Want to work out, but need that extra push to get going? Let your phone do the motivating. We’ve checked countless reviews (and tried them ourselves) to find the best fitness apps that will work you up a sweat.
Johnson & Johnson Official 7 Minute Workout
When you neither have the time nor equipment, this app may be just what you need. Simply get a chair, the app, and a bit of floor space to do the 12 standard exercises (e.g. sit-ups, jumping jacks, planks, push-ups, etc.) included in the viral 7-minute regimen. The app basically guides you through the workouts with a timer as well as short videos. What we like about the Johnson & Johnson Official 7 Minute Workout app is that you get access to more advanced routines with varying duration and intensity. Plus, the app’s Smart Workout feature can work as your personal trainer.
Sworkit
Whether you want to do yoga, Pilates, cardio, strength, or stretching, the Sworkit app will organize a routine of randomized exercises to match your immediate fitness goals. So instead of following a set exercise regimen, the app gives you freedom to create targeted routines. This is a great way to keep you from easily getting bored of your workouts. You can even create your own custom routine with help from the app’s extensive library. If you want to do exercises for injury recovery or do low-impact training, this is one of the best fitness apps on the market.
Lose It!
Right from the get-go, Lose It! helps you set and achieve nutrition, exercise, and other health goals. Initially, you have to log food and exercise information and then use the app’s calorie counter, recipe builder, and exercise planner to help you stay within your daily calorie budget. You can also join peer support groups to challenge you to reach new goals like eating more veggies or doing more workouts. Plus, Lose It! integrates with health and fitness apps like MapMyFitness, Strava, Nike+, and FitBit so you get a comprehensive idea of how much work you’ve put into your fitness goals.
Pokémon Go
This may not be the same as the other fitness apps, but it does get you off your couch for long stretches! You’ll have to walk several miles if you want to catch all the Pokémon. While Pokémon Go is technically a game, it gives you good motivation to get out, walk around, and lose weight—sounds just like other fitness apps, doesn’t it? The best part of this deceptively healthy viral app is that you get to meet other like-minded people the longer you interact with the game. Talk about finding a fun kind of exercise group!
Workout Trainer
Made with seasoned gym rats in mind, the Workout Trainer app offers thousands of free workouts along with video instructions and step-by-step audio. You can also access a library of exercises so you can build a custom workout. If your personalized routine proves to be useful, feel free to share them with the Workout Trainer community. All in all, the app can be an invaluable download for anyone conditioning for an upcoming race, toning for six-pack abs, or just trying to live an active lifestyle.
Fitocracy
To encourage you to exercise, Fitocracy uses a cool combo of gamification and peer pressure. The social network for health buffs, you can log exercise routines to score points, level up, and gain achievements. Your activities are then displayed in a newsfeed for other Fitocrats to view, comment, share, and encourage. You can even look up workout routines through the fitness app so you can mix things up and get more ripped. Plus, you can sync the app (and your progress) to your Facebook and Twitter accounts.
Pact
Looking for real motivation to get fit? What if we tell you that you can get cold, hard cash just for trying to exercise, eat more veggies, or drop harmful vices? That’s the concept behind the Pact app. On Pact, you put money on the line and get cash rewards and penalties for every health pact you fulfill or miss. If you’re able to fulfill your health goals as promised, you earn anywhere from $0.30 to $5 a week. Not that much on first glance but, the amount adds up over time. In fact, we’ve met users who have earned enough to get a gym membership or buy new fitness equipment or accessory in a year!
Nike+ Training Club
The hardest part of pursuing an active lifestyle is figuring out where to begin. When you have this dilemma, you’ll want to have the Nike+ Training Club app handy. The app helps you choose a workout or a four-week program to lose weight. You’ll choose from over 100 workouts that are categorized for beginners, intermediate, or advanced users. What makes this app even more useful is that you can use it on your smart TV and tablet, so you see the app’s videos the way that works for you. The app connects to the TV via ChromeCast, AirPlay, or an HDMI cable.
Strava Running & Cycling
The app has made its name as a top-notch running and cycling tracker, so its inclusion in our list is a no-brainer. Strava Running & Cycling adds competitive and gamified features that make run-tracking fun. Like other fitness apps, it records your distance traveled, running speed, route, and total time on each run. It then integrates the stats into leaderboards, challenges, and achievements. The fitness app supports running trackers like Apple Watch and Android Wear.
Fooducate
Losing weight can be tough because finding out which foods are actually healthy can prove to be a challenge. With the Fooducate app, you can instantly see if the cereal you just bought could be ruining your diet. Simply scan the item’s barcode with your iPhone or Android device and you’ll then see an evaluation of the grocery item. It saves you from having to assess the product labels yourself. With this helpful mobile app, you can make healthier buying decisions the next time you’re grocery shopping.
You don’t really need to strap a pricey Apple Watch or flashy Fitbit around your wrist to achieve your fitness goals. It turns out, all you need is your phone and any or all of these handy fitness apps.
