A look at the latest tech tools to help you stay on track to reach your personal goals.
Whether you want to:
- Lose weight
- Enhance your endurance
- Track running miles
Fitness apps are great for helping you see the big picture when it comes to physical fitness. Think of the technology as a personal trainer who is always by your side. Helping you decide your next move and supporting you along the way. Sometimes you'll like what they have to tell you, sometimes not so much…
But one thing is for sure, fitness apps will keep you company and cheer you on as often or as little as you want.
How Can Fitness Apps Help You Stay Healthy
There are several fitness apps out there and there's something for everyone. Whether you’re into:
- Counting calories
- Tracking steps
- Improving running times
- Practicing yoga
- Cardio workouts
No matter what fitness apps you use, all offer amazing benefits to help you stay healthy. Let’s take a look.
Track Your Progress. No matter whether you’re slowly getting back in to exercise again or a fitness fanatic, keeping tabs on how you’re doing is super important to reaching your goals. By monitoring specific factors over a period of time, fitness apps can give you a realistic view of your results. For example, did you run faster on the treadmill, shed pounds in your program, and the possibilities go on and on. Even if you only use a fitness app to measure progress, then you’re doing something right.
Gets Goal-Setting Into Gear. Most fitness apps allow you to record everything from weight to time spent exercising and other variables. In addition, many have the capability to guide you to reach your goals through words of encouragement if you fall short. They'll also alert you to milestones when you succeed. Some apps also provide helpful tips and advice as well as answers to your questions. AI enabled fitness apps actually initiate “conversations” so there is a human-like feel which a lot of people welcome.
Provides Inspiration. Fitness apps with guided workouts are great because they can mix up what could otherwise become a monotonous routine. Instead, fitness apps are the perfect platform for learning new exercises that target everything from toning arms to strengthening the core. Also, seeing your stats regularly provides added incentive to modify workouts as needed. Other features such as recipes and the ability to connect with other like-minded people in your community are other attractive perks.
Keep Your Weight Loss on Track With Apps
Individuals who are trying to achieve a healthy weight and stay in shape definitely benefit from using fitness apps. Not only can you keep track of the pounds lost and exercises completed throughout the week, fitness apps are also great for keeping an eye on what you eat. It’s no secret that diet plays just as an important part as exercise when it comes to achieving optimal health.
15 Best Fitness Apps
Your phone is only one download away to helping you achieve your fitness goals. With so many options out there, let’s have a look at the 15 best fitness apps to help you on your health and wellness journey.
7 Minute Workout. Anyone who likes it short and sweet will enjoy this app, which claims it has been “scientifically proven to assist weight loss and improve cardio function.” 3 million users and growing can’t be wrong, right? The routine is the same for every workout and includes 12 high intensity body workout exercises performed for 30 seconds at a time with a 10-second break between each exercise.
Daily Yoga. Beginners to advanced yogis rely on this app to get their downward-facing dog and other poses on with 50-plus yoga class plans and classes ranging from yoga to Pilates and meditation. Within the app, there are more than 500 asanas, a community to connect with others and workshops with top yoga teachers.
Fitbit Coach. Brought to you buy the folks behind the well-known watches and trackers, this personalized training app features invigorating workout videos and audio coaching. Videos range from seven to sixty minutes and users can choose workouts based on fitness level, indoor or outdoor location among others.
Freeletics. No equipment is required besides your smartphone for this app that focuses on HIIT routines that you can do at your convenience. Get ready to up your Burpee game.
MyFitnessPal. With a focus on calories burned from exercising, this handy app features a food diary, searchable and personal food databases, and the ability to accommodate different diets. Consider it the ultimate meal tracking app.
Best Fitness Apps for Challenges
JEFIT Workout Tracker. If you’re into bodybuilding, this is the app for you, with weight-lifting exercises that you can do at home or the gym and convenient tracking capabilities. Plus, the analysis data is great for tweaking workouts.
Aaptiv. Fitness class junkies will enjoy this audio-only app featuring thousands of workouts and programs as well as world-class certified trainers teaching everything from strength training to stretching, treadmill running and race training for marathons.
ActiveX. Having workout buddies is the best and this app allows users to create groups or “Packs” to take on energizing Tabata classes together. Cool features include 30-Day challenges, interval timers and customized workouts.
ClassPass. What began as a convenient way to try different workouts has now expanded to include both interactive work-out classes such as Torch which focuses on the muscles in the legs and glutes and Explore Core. Real-time metrics, target heart zones and a leaderboard keep it lively.
PEAR. This app, which also works in tandem with partner apps such as Fitbit and UP, is all about choosing a personal trainer to get you into shape. Another nice touch is the biofeedback if you link the app to wearable technology.
Best Fitness Apps for Runners
C25K. Short for Couch to 5k, this app is all about moving from a sedentary lifestyle to completing a 3.1 mile run in eight weeks. The approach allows users to build up to running a longer distance by alternating walking with running in the beginning. Warm ups and cool downs are also included in the 30 to 40 minute session.
MapMyRun. Running enthusiasts looking for routes will appreciate this app featuring training plans with audio coaching, suggested routes and different challenges such as logging in 15 workouts in 30 days to get you pumped.
Runtastic. Originally for runners, there are quite a few apps that fall under the Runtastic umbrella all for different things and include Runtastic, Runtastic Steps, Road Bike, Sleep Better to name a few.
Spring. Runners and walkers who need a little something, something in their step should consider this app which focuses on music playlists that caters to users preferences and natural rhythm. Fans of the app say it’s like having your personal DJ playing music to your own pace.
UP. Complementing wearable activity trackers from Jawbone including UP, UP24 and Up Move, this app keeps on top of your physical activity, what you eat and tracks your sleep. Over time, the apps get a better understanding of daily habits and tailors advice accordingly. Positive messages such as Victory! help pump up users to keep at it.
How Effective Are Sleep and Exercise Apps?
While technology may have all the bells, whistles and other cool features to push you along in the right direction, many people wonder whether sleep and exercise apps actually work.
What's the answer?
Well, it depends on you!
Yes, sleep and exercise apps work if users engage with them regularly. At the very least, they provide a clear snapshot of a person’s activity levels and if they are on track with their set targets. Some are content to just keep trucking and see their results eventually. However, if you prefer research-backed evidence, studies have found that users of fitness apps are intrinsically motivated to stick to a workout routine. As for sleep apps, others aren’t so sure given that sleep cycles are not exact from person to person.
On the other hand, sleep and exercise apps are not effective is they are overlooked and just sit there in the smartphone universe. So it’s really up to someone on whether or not they actively engage with the apps at all.
What Is Wearable Technology?
You have probably seen or maybe even own a watch or other device that offers similar features to fitness apps such as tracking and coaching. Wearable technology can be described as digital devices that have some type of connectivity function.
So whether you wear a smart watch or bracelet-like tracker, or even smart jewelry and clothing, all are similar in that they have sensors that track activities and patterns, which can be conveniently accessed on your device or app whenever you want.
Whether you have a favorite fitness app or use wearable technology, either way, you’re taking the right steps, putting in the hard work and will see real progress soon enough.
You can do it!
What's your favorite fitness app or technique to stay on track? Sound off in the comments below!
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