Thankful day 20: Google

I promise you, this is not a paid advertisement.

I am a Google "groupie", for lack of a better word.

Obviously.

Blogger = Google

Gmail = Google email

Google Talk

Google Maps

Google Docs

Google Calendar

Google Plus

Android = Google

I use all of those on a regular basis, as in daily.

Right now I'm multi-tasking between a Google doc for my menu planning, Pinterest, and the budget I've created for 2012 in Google docs.

I am regularly checking the family calendar for what's going on today, tomorrow, this week.

I have a widget on my phone that helps me with it.

Hubby and I share a calendar, and whenever anything pops up that will possibly effect the family, it goes onto that calendar.

Hubby knows what I'm doing most days.

He knows when parent teacher conferences are.

When we've got a double date.

When we're watching the kids.

I know when he has to work late.

Or is hanging out with the guys.

What I love most about Docs, is that I can share the documents I've made for our home with my husband.

Our budget is in "the cloud" so if my computer crashes, I still have it.

{I learned this the hard way}

My menu plan and grocery list is in "the cloud" so that if I forget it while I'm out at the store, I can look it up on my phone and still know what I need to get.

There's an app for that.

Our list for Christmas gifts with links and price points?

In the cloud.

Some of our important documents?

Saved in Google docs.

My blog?

Google.

Need I go on?

I seriously could not fathom any other way to do things at this important, busy, productive point in my life.

Today, as I sit here menu planning, budgeting, and scheduling, I'm thankful for the services Google provides.

Day 1 of 21: My partner in weight loss

I have an Android phone.

It goes EVERYWHERE with me.

It is my tool of choice to help me in my 21 day Lifestyle Change journey.

I want to encourage you as well to find a device or something that can help you too.

So, so why my phone?

I love me some apps.

I'm listing below {and linking of course} to my favorite apps in the Android Market that will help me along the way.

Best part?

Most of them are FREE.

That's a price I can't argue with.

Pandora Radio

You cannot go for a jog, or work out to Jillian Michael's 30-day shred without music.

This app allows you to listen to anything you like, and of course, syncs with your computer for when you're blogging/surfing Facebook/using Pinterest.

Drinking Water

Drinking water every day is CRITICAL for weightloss.

It helps boost your metabolism, and keeps you hydrated and energized for all those sweaty moments.

It also helps clear up your skin.

This app will remind you to drink water.

You can customize it to how much you should drink {I'm doing 11 8oz glasses} and the timeframe from which you want to do that in.

I've been using it for a week.

My water drinking is UP.

Days Left Widget

This is a fun little widget for your phone.

It tells you how many days until a set date.

21 days.

June 10th?

Done.

It's good for motivation.

Bible

Need daily inspiration?

Want to set up a Bible reading plan?

I really like the YouVersion app.

I admit, haven't been using it like I could, but I plan on it now.

I'm such a book in hand kind of girl.

And my margins in my Bible are totally marked up.

So I'll use this app along with my Bible.

This app has reading plans such as Food, Clothing, Drugs & Alcohol, and Hope.

Plus tons of others.

I'm going to start with Food.

We'll see what else I explore.

My Tracks by Google

I've used this app a few times, and it can be kindof complicated, but I like it.

Start it before you go on your jog or walk.

It keeps track of where you went, how fast you went and how far it was.

Then you can export the info to Google Docs.

It will run while you listen to music too.

I really like this as it helps keep track of everything I need to help me succeed at reaching my 5K goals, and to following the Couch to 5k Program.

Speaking of which, I had this Couch to 5k App on my iPhone.

I really liked it.

I'll probably buy it for my Android, since the prompts are PERFECT and will help me out.

I used to have Calorie Counter on my phone too.

It helped me keep track of what I was eating, how much exercise I got, and how much water I was drinking.

I really liked it, but for some reason I quit using it and so I uninstalled it.

I'll be re-installing it today.

I actually lost 5 pounds in 3 weeks while using it.

Really.

The hard part is most of my meals I put in were estimates, as I don't have a scale.

{should I buy one?}

So, those are the apps I use on my phone the most.

I think they can help you too.

Well, I hope they can.

And no, I wasn't paid by Google or any of these apps developers to show them off.

I wish.

What apps have you found for your Android or iPhone to help you out on your weight loss journey?