Every day since the first time I sat in front of computer, placed my hand on the mouse, and figured out how to make it work I have been learning.
Sometimes I learn useless facts, sometimes I'm learning how to code, but since I was a little human I have always turned to my computer as the main resource for my personal education, and even growth!
People rag on the internet a lot. As its become more woven into the fabric of everyday life we have begun to rely on it, which, yes, is scary. But... we also spend (and often waste) our time on it. But its also proven as a huge resource for sharing, communicating and learning. Look at Yummy Mummy Club, for instance! Could you imagine, 20 years ago, that if you were feeling isolated, confused or un-informed that you would just be able to hop on your smartphone or computer and connect with women who've been through, are going through and can help with your situation? Probably not.
For all of the trolls, dangers and hackers the internet contains there are one-hundred times as informative blogs, transcendent videos and examples of people helping each other all around the globe. With the good comes the bad in any situation, but sometimes we need a reminder. So, every week I will share with you, my friends on the internet, something that is out there that can make you smile, grow, learn or happy-cry. Something that, without technology and the internet, wouldn't be possible.
This week I came across I Had Cancer.com — a beta community site built for people who are currently fighting, or have survived after being diagnosed and treated for cancer.
I haven't personally been diagnosed with cancer, but I know enough people who have to know that it is a life-altering experience. This website, which is currently still in beta (that means they're still developing and testing) allows people who have recently been diagnosed with a certain type of cancer to connect with others who may also be fighting, or have since gone into remission or maybe even cured!
Unlike sharing your diagnosis in person, or on Facebook, this site is for those who know exactly what being diagnosed and fighting cancer feels like and can offer sensitive, experienced advice and support.
Have you joined I Had Cancer? Do you know of any other sites that create support for people dealing with medical issues, personal issues or otherwise? Do you think this site would be useful to you or someone you know? Let's talk about it in the comments!
Have a suggestion for a site, device or app that could be featured on Tech This Out or the Getting Better All The Time series? Tweet it to us using hashtag #YMCTechThisOut!
Want more YMC tech? Check out these 5 Must-Try Apps To Get Fit With Your Phone.
It seems as we get older it gets more difficult to find time to take care of ourselves. Of course we're supposed to "make time" but between babies, kids, appointments, and work (whether its at home or outside of it) we all know there isn't always much time left to stretch.
It often becomes easier to just let things be. It also becomes easier to justify poor health habits and poor body image, but there's one thing we have to remember: we're the role models for our families. Whether our goal is to be "bikini ready" or just healthy getting there can be a challenge.
I've fallen into this unhealthy pattern too many times to count. Having kids was supposed to be the thing that snapped me into a more healthful way of living, but instead the constant go-go-go and perpetually exhaustive nature of motherhood meant that my health fell well behind my kids, my husband, my work and everything else. After a few failed attempts at diets and "lifestyle changes" I decided to turn to the love of my life: my smart phone. I'm only at the beginning of my journey, but so far I'm very happy with the changes I'm seeing and how easy it is to make them work.
Here are a few fit-friendly apps to help get you into shape and stay there!
by MyFitnessPal Inc. (Free) iPhone / Web / Android
With myfitnesspal you are able to track every single calorie you put into your body every day. You can set a goal and it will tell you exactly what you need to eat (calorie-wise) to hit that goal. Every day, week or whenever you feel like it you can weigh yourself to track your progress and keep yourself on track.
Why I 
it: This app holds me accountable for everything I eat, how much I exercise and really puts the stats in front of my face every day. It's so easy to justify treats here and there until you're shoving cheeseburgers in your face all the live-long day but with this app I see exactly what that is doing to my body every time. I lost 4 lbs my first week using it! *pats self on back*
by Gormaya, LLC ($0.99) iPhone
If you suffer from a food allergy, are trying to cut out sugar or just want some great tips for great food ideas and substitutions then this app is perfect for you! It's literally chock-full of amazing ideas for substitutions and remedies for many ailments.
Why I it: Since I've been trying to cut calories in a healthy way, sometimes I need to make substitutions with old favourite recipes that just aren't as healthy as they could be. This app is PERFECT for someone who isn't as imaginative in the kitchen as they'd like to be. I think it'd come in super handy for folks with allergies, too!
by Azumio Inc. (Free) iPhone
Argus is a beautifully designed app that at its very base is a pedometer, but so much more. Forget buying expensive tech-accessories to track your steps, pace and range, this handy app can do that just by being held! The app has a great honeycomb design with different pod-style areas that help you track and easily see your progress.
