There's a Fitness App for That
Image credit: Unsplash
Finding time to get a good workout in while balancing a full course load, a social life and our sleep schedule (but who are we kidding–we never go to bed when we say we will), is next to impossible for most college students. Some of us just need that extra push and motivation—and that’s where fitness apps come in. While many of us don’t have the resources or budget to hire a personal trainer, downloading a fitness app can give you the same luxury from just reaching into your pocket. These three trending fitness apps are perfect for tracking your routine and holding yourself accountable for those days where you just can’t seem to get off the couch.
Number 1: SWEAT by Kayla Itsines
Image credit: SWEAT app screenshots/Apple Store
How it works: Kayla Itsines has been making fitness strides since creating her popular and successful Bikini Body Guides (BBG). The trainer has created eBooks and PDFs from her workouts for years, and now with the SWEAT app, and a bit of an extra fee, you can access her established routines in addition to new workout programs. You can choose from bodyweight (no equipment) workouts, strength workouts with weights and machines, yoga or even a postpartum program. The app also provides a nutrition plan, chock full of healthy recipes and meal planning.
Why you need it: If you’re the type who gets to the gym and doesn’t know where to begin—this app is for you. SWEAT will tell you exactly what moves to do and will definitely push you to get that great workout you’ve been trying to achieve. Say goodbye to boring workouts and struggling to create your own routine; SWEAT’s got you covered.
Price: $20 a month, or $120 a year. Yes, we’re all on a college budget, but think of it as $5 a week, essentially an extra day off your Starbucks order.
Tried it, loved it!: “I love that the program fits around my busy life and I can even take it traveling. So happy I found this app!!” -Bekkilli, App Store
Number 2: MyFitnessPal
Image credit:MyFitnessPal/Twitter
How it works: Created by Under Armor, this app lets you keep track of how much you’re exercising, including what types of routines, how many reps and sets and how much weight you're using for a strength exercise. It also provides nutritional information and allows you to log your eating occurrences. After a hard day of work, you can feel satisfied by tracking how many calories you’ve burned and compare it to your daily food intake. The app features a database of over 6 million foods and a barcode scanner to input a personal food log.
Why you need it: This app is consistently ranked as the top health and fitness app—and for great reason. MyFitnessPal offers you suggestions based on your height, weight and level of fitness. However, beware that calorie needs depend on more than just height and weight, and calorie recommendations should only be made by dietitians or medical professionals. Use this app's recommendations as a guide, but take the calorie recommendations it provides loosely. Though MyFitnessPal is a widely-used app, it cannot be fully trusted without the assistance of a professional who understands additional factors linked to weight.
Price: Free! What are you waiting for?
Tried it, loved it!: “MyFitnessPal is an incredible tool for getting a handle on your health and fitness. The app makes it easy to log the food you eat, the calories as well as the grams of each macronutrient...there are too many features to list!” -MC Soy Latte, App Store
Number 3: Pocket Yoga
Image credit: PocketYoga/pocketyoga.com
How it works: Whether you’re a seasoned yogi, or the least flexible person out there, Pocket Yoga provides poses for everyone. Ranked number one in the App Store in the Health and Fitness category, this app allows you to hone in your yoga skills anytime, anywhere. Pocket Yoga lets you choose between different practices and difficulty levels, allowing you to unlock new “environments” along the way. The established yoga instructors behind the app take you through the experience of a real yoga class, including soothing music and directions on when to inhale and exhale. What’s best is that the app doesn’t require any WiFi to work—so there’s no excuses this time.
Why you need it: We all know college can be stressful, and yoga is a great way to give you some peace of mind. Use this app to exercise, do an activity with friends, or just when you need to take a breath. It’s important to destress and keep your mind healthy, just as you would the rest of your body, and this is an accessible and cheap way to do so.
Price: $2.99—think about how much just one yoga class can cost, and this can give you hundreds of them!
Tried it, loved it!: “I downloaded this a few weeks ago to help increase my flexibility and overall physical health. I scoured the App Store looking at the different apps and this one seemed to be the best...and it has not disappointed! Overall, my flexibility has increased, my stress has gone down, and I have been sleeping better. Yogis of all levels, if you’re debating this app, get it!” -Vuannielou, App Store
With the wide variety of apps to choose from, deciding which one to try can feel overwhelming. Take advantage of what the app store has to offer, as well as these recommendations, and don’t be afraid to try more than one! Happy sweating!
