By Stefanie Michaels
Ask my husband, my friends and family about my loathing for working out and they will tell you how I will make excuses for doing it. It’s for real, and I literally have to gear my mind to get into heading to a class.
I’m a bit of a germaphobe and the idea of being in a class with sweaty people grosses me out. It’s nothing personal, nor about their hygiene, it’s more about body waste, I guess.
I spent years as a runner, and that suited me fine, that is until my hips started hurting and I learned I had three compressed disks in my lower back.
Between those issues and my distaste for working out with others and when COVID hit, closing gyms and interrupting classes, I dove into apps to see which I would actually like and stick to.
There are so many options out there, it can be mindboggling! But after trying out a bunch of different ones, 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.
