoor running, elliptical, yoga, stretching, etc. Once in each workout type, you can filter by duration, trainer, music genre, and difficulty. 

View classes by category, including 7-minute Quick Hits,
5K/10K/Half-/Full Marathon Training, and even a Maternity Program.

The Profile pages lists classes taken, all-tine stats,
favorited classes, and a class history.

FitRadio is a little different, as the first page of the app opens up to music genres. A playlist automatically loads once you select a genre, and there you can list or skip ahead to a different mix. Music mixes can also be found by searching by DJ, activity, or BPM.

Find professional workout mixes by music genre.

Fit Radio also offers coached workouts. There are six types of coached workouts, and they are all cardio workouts. Once you click into a workout type, there are four workouts to choose from. The coached running workouts on Fit Radio are different than the cardio workouts on Aaptiv. While the coached workouts in both apps set up a plan (for example, intervals in running) and provide motivation, I found the running workouts on Aaptiv to be have more specific technical advice, such as to run with a mid-foot strike (who knew I've been running incorrectly?). So running with Aaptiv is like running with a running coach or personal trainer, while running with Fit Radio is like running with a good fit friend who won't let you quit.

Six kinds of coached cardio workouts are available on Fit Radio.

Fit Radio does excel in their workout descriptions, and I found it easy enough to modify the intensity to my fitness level. As always, the focus of the app is on the music, and you can choose either the workout's suggested music or your own music. Aaptiv's descriptions are a little more vague, although duration and music genre are given. Sometimes, though, I had to click into the workout and hear the trainer describe the workout before I could determine if it was right for me.

The descriptions of the workouts are detailed, so you know what to expect.

I like both apps. I think Aaptiv is particularly suited to travelers. I particularly used this app during my business travel in July, when I had ready access to a gym but didn't want to bother with streaming video over a hotel WiFi network. The stretching and yoga workouts were also quite good and easy enough to do in my hotel room. 

Fit Radio is a good app if you already have your fitness routine and workouts set, and want music to go along with it. I like the free Fitness Blender workouts on YouTube and have seen results using their workouts. There's no music, so I'll stream their workouts on my TV at home and then play Fit Radio playlists over Bluetooth speakers. 

At home, I like having the visual guidance on my TV, but on the road, I've found myself turning to Aaptiv more often.

Consumer & Creator

Recently, I was listening to one of my favorite podcasts, The Mom Hour, when hosts Meagan Francis and Sarah Powers mentioned that podcasts were a "new medium." Um, no. I've been listening to KCRW's Good Food podcast since 2005 (back when you had to hook up your iPod to your computer to download the latest episodes from iTunes). And I have been blogging since April 2002 - when Blogger was a startup company and I paid for a premium account because I was worried they might go out of business (thanks, Google, for buying Blogger!).

Needless to say, in the past several years I haven't been creating much. Not coincidentally, I gave birth to my first child in 2009 and my creative energies have been focused on nurturing the now two little ones in my life and my own career change into the field of college counseling. During this time, I was a consumer of information on parenting, education, and college counseling. I realized how I much of a social scientist I am at heart (there's a reason why I consume pop culture through Lainey Gossip), and learned about points and miles to aid family travel. I became better at parallel parking, got to know greater Taipei better (including its many parks and indoor playgrounds), and am somewhat proficient at whipping up quick meals my children will actually eat.

As amazing as all this has been, I also feel like I'm finally emerging out of a dark tunnel as my kids age out of early childhood. I've long wanted to post, and have composed blogs in my head, but until recently, didn't feel compelled, given competing demands on my time, to sit down and write it out. In the past year and a half, I've put more focus on nurturing myself - resuming exercising regularly, reading for personal pleasure, and baking. My word of the year is 'balance' - and I'm hoping to spend more time being a creator of content this year, here and at Nomad Foodie and VirtualB the Reader.

Gender representations in media

As my kids become more engaged with media, I've become even more conscious about how influential it is on young psyches figuring out their role in society ("no, you can't pretend to be Catboy because only Owlette is a girl."). A surprising number of family films don't pass Bechdel Test (Jungle Book, Kung Fu Panda 3, Muppets Most Wanted, etc.) and others reinforce rape culture (Disney's original Sleeping Beauty). We need to keep demanding and supporting films that reflect society.

Related article: No surprise, there’s a huge gender gap on the big screen

"What's the difference besides the price?" I've always asked myself at the drugstore when comparing the national brands to the store brand.

Well, I seem to have found my answer.

Taste.

