Transform Your Body on the Fly with These Fun and Effective Fitness Apps – Perfect for On-the-Go Workouts
by Stefanie Michaels
Ask my husband, friends, and family about my loathing for working out, and they will tell you how I will make excuses for not doing it. My fitness adversion is for real, and I have to gear my mind to get in my car and head to a workout studio.
I’m a bit germaphobe, and being in a class with sweaty people gross me out. It’s nothing personal, nor saying they have issues with their hygiene. It’s more about their body waste like skin flakes being left behind on everything from exercise bikes, weights, to even door handles.
I spent years as a runner, which suited me fine, that is, until my hips started hurting, and I learned I had three compressed disks in my lower back.
Between my physical drawbacks and my distaste for working out with others, you can imagine what I went through when COVID hit. It closed gyms and interrupted classes, which was the push I needed to try something different.
I jumped into various fitness apps to see which ones I liked and would stick with. There are so many options out there, it can be mind-boggling!
After trying out a bunch of different fitness apps, I’ve narrowed it down to this top 10:
- Fitbit – This app is great for tracking all kinds of fitness activities, from running and cycling, swimming and yoga. Its user-friendly and has a bevy of useful features, like personalized workout plans and progress tracking. One hitch, you need to invest in a Fitbit.
- MyFitnessPal – This app tracks weight loss and can improve overall nutrition due to its vast database of foods and corresponding nutritional information. It’s super easy to track daily calorie intake and helps dieters stay on track.
- Nike Training Club – This app I really liked and for anyone like me, is perfect for getting a full-body workout in-home. It has a ton of varied workouts led by top trainers and athletes.
- 7 Minute Workout – I used this for my travels. It offers high-intensity interval training (HIIT) workouts that only take 7 minutes and then you’re done.
- Sworkit – This app works for those who want to mix up their workouts with a huge selection of workouts in different categories, like strength, cardio, and yoga.
- Peloton – A cycling dream with a ton of live and on-demand cycling classes led by top instructors. It also tracks your progress and keeps you motivated with personal goals and achievements. This option is costly with the need to purchase their bike and treadmill and pay a steep monthly access fee to classes.
- Yoga Studio – Each yoga class is led by top instructors and offers beginner to expert levels and offers varied styles to explore. Namaste.
- Aaptiv – This app is great for a more personalized workout. It has a ton of different workouts, all led by top trainers, and it’s super customizable to set goals for levelling up.
- Strava – Into running or cycling? This app tracks workouts, shows progress notes, and connects you with other athletes in your area.
- Headspace – Mind, body and soul rolled up into this app filled with mindfulness during each fitness routine. It’s got a ton of different meditation exercises to choose from, all led by top instructors.
TIP: Out of town, but want to run in safe places with others? Check out the The Hash House Harriers (HHH or H3), which is an international group of non-competitive running social clubs.
A little history:
The history of fitness apps dates back to the early days of smartphones. In 2008, the App Store was introduced with the launch of the iPhone, and soon after, various health and fitness apps began to emerge.
One of the first and most popular fitness apps, Nike+ Running, was released in 2010 and allowed users to track their runs, set goals, and compete with friends. Over the years, many other fitness apps were introduced, which expanded the market and helped to popularize the use of fitness apps.
Today, the fitness app industry is a multi-billion dollar market with a wide variety of options available to consumers, including apps that specialize in tracking specific activities, such as yoga or weightlifting, and others that offer personalized training plans and nutrition advice.
The rise of wearable fitness technology, such as smartwatches and fitness trackers, has also greatly impacted the fitness app market and has made it easier for users to track their progress and stay motivated.
