The Best Fitness Apps
The Best Fitness Apps
All fitness apps are not created equal. In fact, if you could lose weight struggling with fitness apps, I would be a lean, mean, fitness machine.
I’ve learned along the way it helps to know what you need. I need a hassle-free app that’s easy to use and doesn’t consume hours of my day. I just don’t have a large block of time for fitness.
If I’m spending 20 minutes each day adding meals to an app, that’s 20 minutes I don’t have to work out. My friend, on the other hand, needs a detailed diet log. So, the time and effort she spends entering her meals in an app literally keeps her fit.
With so many fitness apps on the market, how do you know which apps are great and which apps are a waste of time? I looked at a number of apps and selected fitness apps that are effective and easy to use. I also looked to see that they had some motivational component because, let’s face it, on a cold February day, a warm cup of hot chocolate sounds much better than a 5 mile run and 8 glasses of water.
Want to begin 2018 with a bit more organization in your life? Check out 10 Apps to Make Your Life More Organized
 10 Best Fitness Apps to Help You Reach Your 2018 Fitness Goals
MyFitnessPal helps you track your diet and exercise so you can lose weight. It has a convenient fitness app and website. Best of all, MyFitnessPal has a totally free version. Don’t let the fact that it’s free convince you that this fitness app is lacking when it comes to features. MyFitnessPal gives you plenty of tools for tracking what you eat, and how many calories you burn through your daily activities.
MyFitnessPal has a massive database of food and drinks. So, adding your daily meals and snacks is easy. MyFitnessPal is compatible with most fitness trackers. So, MyFitnessPal can estimate how many calories you burn by pulling in your activity data from your tracker. Once you understand your eating habits, and can see how much exercise it takes to burn off the food you eat, you can now begin to visualize your path to a healthier you.
The premium version of MyFitnessPal eliminates ads and gives users access to additional features like Nutrient Dashboard, Food Analysis, Calorie Goals by Meal, Different Goals by Day, Exercise Calorie Settings, Meal Level Carbs, Protein and Fat (perfect if you’re on the Keto Diet), Quick Add Carbs, Protein and Fat, Carbs, Protein and Fat by Gram. In addition, Premium users can download and access all their reports and get priority customer support.
Free Trial: Yes
Cost: FREE or Premium membership $9.99/month or $49.99/year
Available for: iOS, Google, and Kindle
AaptivAaptiv gives you access to trainer-led workouts while giving the flexibility to do the workouts where you want and when you want. Aaptiv is perfect for those who want boutique level classes without the hefty price or stress of then making a class session that might not fit their busy schedule. $9.99/month ($99/year) will get you access to classes for every fitness interest and level.
Seriously, you’ll get on-demand access to hundreds of instructor-led digital audio classes. The instructors offer motivation throughout the class. And best of all, they’ve selected the perfect music for each workout. No more losing focus while trying to pull up the right workout song from your playlist. For those wanting instructor motivation without the hassle of a gym, Aaptiv is a great choice.
Free Trial: Yes
Cost: $9.99/month, $99.99/year, or $399.99 for lifetime membership
EndomondoIf you enjoy running and biking, Endomondo is a great fitness app. It tracks your runs, bike rides, and other outdoor activities. It’s simple to use and has both an app and web version. I initially thought Endomondo wouldn’t be a fit for me since I’m a champion running failure. But, Endomondo offers several workout options, not just running and biking.
Walking is an option, so if you are like me and walk for fitness, Endomondo is for you. One neat feature is the ability to share your fitness goals and journey with close family and friends. They can join you or just encourage you. In fact, the encouragement to keep going and reach your goals is one of the things I love about this app.
Endomondo integrates with watches and sensors to provide you with more comprehensive workout data, such as heart rate stats. So, you can use it with your Fitbit, Garmin, or even MyFitnessPal.
Endomondo is free, but the Premium version offers training plans and coaching features for those looking for added features in a fitness app.
Free Trial: Yes
Cost: FREE or Premium membership $5.99/month or $29.99/year
Available for: iOS, Google, and Windows
Charity MilesIf you need inspiration to get moving, Charity Miles is the fitness app for you! Charity Miles tracks your runs, walks, and bicycle rides and donates money for every mile you complete. It sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it?