Getting the kids to take Advil-brand ibuprofen is a little bit easier than the store brand. And since they particularly hate being cooperative when sick, this is an important note to keep in mind.

Announcing...

Unconditional love

Perhaps my favorite parenting podcast is Leading Edge Parenting with Sandi Schwartz. I get so much more than parenting advice from it, like this poem she included in her daily email, which she calls her "Daily Love Nugget,"

Even
after
all this time
the sun never says to the earth,
"You owe me."
Look
what happens
with a love like that -
It lights the whole world

-Deepak Chopra

Wikileaks shows that U.S. Embassy lobbied against Philippines formula marketing law

Just read this post over at the Motherwear blog and had to re-blog it - really egregious industry promotion that harms public health:

Wikileaks shows that U.S. Embassy lobbied against Philippines formula marketing law

I have a love-hate relationship with my son's toy, the Tiny Love Musical Stack and Ball Game. Love because even after 8+ months, he still enjoys playing with it. He plays over and over with the various components, stacking the rings on his head, turning the elephant head upside down to make a makeshift hat, stuffing all of his other toys into the chute. The balls bounce and make great shakers. But hate because those !@#$! balls are always rolling under the furniture, and guess who is always having to retrieve it?

Dr. Seuss for Nursing Moms

Would you nurse her in the park?
Would you nurse him in the dark?
Would you nurse him with a Boppy?
And when your boobs are feeling floppy?

I would nurse him in the park,
I would nurse her in the dark.
I’d nurse with or without a Boppy.
Floppy boobs will never stop me.

Can you nurse with your seat belt on?
Can you nurse from dusk till dawn?
Though she may pinch me, bite me, pull,
I will nurse her `till she’s full!

Can you nurse and make some soup?
Can you nurse and feed the group?
It makes her healthy strong and smart,
Mommy’s milk is the best start!

Would you nurse him at the game?
Would you nurse her in the rain?
In front of those who dare complain?
I would nurse him at the game.
I would nurse her in the rain.

As for those who protest lactation,
I have the perfect explanation.
Mommy’s milk is tailor made
It’s the perfect food, you need no aid.

Some may scoff and some may wriggle,
Avert their eyes or even giggle.
To those who can be cruel and rude,
Remind them breast’s the perfect food!

I would never scoff or giggle,
Roll my eyes or even wiggle!
I would not be so crass or crude,
I KNOW that this milk’s the perfect food!

We make the amount we need
The perfect temp for every feed.
There’s no compare to milk from breast-
The perfect food, above the rest.

Those sweet nursing smiles are oh so sweet,
Mommy’s milk is such a treat.
Human milk just can’t be beat.

I will nurse, in any case,
On the street or in your face.
I will not let my baby cry,
I’ll meet her needs, I’ll always try.
It’s not about what’s good for you,
It’s best for babies, through and through.

I will nurse her in my home,
I will nurse her when I roam.
Leave me be lads and ma’am.
I will nurse her, Mom I am.

source: Motherwear's Breastfeeding Blog

a hard evening

drive home was going well. no traffic. the baby sitter had called about heavy rain.

what rain? it was dry as can be.

then i passed xindian. and it started drizzling.

then got heavier. i had to slow down but i was still making good progress on my commute.

got off the highway. 

there was a line of cars driving up our hill.

what? there's never any traffic.

oh, flooding.

i drove through the water.

the engine stalled, and then died.

i called our mechanic. he told me to call a tow truck.

the baby sitter called just then. it was dark and stormy and my baby missed me - i could hear him bawling in the background.

i told her that i was close, so close, but the engine had died and i needed to call a tow truck.

i can't hear you over the heavy rain, she said.

i called one credit card company, then another. finally got the tow truck company. but the line was busy.

in desperation i tried to start the engine again.

it started - hurrah! but then it died. i still had hope though. i called our mechanic again for advice.

you probably flooded the engine, he said. just run it so it dries out a little bit and then try again.

after many tries, i was able to put the car in first gear and go up the hill.

i made it past the hairpin turn, and then made the final bend.

oh no! the engine died again.

i tried everything i did before. i called our mechanic again, several times.

i was so tired and frustrated. my baby needed me and i was so close and yet so far away!

finally i abandoned the car by the side of the road - i was only 100 meters away from home. 

(i'll deal with it tomorrow - our mechanic said it will probably run just fine after the engine has had some time to dry out.)

i walked up the final bit. the rain was falling lightly then.

but when i stepped out of the car it was ankle-deep. lots of flowing water.

finally got home and got to have my baby in my arms again.

"i missed you!" he said with his eyes as he hugged me.

