Getting fit takes a lot of motivation and don't believe anyone who tells you otherwise. Achieving your fitness goals can generally be a bumpy road to follow but these fitness apps can genuinely change all that.
Whether you’re looking for community and support, simple exercise inspiration, a way to push yourself to the next level, or just something to give you a back your motivation, then these are the fitness apps you need to be downloading this year. We promise you'll never look back.
So here's our top 10 favourite fitness apps of all time.
1. Tempo Run
Yes, most people will be capable of making their own running playlist themselves, but can you automatically change the song to suit your speed - no fingers? No thought not. This is why we love Tempo Run so darn much. Just download the app, add your choice of songs or stream from their pre-selected Radio and get running. The app will then automatically categorise all of the music on your iPhone or Android with a tempo score of 1-10 (1 being walk, 10 being sprint) so whatever your workout, you always have the right song for your energy level. For all of those runners who want to work on their speed as well as endurance, this is a great app. Genius really.
Available for iOS. Price: £1.99
2. Runkeeper
About 26.2 million people use Runkeeper as their go-to fitness tracking app, that's a pretty insane figure. Although it's similar to other tracking apps like MapMyRun, Runkeeper's usability, clean interface and great GPS system keeps people coming back again and again. Marketed to track much more than your runs, this app uses it's impressively accurate GPS system to track your hikes or cycle rides too. Plus you can share all of your runs with their online community and other social media outlets. You get a detailed log of your average speed over time, calorie burn, and heart rate as well as having motivational cues as you run. Extras like being able to take photos while you run and remember routes that you like so you can do them again make this an unmissable app.
Available for: iOS and Android. Price: Free.
3. 7 minute Workout
If you're looking for a short, effective workout and don't want to be anywhere near a gym, then this app was created for you. Based on 'The Scientific 7-Minute Workout' routine posted in the American College of Sports Medicine's Health & Fitness Journal, this app gives you a uber-quick routine that you can do anywhere, any time. With voice prompts and visual cues and explanations it really couldn't be easier. Sometimes the simplest things are the smartest.
Available for: iOS and Android. Price: Free.
4. Fitocracy
There’s really only one way to make sure you stick to your fitness goals - wanting to beat someone else. We jest, (but seriously) having an element of competition and camaraderie with other people is proven motivational fitness tool - which is why Fitocracy is such a great app. It focuses on social interaction and lets you connect with other app users to track your highs and lows on one huge public scoreboard. You’re able to chat to other fitness fanatics using their huge community to spur you on. You can also plan your workout before you hit the gym with their extensive list of exercises for inspiration. If you’ve got any trace of competitiveness in your personality, then this is going to turn your fitness regime into a highly addictive game with your motivation spiking through the roof.
Available for: iOS and Android. Price: Free.
4. My Net Diary Pro
There are plenty of calorie counting apps out there on the market but this is by far one of the best. With information on over 511,000 foods and a barcode scanner for the things it doesn't already have, you can keep an incredibly accurate track of exactly what you’re eating - unlike trying to count it all up in your head. Trust us, those calories creep up on you. You can set your target weight, taking into account your height, age and BMI. Set you carb, fat and protein budgets/targets so that you still get the right nutrients for your body. As well as little extras like being able to keep track of daily steps, exercise, water intake, blood pressure, hours of sleep and work whilst recording your body measurements. You can even post your before and after pictures to a community of other weight loss converts for some well deserved support and congratulations.
Available for: iOS, Blackberry, and Android. Price: £2.57
5. Pocket Yoga
According to the American College for Sports Medicine, Yoga’s popularity is going nowhere in 2015. So if you want to keep on track with your yoga moves but don’t want (can’t afford) to attend a weekly class, then this app is perfect. With 27 different routines and over 150 illustrated poses this is a pretty thorough app. The only flaw we can see is the fact that it's purely illustrations showing you what to do, which we image would put some people off. However, this remains one of the most popular and positively rated yoga apps out there.
Available for: iOS and Android. Price: £1.99 and £1.89.
6. Couch-to-5K
This app is basically like a personal trainer inside your smart phone coaching you all the way from your ‘couch’ to being able to do a 5K. All training plans are designed by Active personal trainers and you can choose from 5 different virtual coaches who give encouragement throughout your workout. Based on following the programme, you should be able to go from novice to 5K runner in 9 weeks. It's incredibly easy to use and very effective, the only minor set back is the GPS system used to track your runs is less than accurate. But as that’s not what you buy the app for, it can be forgiven.
Available for: iOS and Android. Price: £1.30.
8. Nike Training Club
Now Nike Training Club is one of the most comprehensive workout apps. Recent updates have meant a few issues for the app but we’re hoping once these things have been smoothed out again, this app will be right up on the top spot where it belongs. Based soley for women this app gets you to the top of your game with some of the best trainers in the bizz. There’s over 100 custom built easy to use video workouts of 15, 30 or 45 minutes; including some from Rihanna’s personal trainer as well as Jeanette Jenkins, Serena Williams, and Paula Radcliffe. Just select your goal and fitness level and away you go.
Available for: iOS and Android. Price: Free.
9. Jawbone UP 3.0
There are a lot of sleep trackers out there, and we’re betting most of them will be a hell of a lot cheaper than this one, but sometimes you have to pay for the best. Since the Jawbone app and wristband launched in the UK earlier this year it has had mega success. What this app does is personalise your health goals by giving you a unique day by day update of the choices you need to make to improve your overall health. By tracking your sleep, activity levels, diet and mood you get an unparalleled insight into the patterns which could be holding you back from achieving your goals. Does it work? Yes. Is it worth the whopping £99.95, possibly not.
Available for: iOS and Android. Price: £99.95.
10. Map My Run
Map My Run is a really great little app and can make a massive difference to developing your running. Mapping out your run might seem like a really obvious thing to do, but many people don’t even think about it. Just download the app and then the GPS system will track your route as well as pace, maximum speed and length in time and distance. The only minor point is that although it’s free to download, to activate a few of the better features you have to pay an additional fee.
Available for: iOS and Android. Price: Free.
Have you got any favourites of your own? Tweet us at @sofeminineUK.
