We’ve all made promises to ourselves that we haven’t kept. Those unused gym shoes in the corner of your wardrobe? We’ve been there. This time when you bring them back out though, we’e got ways to help you keep them. These 10 fitness apps will not only help keep you motivated, but they’ll help you know how to enjoy exercise more.
- 4-Minute Workout
This app does what it says on the tin. It will give you a full body workout that you can complete in just 4 minutes. Based on the popular Japanese regime known as Tabata, you’ll be pushed through 8 different exercises with a 20 seconds on, 10 seconds off schedule. This is known as High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), it’s not for everyone but it’s fast, you can do it from home and it will achieve fat-burning results.
- GymPact
If you’re highly competitive and a bit of a gambler, this is the app for you. You make a commitment to your workout in competition with others. If you skip too many workouts you might have to pay up, but stick to it and you’ll be reeling in the rewards.
- Argus
Argus is a great free activity tracker. Its all-in-one capabilities track your sleep, calories, activities, and heart rate. Plus it also offers daily challenges you can aim to beat. It has the flexibility to let you create your very own exercise plan so you can stick to your own schedule of what you enjoy. It even has the capability to scan the barcodes on your food labels to help you easily track your calorie intake.
- Nike Training Club
Nike Training Club is another free app which will provide you with heaps of inspiration and motivation for working out. They literally have hundreds of 30- to 45-minute workouts suitable for all abilities. It will provide suggestions for you based on your own fitness goals, whether that is to get faster, fitter, stronger etc. This is one of the best apps for showing you how you should do things. The explainer videos and photos are easy to follow and will make sure you understand how to perform each exercise correctly, without risk of injury. It’s also all available offline, so there’s no need to use up that valuable mobile data either.
- Naked
For a more in-depth look at your progress, Naked is one of the best apps out there. Naked is a home body scanner that will capture your 3D body model to enable you to visualize and analyze your bodies changes over time. It tracks your body measurements, weight and body fat percentage. It can be difficult to know how to track your health progress if all you’ve got is a mirror and some scales. This app helps you to see the progress you’ve made in a quantifiable way by showing your muscle growth, fat loss, and any body measurement changes.
- FitnessBuilder
FitnessBuilder is specifically designed to help you in the gym. It has a huge library of workouts which will let you make the most of your time in the gym. The videos are clear and straightforward, instructing you on how to do the exercises correctly. You can even print out the instructions to create your own workout routine so you don’t have to have your phone out the whole time.
- MyFitnessPal
If you’ve got a habit of counting calories, MyFitnessPal will make your life much easier. With its barcode scanner it counts the calories for you. It’s not the only feature of the app – it’s also got exercise logs, so you know how much you’re burning as well as how much you’re consuming. The community is also a huge part of this app. It has a large following and allows you to connect with friends, so you can compare progress. There’s nothing like a bit of friendly competition to help you burn those calories!
- Sweatcoin
Yes, it’s a real thing. In the era of online currency there is of course an app which is here solely to incentivize you to move it! The app uses your phone’s accelerometers and GPS location to track your outdoor steps. These are then converted into Sweatcoin, which thankfully no one ever has to touch! 1000 outdoor steps is equal to .95 Sweatcoins. You can then exchange this currency for a number of different goods and services such as an Apple Watch or different experience days. It also has the option to donate to any of their partner charities. Get paid to move and it can be for a good cause too! What’s not to like?
- Fitbod
Fitbod is a tool that will help you to workout in a more scientific way by identifying different muscle groups to target. If you’re wanting to specifically work on your abs for example, it will create a custom workout plan to help you achieve those goals, shares Cindy Brogden, fitness coach and regular contributor to Draftbeyond and Writinity. It’s also highly adaptable in that you can input what access you have to different equipment, so it can adjust the plan to what’s possible. It’s a great app to help you understand your workouts as well as keep track of your progress.
- Fitocracy
Fitocracy combines getting fit with video games. It’s like a role-playing game that lets you earn points and level up during your workouts. Turning your fitness journey into a game can be a fun and competitive way to keep track of your progress. You’ll also get the benefit of a large online community, so you can all support each other, or try to beat each other’s records!
Final Thoughts
Working out can be fun and rewarding, as long as you create exercise habits that are enjoyable and fulfilling to you. Don’t be afraid to try new exercise routines until you find one that you like. You’ll be glad you did, and your health will benefit!