"i missed you, too" i said as i held him close.

ugh.

what a night.

1 hour to go that final 1km.

I've decided I hate Combi products: I was unimpressed with their stroller (too plasticky) and I just tried to take down the Combi Play Yard - it was a pain to put up and impossible for one person to fold. The GoCrib by Guava Family is a way better product.

Today I returned to work as a salaried employee...and I was the one with separation anxiety. All is well and I'm off to snuggle with my cuddle-bug!

Its World Breastfeeding Week!

This week is World Breastfeeding Week! There's lots going on in the blogosphere, and here are two posts that really touched me:

• Stephanie wrote a guest post on CodeNameMama about how nursing her baby to sleep is sacred time. (On Stephanie's own blog she also has great post, divided into two parts, called the "Fanatical Breastfeeder" which I also found very interesting.)
• On NursingFreedom is a guest post by Betsy on shame and breastfeeding an older baby. 

There's also interesting artwork - breastfeeding through children's eyes - up over at The Leaky B@@b.

And if you're an expecting parent/grandparent/friend, there's a FREE (one of my favorite words!) online breastfeeding class through the months of August and September courtesy of creator Shari Criso (hat tip: Best for Babes Boob Tube blog).

Finally, here's an awesome article on normal newborn behavior and why breastmilk isn't just food by Dr. Jenny Thomas, MD, IBCLC, FAAP, FABM.

Becoming a mom changed my perspective

Welcome to the July 2010 Carnival of Nursing in Public

This post was written for inclusion in the NursingFreedom.org. All week, July 5-9, we will be featuring articles and posts about nursing in public ("NIP"). See the bottom of this post for more information.

***

Growing up in the West, I thought of breasts as a sexual object. They weren't things that you flashed in public, unless you were that kind of girl. Before I became a mom, I knew I wanted to breastfeed my child, but I hadn't put much thought into nursing in public. Back then, nursing in restrooms sort of made sense because, well, breasts were private, and you do private things in restrooms.

Then I became a mom. The first time I took my baby out, and I heard him cry in hunger, any sort of cultural inhibitions I had flew out the window as I responded to the primal call of a child for his mother and nourishment. My baby needed me. Now.

As I learned more about breastfeeding, my views changed. I actually have a phobia of germs and toilets - the thought of me eating while on the toilet is absolutely abhorrent; how could I possibly feed my child there? Nursing covers seemed like a practical "discreet" option, until my curious baby took to grabbing it and waving it about like a flag: nursing baby here!

So now, I go out in public with my baby attired in my collection of nursing tops (purchased with some the money we have saved by breastfeeding) and feed him when he's hungry. So many people have commented on what a "good baby" he is, and I truly believe it's because there's no reason for him to put up a fuss: he knows he'll be responded to quickly when the need arises.

I'm lucky to live in a country (Taiwan) where I've never been made to feel uncomfortable nursing in public. On the other hand, I've only seen mothers nurse in public twice: once at a park, and once at a maternity/nursing wear store. The latter instance I witnessed when I was pregnant. While the sales clerk rang up my purchases, I overheard her quietly say to her baby who was in her sling, "oh you're hungry? Have some milk." If I hadn't overheard her, I would have never guessed she was nursing her child. She was an inspiration to me - nursing her child, answering product questions, and ringing up an order - all without skipping a beat!

Having seen it in action, I was confident that with a little practice, I could do it, too. And sure enough, as the weeks passed, my child and I became better at breastfeeding. Now he quickly latches on and it's so much more convenient to breastfeed than to bottle-feed. My son's meal is always available, ready to serve. No need to lug bottles, ice packs, worry about serving the expressed milk before it goes bad, stress about finding hot water to warm the milk, etc. Here, young children are always fascinated to see me nurse, leaning in closer to get a better look. Sometimes their parents shoo them away, so that I can have some privacy. I don't mind them looking. More often than I'd like to hear, moms ruefully tell me they wish they could have breastfed their child, but they "didn't have enough milk." I know that here, as in the U.S., there are a lot of booby traps against moms. The formula marketers are crazily intense, making repeated unwelcome direct calls. When moms strike up a conversation with me, I try to use it as an opportunity to clear away the misinformation.

My hope is that now, when I nurse in public, I am also a quiet inspiration to current and future moms and dads.

***



Welcome to the Carnival of Nursing in Public

Please join us all week, July 5-9, as we celebrate and support breastfeeding mothers. And visit NursingFreedom.org any time to connect with other breastfeeding supporters, learn more about your legal right to nurse in public, and read (and contribute!) articles about breastfeeding and N.I.P.