Why I it: The designer in me wants to marry this app! It’s so gorgeous to look at and easy to use! Plus it has a ton of options and customizations to make it suit my preferences. I love knowing exactly how many steps I’m taking just walking around the office every day, it makes me feel like even if I can’t make time to do a workout I am still up and moving more than I thought!
by Bytesize Systems Pty Ltd (Free + InApp Purchases) iPhone/iPod
Finding time to work out can be daunting with little ones running around and/or a busy work schedule. Hopping off to the gym or out for a run is practically impossible for many. The 7 Minutes app is a beautiful, easy to understand and use, app that has a range of low-to-high intensity quick burst workouts designed to get your blood pumping, if only for a short time.
Why I it: They’re really starting to hit it out of the park with these well-designed, well-functioning apps lately, and this one is no exception! Although there are only a few free workouts to try in the beginning, getting it together for seven minutes is a lot easier than finding a babysitter or waiting until hubs gets home to hit the gym, that’s for sure!
by Codigo Pte Ltd. & Health Promotion Board (Free) iPhone/iPad/iPod
Although this app isn’t as cleanly designed as the others, I really like that I have a one-touch way to find some great ideas for healthy meals (and smaller budgets!) Now that I’m trying to do a better job of feeding my family (and myself) I have a hard time coming up with recipes that isn’t cheesy or fried. Healthy Chef has given me some cool ideas for a quick, healthy dinner!
Why I it: Being able to find recipes based on budget when you’re trying to eat healthy isn’t easy! It’s annoying, but in the beginning making healthy choices can be a lot more expensive than those old processed, packaged foods we get used to. I also like the ability to get a calorie count, so I can plug it into myfitnesspal easily!
---
I know most of these apps are for iPhone, since that’s what I have that’s what I know, but I would love to hear about your similar apps for Android and Windows Phones, if you’ve got them to share!
Let me know if you start using any of these apps for yourself in the comments! I’d love to hear about your progress! — Thanks for reading and sharing!
At YMC, we are huge believers that you can use technology to take care of yourself. Training for a run? Here are three great apps to help get you motivated.
If you’ve been vacationing on a remote island sans wifi, or have just climbed out from underneath your favourite rock, you may not have heard of the widespread Internet security flaw that is Heartbleed. If you spend most of your days on the net like I do, chances are you’re well aware of the “fatal” flaw that is running amok on our interwebs.
Either way, while you may know about Heartbleed, you may not know what it actually is, or how it can affect your family and your own internet safety. So, I figured I’d break it down for you.
Most websites use a piece of software for account logins, passwords and such called OpenSSL. It’s generally used for security and it is very popular among the majority of websites out there that require a login feature. It basically encrypts (turns your data into a sophisticated code), so what you save and send to a website (say, passwords, login info, cookies, account numbers) can’t be seen by bots, hackers, or other sites.
You know how back in the early 2000s, when banks started offering online banking and everybody was like, “Ack, is it safe to put my account info on the web?” and they were all like, “Oh yeah, totally safe! We use OpenSSL!” Yeah . . . that.
What Heartbleed is, exactly, is basically a bug in a specific version (1.0.1) of OpenSSL that allows for someone to get that data off of a web server without leaving a footprint behind. More specifically, it exploits a specific feature in OpenSSL, called “heartbeat,” which basically is the feature that allows your computer and websites to communicate with each other (sort of like a call and response.)
In layman's terms, Heartbleed allows people—theoretically with malicious intent—to swipe your information from sites that you’ve saved them on. Like, for instance, your Twitter account, hosting information, Facebook account, bank account and info, the list goes on.
But don’t freak out! There is no evidence that any information has been swiped (so far), and there is an easy fix!
Protecting yourself from the Heartbleed bug is easy. You will probably receive, or have already received, an email from most sites you have an account with detailing how they’re handling Heartbleed. Most have already patched the issue on their end, so now the only thing left to do is on your end. Change your passwords! On everything! (Pro Tip: abc123 or password are NOT good passwords!)
It might take you, at most, 30-40 minutes to go through your regularly used sites and change all of your passwords (and then verify them via email). I strongly suggest opting in with sites where you can use two-step verifications, like Twitter and Google. This will not only make your accounts more secure, but it could protect you in the future if another issue like this comes up.
At the end of the day, we have to remember that technology is man-made and there is always a chance for human error.
The one advantage of this mass technological misstep is that now we have a truly believable (and rather hilarious) excuse when things don’t go our way!
Spent too much on your credit cards this month? It must’ve been hackers! #BlameHeartbleed
Forgot to pick your kids up from school? Vehicle computer malfunction. Car wouldn’t start. #BlameHeartbleed
Didn’t text your best friend back? Obviously your phone was hacked. #BlameHeartbleed
Try to come up with your own! It’s quite entertaining.
Did you know that credit card thieves can now steal your credit card information without you ever even taking your credit card out of your wallet or purse?
Take this fraud prevention quiz to see how fraud-savvy you are.
Printer-friendly version