Are you H-App-y with your Exercise?

Do you find yourself saying, ”If only I had a personal trainer, I would stay committed to exercise.” Or, you might be saying, “I need someone to create a personalized exercise plan and then I would follow it and be successful.” For most of us, our days are so busy, the last thing we have time for is to sit down and develop an exercise plan. Today, I want to introduce you to some very helpful tools that can take all the planning out of your workout: Apps!

There are countless apps available for download on your phone that have been created to help you be successful in your fitness goals. The list below barely tips the iceberg, but hopefully you will find one that fits your needs.

Cardio:

Strava–  Track all walking, running and cycling adventures on Strava. Use this app to record distance, speed, elevation, calories burned, heart rate, power and cadence. After an activity, data will be combined into easy-to-understand graphs. Connect worldwide to stay motivated throughout your training and racing. Use the connection with friends as a motivator and accountability to stick with your fitness goals. Plan a route ahead of time, track and save a new route for later, or follow a shared route from friends.

Yonder–  If you love the outdoors, you will love Yonder! Plug in your location and with the click of a button a new adventure awaits. Use Yonder to find new hiking, kayaking, biking or other outdoor adventures near you.

Couch to 5K–  In nine weeks, you could be ready to run your first 5K! Participating in the Couch to 5K guide three days a week for 30 minutes or less can help you cross the finish line. Using the interactive, motivational coach and even sharing your progress with friends on social media, you are sure to stay connected, accountable and be successful.

Strength:

StrongLifts 5×5–  Walk into the gym with a lifting plan in place using StrongLifts 5×5. Personalized workout routines will include a list of exercises, amount of weight recommended along with number of sets and repetitions. Rest periods between sets are based on the difficulty of the last set performed. Automatic changes are made to the progression of your plan depending on your last performance, a lifting plateau or if a workout is missed.

Strong–  Whether you are a novice to strength training or a professional bodybuilder, Strong provides a tracking and training log useful to ensure progression in your workouts. The simplicity and ease of using Strong are two of the most favored aspects along with the progression graphs and ability to export via email.

HITT:

HiiT–  Ten minutes can change your life! HiiT provides 10 minute workout sessions with an adjustable work/rest timer to personalize the workout according to your needs and ability. Chang up your routine with a quick, high intensity workout you are sure to benefit from!

Yoga & Stretching:

Daily Yoga–  Start your day off with a personalized yoga plan from the comfort of your own home. Daily Yoga has over 400 poses in HD quality with step-by-step instruction and provides plans that will target specific areas on your body as well as full body routines.

Fitivity–  Stretching and flexibility are very important for overall health, injury prevention and performance. Fitivity provides a variety of movements and can be personalized for your needs. Whether you are in need of stretching techniques for beginners or a professional athlete, Fitivity has resources for you.

Combination Apps:

Nike+ Training Club–   Looking for an app that will adapt according to your performance? Nike+ Training Club specializes in personalized plans that adapt as you progress and keep challenging you with over 100 workouts to choose from. The variety of cardo and strength workouts will keep your body on its toes and help you get the most out of your workout.

SworKit–  Personalize your workout anywhere or anytime using SworKit. Start with selecting a workout for a particular body part, (i.e. arms) then choose the amount of time available and follow the audio and video cues. Perform strength, cardio, Pilates, yoga and even stretching with no equipment needed. A family friendly version, SworKit Kids, is also available.

Atari Fit –  Fitness and gaming unite in one app creating a fun and motivation environment. Workout on your own or compete with friends to earn points and unlock classic Atari® games, including Pong®, Super Breakout®, Centipede® to name a few.  Atari Fit provides 150+ exercise options focused on improving running, conditioning and strength.

Just for Fun:

Pokémon Go–  Want to be an active gamer and improve your lifestyle? The cherished 90’s game has made quite the comeback with a real world concept. By using your smart phone, one can go outside and begin collecting Pokémon. Your phone will vibrate when there is a Pokémon nearby, and it is your job to keep moving and collect as many as possible. This app provides a fun, virtual realily interaction with the Pokémon characters, while promoting a healthy habit of continuous movement and walking! Don’t feel ashamed, get out there, have fun, and find your next Pokémon!

Walk for a Dog–   A great App to get the whole family involved, including your furry babies! Every time you walk your dog, the app will donate to an animal shelter or rescue organization of your choice. Not only are you improving yours and pet’s health, but every walk you take together is a walk for a dog at the organization of your choice! Join the fun and sign up all your pets- the more the merrier!

As you know, this list only names a few of the amazing apps available to us today. Hopefully one of these will provide the tools you need to get refocused and excited about improving your fitness. If you have a favorite app, share it with us! We would love know about what app has helped you remain engaged and progress in your journey to wellness.  Don’t forget- tracking your exercise is a great way to hold yourself accountable and see your progress!

Looking for a snack to keep you on-the move?  Look no further!  No-Bake Sweet & Salty Snack Bars will keep you fueled and are perfect for back-to-school.