Do you support breastfeeding in public? Grab this badge for your blog or website to show your support and encourage others to educate themselves about the benefits of breastfeeding and the rights of breastfeeding mothers and children.

<center><a href="http://www.nursingfreedom.org/p/carnival-of-nursing-in-public.html" title="Carnival of Nursing in Public"><img src="http://www.babydustdiaries.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/inip1.png" alt="Art by Erika Hastings at http://mudspice.wordpress.com/" border="0"></a></center>

This post is just one of many being featured as part of the Carnival of Nursing in Public. Please visit our other writers each day of the Carnival. Click on the links below to see each day’s posts - new articles will be posted on the following days:
July 5 - Making Breastfeeding the Norm: Creating a Culture of Breastfeeding in a Hyper-Sexualized World
July 6 – Supporting Breastfeeding Mothers: the New, the Experienced, and the Mothers of More Than One Nursing Child
July 7 – Creating a Supportive Network: Your Stories and Celebrations of N.I.P.
July 8 – Breastfeeding: International and Religious Perspectives
July 9 – Your Legal Right to Nurse in Public, and How to Respond to Anyone Who Questions It

You never know it's the last time until it passes

I feel like crying. Today while I was changing the Little Guy's diaper I realized it had been awhile since he'd done his Hippy Hippy Shake Shake. He was still doing it two weeks ago when I arrived at my parents' place - I think I've been so absorbed in watching him start to crawl and babble that I didn't notice the disappearance of the Hippy Hippy Shake Shake. Of course, with kids you never know when will be the last time until it's gone forever.

I loved his little move. He no longer needs it to motor along is back to get places - he's so quick at flipping over and crawling commando-style nowadays. My little boy is growing up so fast!

On the Twilight bandwagon

So while reviewing my backlog of blog drafts, I came across this one, on the Twilight series. Grrreat. Back when I jotted some ideas down, the first movie had just come out. And already the third installment opens up this Wednesday. I am mulling watching the movie on Friday: trying to decide if eye candy is worth the "I love you Edward! ...but I love you Jacob!" nausea that is Bella.

I think the original book had such an interesting premise, but Bella is so, so disappointing a character. I suppose the angst and confusion is relatable to teenagers, but Bella/Edward/Jacob are poor models of healthy relationships, and unhealthy relationships are what leads to baby mama drama, along with other personal and social ills.

So, some other resources to set people on a good course:
from the New York Times, A Rise in Efforts to Spot Abuse in Youth Dating
and
http://heathersvoice.net - a site about dating violence and domestic abuse

Validation at last

Yesterday the Little Guy and I went to Costco: I put him in his Phil & Ted's MeToo! Travel Highchair and he sat quietly chomping on his food while I had my lunch. He and his high chair attracted a lot of admirers; I guess Phil & Ted's doesn't have a distributor in Taiwan. People thought the chair was neat and handy, and they thought the Little Guy was cute and well-behaved. One woman came up to me and we had a nice chat. "People told me not to hold my baby too much, but you should hold your baby close now, because before you know it, they'll be 33." (Guess how old her son is now?).

I told her I shared the same philosophy, and she replied that she could tell we were strongly attached, since he was sitting so peacefully in his chair while I ate. "I can see he feels secure," she said. It's so nice to receive support of my parenting style.

Mommy guilt

I felt badly a few nights ago - my Munchkin has been going through either a growth spurt or teething and has been waking up a lot at night. One night at about 4am, he would nurse for a bit, break off, whine because he was not latched on, and then I would have to get him latched on again. After close to an hour of this, I lost my temper. I think I let out a very loud groan; I don't remember exactly. What I do remember is that at that moment, my little baby looked at me with wide eyes and then scooched away from me to snuggle up against my forearm (he sleeps next to me and likes to be nestled into my armpit). At that moment, he recognized my grouchiness and frustration and decided that my arm was still a safe haven. He actually took my arm and hugged it. I felt really bad. Sweetie, Mommy loves you even though the hourly feedings are killer.

The night after that was much better - I got to sleep for four hours straight! And even though I was awoken six times last night, he was very eficient at nursing. I hope I don't jinx myself - I hope tonight goes smoothly as well! I need the rest - the flip side of getting a break from what seems to be constant nursing is that I have a clogged duct again. If it's not one thing, it's another!

Milk drunk

Now this is what food coma should be like!

A year ago...

...my little bun was a blastoplast in the oven. Ok, he was probably already an embryo but blastoplast is such a cool word! And now he's a little pre-sitter!