Weight loss routines can often become monotonous and overwhelming, making it difficult to stay motivated and on track. This is where fitness apps can be a game changer. They help eliminate the stress of tracking your progress and provide reassurance, while allowing better communication with healthcare practitioners. Fitness apps can become your personal trainer, nurse, and motivator in your pocket. Here are some of the best fitness apps available for download:
MyFitnessPal
By far one of the most popular fitness apps, MyFitnessPal is consistently found on top app lists. It tracks your food and water consumption, as well as your daily exercise. Not only can it be easily connected to fitness trackers, but it also has an extensive food and exercise database to make tracking a breeze. Recently, MyFitnessPal acquired a startup called Sessions, with plans to include human-to-human coaching within the app, giving you access to motivation, advice, and accountability from a real person.
Pact
For those who respond well to monetary motivation, Pact can be a game-changing fitness app. Focusing on diet, exercise, and gym-going, the app encourages users to meet their goals by offering a betting system with potential monetary rewards. Users who achieve their goals must check in at their gym, and stay for at least 30 minutes, before receiving a payout from the users who did not hit their target gym goal. Pact can also be used to track healthy food consumption; users prove they’ve eaten healthily by uploading pictures. According to the creators of the app, it is the potential loss of money, rather than the gain of money, that is one of the strongest motivators for its users.
Fitocracy
Gamification of exercise is Fitocracy’s main aim, as it uses the format of a video game to help users stay motivated and entertained. Starting at Level 1, users gain points based on the difficulty of their completed workouts, earning achievement badges for reaching specific milestones or goals. Alongside this, Fitocracy encourages social interaction and community support by allowing users to follow each other’s progress and share personal achievements. This “fitness tribe” has proven to be an integral factor in user success.
While these three apps may not be for everyone, there are hundreds more to choose from. Consider these factors when selecting the right app for you:
- Compatibility: Make sure the app is compatible with your smartphone and fitness tracker if you have one.
- Features: Look for apps that provide the tools you need, such as nutritional information, built-in interval timers, goal setting, and progress tracking.
- Personalization: The best apps will let you personalize your fitness goals and offer customized workout plans based on your individual fitness level and goals.
- Community: Some people are more motivated by being part of a community, so seek out apps that include social features like the ability to follow friends and share achievements.
- User Interface: Choose an app with a straightforward layout and intuitive design, making it quick and simple for you to access features when you need them.
- Price: Many fitness apps are free or reasonably-priced, so be mindful of subscription fees. If you are willing to invest, ensure that the app provides value for money.
In today’s digital age, achieving your health and fitness goals has never been more convenient. By having a fitness app readily accessible, you can stay motivated and inspired on your journey toward a healthier you.