Looking for some tech help to improve my life.

[noles88]

I want to improve my quality of life and be more productive. I am successful at work and have done a lot to improve there. I have a bullet journal that I use but not as much as I use to. I attend Church and my faith is important to me. I'm an extrovert but don't have many friends. I have people I talk to at work and Church but don't have people that I hang out with. My wife has bad anxiety so social events tend to make her uncomfortable. I want to do things with her and the kids that make her happy but don't make her feel overwhelmed. I have done a lot of things to improve on this but still have a long way to go. I quit smoking but still need to quit dipping and drinking. I eat healthy but not always and want to see about apps to help me meal plan to do so all the time. It is hard because of how busy I am. I work 25 minutes away from home and am in vehicle sales so my hours tend to vary. I also have 4 kids and help coach my oldest soccer team that plays in the fall and spring. I take Adderall XR 30mg in the am and 10mg Adderall in the afternoon. I drink water often but need to cut out the soda. I am in pretty good shape for 32 but could be in better. I'm 5'11" and weigh 170 lbs. I feel good but want to be in better shape. I don't have time to go to the gym because I won't get up at 4 or 5 to do so and don't like cutting into my family time. I run in the morning sometimes, shot hoops, play some soccer, ride my bike, and do a lot of work around the yard. I want some apps that can pretty much tell me what to do that have some kind of personalization to them. I spend a lot of my free time watching TV or playing video games. I want to do things for myself but am struggling in my relationship with my wife. I am very disappointed in my effort that I put into our relationship. I love my wife and she is a great support and I want to show it in ways other than just buying her stuff. I also want to commit more of my time to our family relationship. Does anyone have any things that help them with these areas? Is there exercise/diet apps/programs that you've used that work?

[somiya_2003]

I have to tell you that even I tried to venture into diet apps and even when everything is exactly given to me I find it difficult to follow through but I do go to the gym to be in good shape and at the beginning, I found it difficult to work out and felt tired especially because I workout right after school finishes, it felt refreshing and I was energized after a workout since I told myself this is my free time and dream as much as you want, I used to go home without feeling guilty daydreaming and I used to cook but if I didn't go to the gym I would have come back and took a nap and become more exhausted and for healthy eating, I just avoid processed, greasy and sugary foods and told myself other than those I can eat anything and since you are taking medication it is important to eat and stay hydrated.

[Stonesfan]

I couldn't live without the many alarms I set to remind me of things I need to do - on my apple watch.

[noles88 in reply to Stonesfan]

I did this for a little bit on my Galaxy watch. When I have to many alarms going off and next/phone calls I just end up ignoring stuff. Which is bad because I'm a car salesman so I constantly have call/text and app alerts for work and I end up being sure to drink a glass of water but blow off a potential sale...

[BTV65]

Time...

I hear you saying:

1) You want to spend more time on your relationship

2) You want to spend more time on your family relationship

3) You want to spend more time on consistently exercising

4) You want to spend more time planning your meals/eating healthy

5) You want to spend more time developing friendships

The reality is that no app can give you more time. You mention spending your free time on TV and videogames. I find that tends to be more of an evening activity. So you need to figure out which of those 5 things could you do in the evening to replace the TV/video games.

It's possible you could plan some relationship building activities a couple times/week in that slot. Perhaps you could have a weekly "game night" with the family on the same day each week. Exercise is tough to do in the evening when you are already tired from everything else you did that day. Sounds like the weekend is the only time you could reasonably fit it in. Maybe get up early on a Saturday before the kids are up? Developing friendships typically need face time and shared activity/interest. It's possible you could do some of that during those evening hours, but it will come at a cost to your family/relationship time.

Eating healthier. The only advice I can really give here is to plan your meals in advance. Take some time on the weekend to figure out healthy meals and what you need to make them. Then shop and do some of the prep work on Sunday, then it becomes easier to cook them during the week when you have less time. There are probably recipe/planning apps that could help with that aspect.

[noles88 in reply to BTV65]

Not exactly what I was trying to say. Time is not really my issue. My issue is structure and planning. I am combined type ADHD leaning inattentive. I work out in the Morning because that is the ideal time for those with ADHD it starts your day right and gives you natural dopamine. I need something to tell me here is your workout for today and to be something different as I get bored with repetition. My sister, 2 out of the 3 have ADHD, run all the time and for me that gets old quick. I don't like planning meals and have tried doing meal kits and they are kind of hit and miss. I have 4 kids so we tend to just make larger meals and I take leftovers or I do crackers with crab or chicken salad. What I want is an app that recommends meals that are suitable for ADHD dietary needs. A separate application for the workout routines. We don't really have the ability to do consistent nightly routines. During soccer season, fall/spring, there are 3 of my 4 playing soccer and I coach my oldest team. So that is 4-8 practices a week often different days and games on Saturday. Sunday we usually attend Church, as long as no one is sick and I can get everyone else out of bed. Add on top of this regular school stuff and the fact I get off at 6 but sometimes work late, this can't be controlled by me, and have gotten of as late as 9 or 10 at night. Also with me working until 6 that means soccer practice runs to about 7:30 or 8 and then I still have to get home and eat. I appreciate the insight on giving up the me time I have. I can't give up all of this though and the TV time is usually with the kids/my wife but could be more productive things. I was kind of just telling myself/wanting someone, as you did, to tell me to make time for it. I work Saturday when there is no soccer and have a weekday off. I need to exercise everyday because for me that is a huge positive on my overall well being(mental, physical, spiritual, and so on). But really just want to know actual apps that people use for diet/exercise. Thanks for the help.

[BTV65 in reply to noles88]

Yup. That sounds about right (busy schedule). I remember the craziness when my kids were younger and there were a dozen conflicting needs to juggle in the evening.

So far, I haven't found any miracle apps. Many promise the moon, but then fail to get off the ground. An old saying comes to mind. "What you get out is proportional to what you put in". Some apps seem like they are amazingly flexible and can do just about anything in that niche. However, it can take hours/days/weeks to set them up and and configure them/tweak them to get what you want. My issue is time. I am looking for apps that will save me time/effort. If I need to devote all this time and effort into an app, that might not actually benefit me in the end, then it's costing me rather than saving me. So I'm very reluctant to make the investment into a new app in the first place.

Instead of an app, perhaps there is a website/blog/forum for planning meals that would be of more use.

You did say one thing that is new to me. ADHD diet??? I am not aware of any specific dietary needs to benefit ADHD. Perhaps stay away from too much sugar and sodium and drink plenty of liquids?

[noles88 in reply to BTV65]

There are tons of foods that can be trigger foods like sugar, dairy, and others. Not that they cause ADHD but that the make certain aspects more apparent. Also there foods that are beneficial to things are bodies lack. Getting those foods that encourage our bodies. There are tons of articles on diet and nutrition on additudemag.com that talk about this. I just need something to say hey it's Monday cook a, b, or c. I need the structure.

[Lorato]

I also like the aaptiv app...but it's not structured. Charge running is more structured with specific start times...so I do that and then strength with aaptiv