I don’t know about you, but there’s only one thing—besides a trusted sports bra—that I always have on me when I exercise: my phone. I use it for music, entertainment between sets and—you guessed it –to help me workout in general.
There are so many different apps out there that you can download for free, or a reasonable price, that really change the way you exercise! Some of us have no idea what we’re doing in a gym and our apps are the only way we can get a decent workout in without hiring an expensive trainer.
If you’re like me, then using an app is just as important to achieving your fitness goals as going to the gym itself. The downside about apps is that you never know which one will be the best for you. Luckily, I’ve already done the digging, and have discovered which apps are best for people depending on what they want to achieve—and I’m going to share them with you.
Running
Not all of us are gearing up for a bikini contest. Some of us just want to be able to run a 5k without stopping or passing out. If this sounds like you, then here are the apps that will benefit you most.
1. Couch to 5K
For those of you who are new to running, this app is perfect for you. It is designed to take you from never having run a day in your life to running a 5K. It has an 8-week program that is designed to get you moving at a pace that you’re comfortable with all the way to running a full 5K before your big race.
2. Runkeeper
Seasoned runners will get the most use out of this app. It really does everything that you could want from a running app! It uses your phone’s GPS to track your route, and it tracks your mile time, calories burned, total distance and more. It even has a feature that allows you to choose popular running routes in your area.
Weight Lifting
For those of you looking to get into weight lifting—which every woman should—these apps will not only teach you the moves, but will track your progress as well.
1. Fitness Point
This app is best for newbies because it has photo and video descriptions on how to do each lift. It’s like having a personal trainer but much cheaper. You can choose from hundreds of different exercises, track your progress and even design workouts for a future date.
2. Strong Lifts 5×5
This app seems to be the most useful for those who want something to create a workout regimen for you. This app does just that by following the 5×5 rule. It not only discovers the best weight for you to lift, but tracks your progress and adjusts itself for those of you who end up plateauing.
At Home
Not all of us are lucky enough to have the time to go to an actual gym every day. If you only have 20 minutes in your day for a workout, these are the best apps for you.
1. Sworkit Pro
This is another great app for people who are new to working out and only want to start with their body weight—i.e. people who exercise at home. This app lets you decide which part of your body you want to focus on and then tailors an entire workout to fit your needs.
2. You Are Your Own Gym
This app is for people who know they will be sticking with working out at home for a long time. There are over 200 different demonstration videos that show you exactly what to do to get the most out of your workout. You can also choose different workouts based on your skill level, or customize your own workout if you know what you want to be doing that day.
Yoga
There are many benefits of yoga. Some people choose to do yoga instead of any other forms of exercise—and for good reason. Here are the best apps for all you yogis out there.
1. Yoga Studios
If you have never done yoga a day in your life and randomly want to give it a try, this is the app for you. You get detailed instructions, different difficulty levels, soothing voice-overs, and you can either make your own flow or choose from the hundreds of different ones they provide for you. This app really has everything you need to start and continue with yoga.
2. YOGAmazing
If you’re someone who wants the privacy of practicing at home but also wants to feel like you’re in a class setting, this is the app for you. Chaz Rough instructs each class and uploads them in a podcast style.
There are over 500 different episodes you can download or stream in order to get your yoga fix. This is also a perfect app for those of you who travel a lot and don’t have the luxury of going to a regular yoga class. However, you never know what you’ll get with this app until you start streaming the video. For that reason, I suggest it for people who are more familiar with a yoga class and the poses.
Sure, cell phone use can cause problems when you’re having dinner with the grandparents, but they are extremely useful for downloading apps that can get you in shape. Which apps have you found to be extremely useful?
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