When it comes to fitness, the biggest motivator for me is convenience. No matter how gung-ho I might be, if I have to drive through traffic to get to the gym or scour YouTube for a video, chances are I’m going to stay in bed instead.
Don’t even get me started on firing up the DVD player and getting past the FBI copyright warnings.
So for me to develop a fitness habit that sticks, I need a workout that’s effective, efficient, and easy to access. Over the years, I’ve tried gym classes, online videos, DVDs at home, and a workout buddy.
The problem was that all of these required set-up time and/or the cooperation of another person. Which meant just enough time for me to lose the inspiration to sweat and gasp my way to good health.
So when I first discovered these fitness apps, I was really excited. I could literally roll out of bed, hit about 3 buttons, and my workout was on. I was halfway through before I knew what was going on. My motivation was intact, mostly because I wasn’t conscious enough to make up an excuse.
I chose these apps because I not only love them and use them often, if not daily, but they are also either free or relatively cheap. There may be some better apps out there that cost more, but I’m not likely to find out anytime soon. Besides, I’m a firm believer that you can care for your body without busting your budget.
Here are the 5 best fitness apps that you should try…
Runkeeper
Even if you are not a runner, this app will get you there. It asks a series of questions, including what your goal is (run a marathon, lose weight, etc.), and then customizes a plan for you. I loved that it worked with my schedule, had GPS tracking to monitor where and how far I went, and recorded all the details so I could see my progress.
The one thing that I had a problem with was having to manually input my data when I used the treadmill during the hot summer months. It wasn’t that hard, just annoying. But not enough for me not to use the app multiple times a week. I also use it to track my walks around the neighborhood.
There is a free version, but you can get a free trial and even earn free months by completing challenges that are offered. The monthly subscription is $9.99 ($39.99 for the year), but most of its best features are available for free.
Yoga Studio
I love yoga, but hate dealing with DVDs, hunting up YouTube channels, and paying for a gym membership. So this app is perfect for me. It has different collections containing over 100 classes. There are classes specific to runners, ones for meditation, others targeting legs and glutes, and even hip hop yoga.
There is a pose library, if you want step-by-step instructions, and the videos are easy to understand and follow. These are great for any difficulty level and can be sorted by duration, if you’re short on time. Whether you’re a newbie or an experienced yogi, you’ll find a class that works for you.
There is a free version, which is offering a 2-week free trial. The price for the expanded, paid version is only $1.99 a month, and $19.99 for the year. Much cheaper than classes at the gym.
J&J Official 7 Minute Workout
This app is based on the science of HIIT and circuit training, and is great if time is of the essence. I love that these workouts are fast, but effective. If you count the warm-up, you are only exercising for 9 minutes, which helps when you are trying to squeeze something for yourself into a busy day.
The exercises are modeled for you while you are doing them, which is a big deal when you have a horrible memory for the difference between a split squat and a power squat. It connects with your Health stats on your phone to help you pick your level, and also links to your music (because who wants to work out without a playlist?).
This app is free. It’s fast and intense, and not the prettiest one I’ve ever seen, but it works you hard for maximum results in a short period of time.
My Fitness Pal
This app is great for tracking nutrition and diet. I love that it has an extensive library of foods (ingredients and brands, both in stores and restaurants), so I can easily track what I eat. It remembers the things I eat most, like 2 eggs every morning, and breaks down my nutritional needs (like the fact that I really should up my protein and cut my sugar — hence, the eggs).
This app works off the idea of calories in-calories out. Depending on your goal (e.g. losing weight), it calculates the amount of calories you should eat a day to reach it in a healthy time frame. It also allows you to enter any physical activity so the calories burned can be added to your calorie count for the day.
This app is free, but it does offer a 2-week free trial. After that, it is $9.99 per month, or $49.99 per year. I did the free trial and really liked the app. But when it ended, I realized that I didn’t lose anything I really used. So I’m using the free version and loving it.
8 Fit
This is, by far, my favorite of the apps I’ve listed. I open this one Every. Single. Day.
The workouts are based on where you are when you start using the app and then they slowly progress. I liked that I saw results early on, but never felt like I was killing myself (because if a workout is too hard, then I can’t motivate myself to slog through it regularly). They are between 8 and 12 minutes to start, and at the later stages, between 14 and 20 minutes.
This app includes a meal plan that you can customize to your dietary needs, budget, and family size (for those of us who need to cook for a small army). There are classes for yoga (which I generally don’t use in favor of Yoga Studio), and also for targeted areas like core, arms, and glutes.
This app has a lot going on and I really enjoy using it. The workout music could be better, but now my baby hears Ariana Grande and immediately starts doing the fast feet (a common first warm-up exercise).
I started using 8 Fit with a 2-week free trial, but they offer a 3-month and yearly subscription. It was definitely worth it for me to shell out the $59.99 for the year, considering my usage. But grab a free trial and see if it fits your lifestyle as well as it does mine.
So these are my best fitness app picks. I am not a huge fitness buff, but I am a busy mom who wants to enjoy her life and her kids for a long time, so being strong and healthy is important to me. Give these a try if you’re looking for some convenience with your workout routine.
(And if you’re looking for more custom workouts, check out my Summer Shape-up series, starting with week 1. All four weeks include free target area printables for you to use at home!)
Did I miss any great apps on this list? What’s your favorite fitness app? Let me know in the comments!
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