We all know that getting fit is a challenge – it requires motivation, will-power and dedication, and it’s all-too-easy to slip back into bad habits! One way to help you beat that sluggish feeling is to use your smartphone. Odd as it may sound, there are some fantastic health and fitness apps out there that are bound to keep you inspired and motivated! They prevent you from getting slightly creative with the truth, and because you always have your smartphone in your pocket or bag, you can have access to a constant source of motivation!
We’ve found some apps to help you past some common problems when you’re just starting trying to get fit.
Problem 1) “I dont know where to start!”
One of the first barriers to becoming fit is knowing the first step to take! So a great app to help you take that first step is Get Running (couch to 5K) ($1.99 available for iPhone) This app is set over a 9-week time period. As the name suggests, it is designed to help you get running, and it starts off for complete beginners! By providing you with manageable steps, you’ll soon find the motivation and inspiration required to get fit, and at the end of 9 weeks you be able to run 5k! Good work!
Problem 2) “I dont like jogging, I want to vary my workouts”
Running is absolutely not for everyone, so if you’re after something lower-impact, you might consider trying Cyclemeter ($4.99 available for iPhone). It will keep a track of your cycling work outs, recommend routes for you to take on your bike, and calculate the impact on your body as calculated by things like your speed, your route’s distance and elevation! And unlike many other apps, Cyclemeter doesnt take up loads of your phone’s memory either.
If you’ve already got the get up and go, but want a bit of variety to your work outs, try the excellent Nike Training Club (Free! Available for iPhone and Android) It’s got custom built work outs to help you mix it up, and even videos to show you what to do! For the excellent price of free, this is definitely an app worth trying!
Problem 3) “I dont know how I’m doing”
Plenty of apps have built-in abilities to track your fitness – both Cyclemeter and Nike Training Club do so – so you’ll be able to monitor how you’re doing. Other apps can track things more broadly – Endomondo (available for almost any mobile) will keep track of your times (as well as your friends’ times too!) for all kinds of sports – kayaking, rollerblading, skiing… to name but a few!
Alternatively you may want to keep a better track on your intake – in which case, you should try Calorie Tracker ($2.99, available for iPhone). This useful little app allows you to enter your calorie intake for the day, and can track your calorie intake vs. your calorie burn!
Problem 4) “I find it hard to stay motivated”
One of the best ways to stay motivated is to feel like you’re not alone – and many of the apps mentioned above have a social component. Worth a mention in particular is Nike Training Club, where you can share your workout times on Facebook! If that’s not a great motivational tool we don’t know what is – and you can show off the stats you’re proud of, too!
Problem 5) “I need to eat right”
Workouts are only part of getting fit – the other part is eating right. This can be hard if you’re used to a particular diet, but apps like Whole Foods Market Recipes (Free! Available for iPhone) will get you on the right track with healthy ingredients that can help you shop healthily AND eat right. Alternatively, try Healthy Recipes (free, available for iPhone and Android) to keep your kitchen fat free. Recipe Search (free, available for Android) is a great resource for using up what’s in the cupboard, too!
Problem 6) “I’m great at sticking to my health food regime when I’m at home… but what if I eat out?”
It’s always easy to stick to a diet when you’re controlling the food, right? But when you go out, it can get quite difficult… step in Restaurant Nutrition (Free! Available for iPhone), which will give you detailed information about what you’re putting into your body when you eat out. Try Fast Food Calories for Android too, which links you directly to restaurant websites, giving you comprehensive nutritional information.
Problem 7) “I find workouts boring!”
The success of things like Wii Fit lie in the fact that they’re fun! Whilst there are are not a great many fitness apps that try to capitalise on this, there are a couple, and well worth trying out! Try the iBelly workout ($0.99, available for iPhone) which gets you to do some stomach crunching by setting you mini-games and challenges to complete whilst you’re lying down with your phone on your stomach!
Some final fitness recommendations: Key to great fitness is great sleep. Although this app is more fun than functional, considering it’s free, you might as well try it! Sleep Bot Tracker for Android tracks your sleeping patterns, giving you advice about your nocturnal habits in order to keep you healthy, fit and active!
All of the above apps are available for iPhone or Android (or both!) and range from free to around $4.99 – cheaper than a personal trainer!
Byline: Frith Ellingham writes about mobile phones for the Orange Store
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