So how does it work? Charity Miles has corporate sponsors who generously make donations on your behalf. You simply check out their sponsorship logos or ads when you fire up the app. Before your workout, select which charity will benefit from your miles from a list. It’s that easy. Get a fitness challenge going with your family or a group of friends, and use Charity Miles. You’ll be doing something good for yourself and others.
Cost: FREE
FreeleticsIf you are looking for a fitness app that offers bodyweight workouts, Freeletics is my suggestion. You’ll find more than 900 workouts on Freeletics. Workouts last anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes. Freeletics gives you the flexibility to work out at home, in the park, or even in your office.
There are tons of workouts in the free version of Freeletics. But if you want a virtual coach and access to the full library of workouts, consider upgrading to the Premium version. I’d suggest starting with the free version first.
Cost: FREE or Premium packages for 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months available
RuntasticIf running is your workout of choice, Runtastic is the fitness app for you. Runtastic tracks your workout, speed, and pace. But the feature that sets Runtastic apart from other fitness apps is Story Running. Story Running is music and an audio book rolled into one. With each Runtastic workout, you’ll hear a story set to music that will get your feet moving and your heart pumping.
Stories are about 35 minutes long and download directly to your device. This means you can listen without streaming. The free version of Runtastic has lots to offer. Serious runners may want to consider upgrading to the Premium version which offers training plans, additional coaching, nutritional guides, additional story runs, additional standalone workouts, and reports.
Go ahead and hit your favorite remote trail. Runtastic will keep you company on your run.
Cost: FREE or Premium packages for 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months available
Available for: iOS, Google, and Windows
Nike+ Training Club AppNike+ Training Club has virtually every kind of workout, from yoga to gym moves. It’s the perfect fitness app for those who need variety in their workouts. You’ll find workouts for all levels of fitness. And you can select your fitness goal. Do you want to get lean? You can select Get Lean and set a time goal, say 8 weeks.
Nike+ Training Club is one of the most customizable fitness apps I’ve seen. My favorite feature is all workouts come with a how-to photo and step by step instructions. They also include a demo video. You never have to wonder how to do an exercise, the instructions are provided for you. Most exercises also include some alternate options. This is perfect for those recovering from an injury or those just beginning their fitness journey. Nike+ Training Club is totally FREE.
Cost: FREE
FitbitEverywhere I go, I see people wearing Fitbit trackers. But, did you know you don’t need a tracker to use the mobile app? The Fitbit app can be installed on your smartphone. It can count your steps, help you track the calories you consume, log your weight, and record other health information, such as blood pressure and glucose levels.
If you’re looking to track your fitness, but don’t want to spend the money on a Fitbit tracker, or can’t wear the device, go with the mobile version instead.
Cost: FREE
Available for: iOS, Google and Windows
LifeSumDo you feel like you eat healthy most of the time, but the scales tell you differently? Do you feel like you go from diet trend to diet trend in an effort to stay healthy? LifeSum gives you a good look at how you are moving toward your goal and offers you encouraging reminders and suggestions to help you make small sustainable changes.
To begin, you’ll pick a goal–lose weight, bulk up, or eat better. I love that LifeSum includes a wide variety of diets, including Keto and Whole30. You enter your meals and the app lets you know if you are on target for your specific diet. You’ll also receive reminders to drink more water, feedback to improve your diet, and simple graphic ways to visualize your progress.
The free version of LifeSum is great. I would recommend using the Premium version if you are on the Keto or Whole30 diet. The Premium version lets you select your diet plan. This means the app tracks your macros based on the foods/meals you enter. It’s so easy! I’ve been on the Keto diet since May of 2017. LifeSum is hands-down my favorite fitness app when it comes to keeping on top of what I’m eating.
Cost: FREE or Premium packages for 12 months available
Spotify PremiumWhy suggest Spotify Premium in an article recommending fitness apps? Because Spotify really nailed it with their Running feature. And, I want to make sure no one is left running off beat on the treadmill ever again.
So how does Spotify’s Running work? It first finds your cadence as you run. Then, it sets songs to the same rhythm. If you’re already a Spotify Premium subscriber, it’s worth checking out. If you’re not a Spotify Premium member, but have been looking for one more reason to convince you to jump in, here you go.
Cost: $9.99/month
Available for: iOS, Google and Windows
You don’t have to wait until Jan 1, 2018 to begin your fitness journey. In fact, download one of these fitness apps today and end 2017 with some clear fitness goals!
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